California residents have one year to obtain a REAL ID

Starting this Tuesday, May 7, California residents have one year to obtain a REAL ID before it is a necessary document to take air trips in the country.

From May 7, 2025, it will be necessary present a REAL ID or other nationally approved identification for everyone 18 years of age or older to board domestic flights or to enter federal buildings.

For international flights, California residents You will still need to present a valid passport.

In most states, Real IDs feature a star in the top right. However, this document in California, it is marked with a golden bear and a star.

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To obtain a REAL ID, It is necessary to have proof of social security, two proofs of residence and one proof of statussuch as a passport, birth certificate or permanent resident card.

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), As of May 1, 2024, 17,424,852 California residents were REAL ID cardholderswhich represents an increase of 139,605 since April of this year.

The Department of Motor Vehicles is the agency in charge of issuing REAL IDs in California.

The agency recalled that there is only one year left before the United States Department of Homeland Security start enforcing the REAL ID requirement.

“With just 12 months left before REAL ID requirement, now is the time to act. We encourage everyone to avoid the rush and get their REAL ID now,” California Department of Motor Vehicles Director Steve Gordon said in a statement.

Keep reading: 5 key aspects about the REAL ID that already has a new date to be mandatory when traveling in the United States

“Your trips in the United States will be easier and You will be glad you received yours early“he added.

The DMV offers the opportunity to start the process online on its website, where you can upload the requested documents before going to a department office to complete the application.

This simplified process is fast and efficientin addition to significantly reducing the amount of time of a normal visit to a DMV office.

After uploading documents to the DMV website, customers must visit a department office along with all the documents to complete the application.

Keep reading: California residents age 70 and older can renew their driver’s licenses or REAL ID cards online or by mail

By starting the process online, residents will be able to complete the process in a period of about 15 minutes at a DMV office.

To request a REAL ID, interested parties must present the following documentation:

• Identity proof, which is an original, certified document, such as a valid passport or birth certificate. Legal name change documents are required if the name on the proof of identity is different from other documents, such as a marriage certificate or adoption papers.
• Proof of California residencywith paper copies of two documents, such as utility bills or bank documents.
• Number of Social Security.

To know a complete list of documents that are accepted To complete this procedure and a link to the online application, you can enter this link.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles reiterated that REAL ID does not replace the need to have a valid passport to travel internationally, but does guarantee that you can continue taking flights within the United States and have access to secure federal facilities without additional documentation.

Keep reading:
· California Department of Motor Vehicles has appointments available in the summer to obtain a REAL ID
· Starting June 2, the California Department of Motor Vehicles will expand hours at 64 offices across the state
· California Department of Motor Vehicles offers online services to avoid COVID infections