TSA, Utah DPS warn travelers Real ID enforcement starts May 7; Utah officials say most residents already compliant

Salt Lake City — Federal and state officials on a Salt Lake City Airport panel warned travelers on Friday that federal enforcement of Real ID requirements begins May 7, 2025, and urged passengers to confirm they have a Real ID–compliant credential or another accepted form of federal identification.

Matt Davis, Federal Security Director for Utah, said the Real ID Act (passed in 2005) established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and that federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, will no longer accept credentials that do not meet those standards at airport security checkpoints. "The beginning of the federal enforcement of Real ID requirements starts Wednesday, 05/07/2025," Davis said.

The requirement affects travelers 18 and older who use a state driver’s license or ID to get through TSA checkpoints; Davis listed alternative accepted credentials — including U.S. passports and passport cards, active duty military Common Access Cards, military dependent IDs, DHS trusted-traveler cards such as Global Entry, lawful permanent resident cards, border crossing cards and certain foreign passports — and directed listeners to TSA.gov for the full list. He warned that passengers presenting noncompliant state IDs who lack another accepted ID "will most likely expect to face delays, additional screening, and the possibility of not being allowed to enter the security checkpoint."

Jimmy Higgs, Deputy Commissioner for the Utah Department of Public Safety, said Utah has prioritized becoming Real ID–compliant and estimated the state is currently about 95.5% compliant. Higgs advised people who recently moved to Utah and still hold out-of-state licenses to visit dld.utah.gov to schedule an appointment to obtain a compliant Utah credential.

Locally, Davis said Salt Lake City operations are seeing roughly 15% of travelers using noncompliant identification at Travel Document Checker (TDC) podiums, which he described as a manageable but meaningful risk for delays when enforcement begins. To reduce disruptions, airport staff said they have held planning sessions with TSA to route Real ID–compliant travelers into appropriate checkpoint lanes and to assist people who lack compliant IDs.

Officials described the practical differences between older and Real ID–compliant driver’s licenses: applicants must provide additional documentation when obtaining a compliant credential (for example, a birth certificate and proof of residence), and the card itself includes more security features that present clearer information when scanned at checkpoint kiosks. "The difference between the two IDs ... is just gonna be those security standards are enhanced," Davis said, adding that the documentation requirements help ensure the person receiving the ID is who they say they are.

Panelists reminded travelers to allow standard recommended arrival times — two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international departures — during the transition. International travelers were reminded that passports remain an accepted compliant credential. For full documentation checklists and application instructions, officials directed residents to the Utah Driver License Division website at dld.utah.gov and to TSA.gov for accepted IDs at checkpoints.

The briefing concluded with officials encouraging travelers to check their credentials now and to use the online resources provided. No regulatory changes were announced at the briefing; officials said the enforcement date is set by federal policy and that airports and state licensing agencies are coordinating for a smooth transition.