Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel TipsTravel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel TipsTravel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips
  • Home
  • Travel News
  • Travel Guides
  • Travel FAQs
  • Destinations
  • Diaspora Stories
  • Immigration
  • Exclusive
Font ResizerAa
Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel TipsTravel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Travel News
  • Travel Guides
  • Travel FAQs
  • Destinations
  • Diaspora Stories
  • Immigration
  • Exclusive
Search
  • Home
  • Travel News
  • Travel Guides
  • Travel FAQs
  • Destinations
  • Diaspora Stories
  • Immigration
  • Exclusive
Follow US
© Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
TSA rules, REAL ID Act 2005, domestic flights within USA
News

REAL ID Act 2005 to Affect Domestic Travel for Residents of These Nine US States in 2018

Indian Eagle
10/27/2017

Is a passport needed for domestic flights within USA? Yes, if you are from Washington, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, or South Carolina. Driver’s license, a most common form of identification, will be a passé for residents of these nine US states to get through airport security even for domestic travel within USA, starting January 22, 2018.

Washington, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Maine, Montana and South Carolina currently do not issue state ID cards and driver’s licenses in compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005, which came to ensure safer air travel with the country after the 9/11 attack, and which requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to accept only federally approved ID cards compliant with the government’s minimum security requirements.

TSA rules, REAL ID Act 2005, domestic flights within USA
Picture Credit: US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

According to the REAL ID Act of 2005, these nine US states are required to verify the identity details of those applying for driver’s license or state ID cards, conduct a background check on those issuing driver’s licenses, and equip the ID production, issuance and validation system with an anti-counterfeit technology.

Some of these nine states are gearing up to implement the lengthy process of complying with the REAL ID Act 2005, while others have not yet responded to it due to budget shortages. New York, California, Illinois and Louisiana have not yet complied with the federal government’s minimum security standards for identification documents. These states may be granted an extension of the deadline to become compliant. If not, residents of these four states too will have to rely on passport books or passport cards for domestic flights within USA.

Needless to say, passport is widely accepted as an ID for both domestic travel and international trips. But, only 36% of people hold a valid passport in America, according to the US Department of State.

Those having no plan to make international travel may find it unnecessary to apply for passports and spend $135. Passport card is a cost-effective alternative for residents of Washington, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Maine, Montana and South Carolina to get past airport security for domestic travel within the US in 2018. A new passport card costs $55 for adults and $40 for children. It comes with 10-year validity for adults, and 5-year validity for those below 17. The way to apply for a passport card is the same as for a passport book.

cheap flights to India, Indian Eagle travel coupons, cheap US India fares

If neither passport nor passport card is convenient for you, there are other options to overcome hurdles for your domestic flights within USA in 2018. The following are alternate ID forms for you to get past TSA security checkpoints at airports:

  • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • U.S. military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, DoD civilians)
  • Permanent resident card
  • Border crossing card
  • DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license

You will not be able to pass airport security and board domestic flights within USA, without a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or another federally approved ID by October 1, 2020. Yesterday (October 26), signage started appearing at TSA security checkpoints to make travelers aware of the new TSA rules for domestic travel within USA.

Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest travel, immigration, visa and Indian American community news, and alerts on cheap airline tickets to India at Indian Eagle, a trusted booking partner of Indians in the USA.

TAGGED:News for NRIsTravel newsUnited States
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image

Find Us on Socials

Popular Posts

Navi Mumbai airport facilities, Navi Mumbai airport sightseeing Lonavala, D B Patil airport updates
Navi Mumbai Airport to Offer Mumbai Street Food, Local Sightseeing Tours, Other Cultural Experiences
News
Scandinavian airlines news, Scandinavian airline destinations, SAS flights to India in 2026 Copenhagen Airport transit
With Its Return to India in 2026, Scandinavian Airlines will Connect USA and Mumbai; All You Need to Know
News
New international airports India, upcoming Indian airports, Indian aviation future, Indian aviation market
Indian Aviation Vision 2040 for 1bn Flyers: What are Major New Airports Coming up in India in 2025 and 2026
FAQs
richest Indian Americans, Indian billionaires in America, richest Indian immigrant CEOs USA, Jay Chaudhry net value, richest Indian American CEO
Forbes 2025 List of Richest Immigrants USA has 12 Indian American Billionaires with Total Net Value $55bn
Features
July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    

More Such Stories for You

Air India fleet, Air India A350-900 flight review, best Air India aircraft, safest aircraft US to India travel
FAQs

What is the Best and Safest Aircraft in Air India Fleet for USA to India Flights?

7 Min Read
US Visa integrity fee for non-immigrants, US DHS news, US visa news for Indians
News

USA Brings Visa Integrity Fee for Nonimmigrants Including Indians: Check if $250 is Waivable or Refundable

5 Min Read
Emirates Airlines news, Emirates new economy class seats, Emirates economy flights, economy class travel experience
News

Emirates Airlines is Working on New Economy Class Seats with Better Height for Long-Haul Flights

5 Min Read
Middle East conflict impact US-India flights, international flights rerouting, Air India flights news
News

Here’s How Middle East Conflict Impacts Travel between USA and India: Flight Delays, Diversions, Cancelation

3 Min Read
Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips

Travel Beats is an Indian Community portal by IndianEagle, a leading travel organization for Indians in USA. Travel Beats celebrates the achievements of young Indians and publishes exclusive stories from the US and India. It also publishes the latest news about Indian Americans from different walks of life and lists upcoming Indian events in USA. It also shares updates from US-India airlines. To be precise, Travel Beats is a consistent effort by IndianEagle to bridge between Indians in America and India.

Resources

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Indian Eagle
  • Share With Us

© 2025 IndianEagle LLC. All rights reserved.

    Designed and developed by Indianeagle  

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?