HEADS UP! An Important NEW Airport Rule Starts Next Week

If you’re heading to the airport soon, you need to listen up!

TSA lines at MCO

We know the need for a REAL ID has been floating around for years now, but the deadline is just around the corner, and things are about to get, well, real.

Starting May 7th, 2025, you will need to provide a REAL ID during the check-in process when flying in the United States. REAL IDs are driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the federal REAL ID security standards.

Welcome to the Orlando International Airport

If you’ve been to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within the past few years, you likely already have a REAL ID. You can figure out if your card is a REAL ID by seeing if it has a star in the corner.

©Department of Homeland Security

Each state may require different documentation to receive a REAL ID, but at minimum, you’ll need documentation showing:

Full Legal Name
Date of Birth
Social Security Number
Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence
Lawful Status

You should check your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to see what documents you need before you go.

Southwest at Orlando International Airport

If you don’t have a REAL ID but will be travelling soon, these alternative methods of identification can also be used:

U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

Orlando International Airport

Travelers over 18 who do not have a REAL ID or an approved alternative identification method will not be permitted through the security checkpoint starting May 7th. Minors are not currently required to have an ID when traveling with a companion who is 18 or older within the United States.

Orlando International Airport

Now’s a great time to check your ID and make sure it’s a REAL ID. If not, start scheduling an appointment to get your new one before your next trip to the airport. Keep following Disney Food Blog for all of your travel news.