This story was originally published by The Beacon, an online news outlet focused on local, in-depth journalism in the public interest.

FAQ: What you need to know about the new Real ID

by Estrella Gonzalez, Beacon: Kansas City
May 1, 2025

Have you recently looked at your driver’s license or ID and noticed it may have “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” in the upper right corner?

Starting May 7, 2025, residents of the United States and its territories will be required to present a Real ID driver’s license or ID card, or another form of ID accepted by the Transportation Security Administration, to board federally regulated domestic flights.

In addition, a Real ID will be required to enter federal facilities where identification is currently required for entrance.

A Missouri and Kansas Real ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card will have a gold star in the upper right corner. A driver’s license or ID card that is noncompliant with Real ID will have “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” in Missouri and “NOT FOR FEDERAL USE” in Kansas on the upper right corner.

Who will need a Real ID?

Under Missouri and Kansas law, applying for a Real ID is a choice, and is not mandatory.

If you plan on flying on or after May 7 but do not want to apply for a Real ID, you can present another Transportation Security Administration-approved acceptable form of ID such as your U.S. passport.

A noncompliant driver’s license or ID card is, and will continue to be, acceptable for verification of identity, driving privileges, verification of age, voting and registering to vote, and other purposes not limited by the Real ID Act.

What documents will I need to bring?

You will be required to submit the following valid, original documents demonstrating proof of each item at the time you apply:

• Identity (one acceptable document to verify full legal name and date of birth).
• Lawful status in the U.S. (one acceptable document to verify U.S. citizenship or immigration status).
• Social Security number (one acceptable document).
• Missouri or Kansas residency (two acceptable documents verifying your Missouri or Kansas residential address from within the last year).
• Additional items, such as a certified marriage license or court order, may be required to verify a new or prior name change if your name is different from the name on your identity and birthdate verification document.

Additional documents will be required to verify an alternate mailing address or name change, if your current full legal name is different from the name on your identity or lawful status document. Additional documents needed if you live in Missouri and Kansas can be found on their respective department of revenue websites.

How much does it cost to obtain a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or nondriver’s ID card?

The transaction and processing fees for a Real ID driver’s license or ID card, new or renewal, are the same as for a license or ID card that is noncompliant with Real ID. You can view accurate fees for Missouri and Kansas on their respective websites.

Do children need a Real ID?

TSA does not require children under age 18 to provide identification when traveling within the U.S. Contact the airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18.

How does Real ID implementation affect states that provide IDs and driver’s licenses to certain noncitizens/undocumented immigrants?

Real ID allows compliant states to issue driver’s licenses and identification cards where the identity of the applicant cannot be assured or lawful presence is not determined. Some states currently offer these noncompliant cards to undocumented individuals.

Noncompliant cards must:

• Clearly state on the front (and in the machine-readable zone) that they are not valid for Real ID purposes.
• Have a different design or color to set them apart from compliant cards.

For a full list of documents needed for a Missouri noncommercial, non-REAL ID compliant card, click here. If you are a non-U.S. citizen in Kansas you can click here under list B. Having a noncompliant card does not mean a person is undocumented.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cautions against assuming that having a noncompliant card indicates the holder is an undocumented individual, given that individuals may obtain noncompliant cards for many reasons unrelated to lawful presence.

What if I am under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program?

The Real ID Act allows states to issue temporary, Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards to applicants who provide valid, documentary evidence that they have “approved deferred action status.”

Under the Real ID regulation, applicants with approved deferred action who hold valid employment authorization documents (EADs) and Social Security numbers (SSNs) may qualify to receive temporary Real ID driver’s licenses and ID cards.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program standardized and expedited the process for obtaining these supporting identification documents for individuals with deferred action status seeking Real IDs.

Individuals with approved DACA, valid EADs and valid SSNs may continue to hold temporary  Real IDs until their expiration.

How to get in and out of the DMV quickly

• According to a previous Beacon story, you want to avoid Mondays and Fridays and the last day of the month.
• Use technology to get in line before you arrive. Some DMVs use an app called QLess that allows you to check in from your phone. The app will send you a notification when you’re up next.
• If you don’t have the QLess app, you can call ahead of time at some locations to be added to the queue.
• Talk to the clerk when you check in to make sure you have all the documents you need before it is your turn and you find out you’re missing a document.

Why are these changes being made?

The Real ID Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2005 after the 9/11 Commission recommended the federal government set new standards for issuing identification to enhance security.
Missourians can learn more about Real ID here. If you live in Kansas you can learn more about the Real ID act here.  Information is also available on the DHS website.

This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.