REAL ID

Pennsylvania is under a REAL ID enforcement extension until October 10, 2018.

Pennsylvania residents will not face access issues when entering federal facilities or boarding commercial aircraft through at least that date. 

The REAL ID Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 2005, requires changes to state standards, procedures and requirements for the issuance of driver's licenses and identification cards, if they are to be accepted as identity documents by the federal government.

On May 26, 2017, Gov. Wolf signed SB 133 (Act 3 of 2017), which will allow Pennsylvania to issue REAL ID-compliant driver licenses and identification cards, which can be used to access airports and federal facilities. 

PennDOT will continue to request extensions from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security until REAL ID products are available for residents. Under Act 3, no Pennsylvania resident will be required to get a REAL ID-compliant driver license or identification card, but residents who choose to do so will be able to use those forms of identification when the new federal requirements go into effect.

System, building infrastructure and process changes will be necessary for Pennsylvania to issue REAL ID-compliant products. Preliminary work on REAL ID has begun, and PennDOT estimates REAL ID-compliant driver licenses and identification cards will be available at the customer’s option in 2019. This will allow ample time for customers who want a REAL ID product to obtain one before the final DHS effective date of October 1, 2020.

Questions about what this means for you? Check out our REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions.