Are you prepared for REAL ID enforcement? Here's why it matters for risk and compliance leaders

What’s changing and why it affects you

The REAL ID Act requires U.S. travelers 18+ to present a REAL ID-compliant document or federally approved ID (like a passport) to:

• Board domestic flights
• Access federal buildings
• Enter sensitive government facilities

What looks like a simple DMV requirement is actually a compliance milestone that signals whether your organization is fully aligned with identity verification best practices, both for internal use and for your customers.

The numbers: Who’s compliant — and who’s not?

As of April 2025, 81% of Americans now possess a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state-issued identification, signaling steady national progress toward meeting federal security standards. However, this still leaves an estimated 45 to 50 million adults relying on outdated forms of identification that may not be accepted for purposes like domestic air travel after the federal enforcement deadline. Compliance rates vary significantly across states, with Maryland and Washington, D.C. leading at a remarkable 99%, followed by New York at 82%. California lags slightly behind at approximately 70%, while Virginia trails with a notably lower compliance rate of 59%. This disparity highlights ongoing challenges in public outreach and accessibility across different regions.

These gaps can pose issues for customer and employee travel, and, more critically, for digital verification workflows that rely on ID validation.

What you need to know as a compliance champion

As a Head of Risk, Onboarding, or Fraud, your job is to spot vulnerabilities before they become risks. Here’s what REAL ID enforcement means for you:

• Outdated IDs will trigger verification failures — either in manual review queues or automated flows
• Customers may be rejected or delayed when trying to complete onboarding or access services tied to verified identity
•  Reputational risk increases if your systems aren’t prepared for stricter enforcement at airports or public sector touchpoints

Your to-do list before May 7

To stay ahead and position your team as a strategic enabler of growth and compliance, here are your immediate action steps:

1. Audit your document verification workflows

Are your systems flagging and rejecting non-compliant IDs? Do your teams know how to escalate or guide affected customers?

2. Update employee travel guidance

Ensure staff traveling for events, training, or fieldwork understand the REAL ID requirement to avoid disruptions.

3. Educate customers with a preventive approach

Consider proactive messaging at the point of onboarding or verification, especially for travel or government service use cases.

4. Check vendor readiness

If you work with third-party IDV providers, ensure they are equipped to handle evolving enforcement requirements, including support for REAL ID validation where applicable.

Bonus: What counts as a REAL ID?

Look for a star in the upper-right corner of the ID. If it's not there, it's not compliant.

To get one, individuals need to provide:

• Proof of legal name and birth date
• Social Security number
• Two proofs of address'
• Proof of lawful presence in the U.S.

For full details, visit dhs.gov/real-id. 

How Veriff supports REAL ID readiness

At Veriff, we enable organizations to meet evolving identity verification demands — including support for REAL ID-compliant documents — through robust document recognition and fraud prevention tools.

Our platform is designed to:

• Recognize and process REAL ID specimens included in our extensive Document Database
• Leverage biometric checks and passive liveness detection to verify identity with confidence
• Offer global document coverage to support multi-region compliance
  

We’re constantly enhancing our document recognition capability and recommend collaborating with your Veriff representative to ensure your document verification setup aligns with your risk appetite and compliance needs.

Final thought: Turn compliance into confidence

REAL ID is more than a regulation — it’s a public test of your organization's readiness, agility, and reputation. Make sure your systems, processes, and partners are prepared — before the deadline becomes a disruption.

FAQ

1. When will I need a REAL ID to fly?

Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of identification to fly within the United States.

2. Is a passport required if I have a REAL ID?

No, a passport is not required for domestic travel if you have a REAL ID-compliant license. However, you still need a passport for international travel.

3. Is the REAL ID mandatory?

Individuals are not required to obtain a REAL ID; it’s a personal choice. However, suppose you want to use your driver’s license or ID card to board a domestic flight or access certain federal facilities. In that case, you will need a REAL ID or an alternative form of identification.