REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions

The information provided below has been gathered from U.S. Government sources.

Information provided by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, to include information contained on the DPS website or provided in response to any inquiry, is intended as general information only and not as a warranty or endorsement of the completeness, accuracy or quality of that information. Legal information provided by the Department of Public Safety is not intended to be legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice of professional legal counsel. You should always consult an attorney to determine how the law applies to you.

YES. The Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 7, 2025. This means Oklahomans can continue to use their current driver license or Oklahoma identification card to fly domestically or enter federal facilities until this time.

No. Oklahoma will allow individuals to choose between a REAL ID driver’s license/ID card and a non-compliant driver’s license/ID card. If a person chooses to get a non-compliant license or card, they will need to present alternative forms of identification, such as a U.S. passport, accepted by the agency or facility in question. Some agencies or facilities may have additional requirements to accommodate individuals lacking the correct ID documents.

NOTE: Non-compliant licenses/cards will NOT be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) when boarding a commercial aircraft, starting May 3, 2023. TSA currently accepts other forms of identity documents, such as passports or permanent residency cards, and will continue to do so. Click here for a current list of TSA-acceptable travel identification documents.

A $5.00 increase was signed into law in 2017 and implemented to pay for REAL ID. Click here to download the fee table for driver’s licenses and ID cards.

REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the states and the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of state-issued identification documents, with the intent of inhibiting terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 established minimum standards for the production and issuance of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and authorized grants to assist states in implementing the requirements. The Act prohibited federal agencies from accepting driver’s licenses and ID cards from states unless DHS standards were met. Official uses included accessing federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.

In 2007, the Oklahoma Legislature passed a law prohibiting DPS from implementing this REAL ID Act, specifically prohibiting DPS from implementing any provisions that would comply with this federal law.

In 2017, HB1845 was passed by legislators, allowing DPS to come into compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005.

• The REAL ID Act covers 56 jurisdictions, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
• The standard for acceptance of an identity document for federal facilities where identification is required is the same for all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, limited English proficiency, national origin, immigration status or religious beliefs.
• REAL ID does NOT apply to the following:
  • Entering federal facilities that do not require a person to present identification
  • Voting or registering to vote
  • Applying for or receiving federal benefit
  • Being licensed by a state to drive
  • Accessing health- or life- preserving services (including hospitals and health clinics), law enforcement, or constitutionally protected activities (including a defendant's access to court proceedings)
  • Participating in law enforcement proceedings or investigations
• REAL ID is not a national identification card. States and territories will continue to issue driver’s licenses and ID cards, and there is no federal database of driver information. Each jurisdiction will issue its own unique license and maintain its own records.
• REAL ID is also not an enhanced driver’s license. Enhanced DLs are state-issued driver’s licenses that provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. They provide travelers with a low-cost, convenient alternative for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean through a land or sea port of entry, in addition to serving as a permit to drive.