REAL ID and What ID to Bring to the Airport
Which IDs TSA accepts now that REAL ID is enforced, what children need, and the passport rules that trip up international travelers.
By WarBird Flight editors · Updated September 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Domestic flights
REAL ID enforcement began on 7 May 2025. A driver's license or state ID must carry the REAL ID star, or you need another accepted document: a US passport or passport card, a Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI card, a military ID, a permanent resident card, or an enhanced driver's license from Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington. Travelers without an acceptable ID can be turned away or put through extra screening.
Children
TSA does not require ID for children under 18 flying with an adult on domestic flights. Airlines may ask for proof of age for lap infants and for unaccompanied minors, so carry a birth certificate copy for those cases.
International flights
A passport is required, and many countries require it to be valid for six months beyond your arrival date, with at least one or two blank pages. Check the destination's entry rules for visas or electronic travel authorizations before booking; the agent can flag common ones such as the UK ETA, Canada's eTA, and Europe's ETIAS once it is live.
Name matching
The name on the ticket must match the ID you present. Middle names are not required to match on most carriers, but a misspelled first or last name is. A correction before the day of travel is usually free or a small fee; at the airport it can mean a new ticket.
Before you book
If your license is not REAL ID-compliant and you have no passport, tell the agent at (708) 866-8751: an appointment for a REAL ID can take weeks in some states and a passport longer, so the travel date may need to move.
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