Deadline for NC State “Real ID” Coming Up
Starting May 7, 2025, REAL IDs will be required across the United States to board commercial flights, even for domestic travel.
These new identification cards will also be required to enter some sites, including nuclear sites, military bases, federal courthouses, and federal prisons.
Wondering if you already have a REAL ID? Look for the star in the upper right corner of your I.D.
A REAL ID cannot be ordered online. To get a REAL ID driver’s license, North Carolinians will have to go in person to a state DMV office with the following documentation:
- One document with your full name and date of birth.
- One document with your full name and social security number.
- Two documents with your current physical address.
- One document proving liability insurance coverage from a licensed provider.
- One or more documents verifying any name change, if applicable.
- One document proving lawful status if you’re a non-U.S. citizen.
When searching online for a DMV appointment in North Carolina, you should be willing to look outside of your immediate area. DMV offices are often booked up weeks in advance in the state. You may have to keep checking for availability, or visit a driver’s license office without an appointment. You can check the walk-in wait times online by going to www.ncdot.gov/dmv/Pages/default.aspx.
What About People Who Don’t Drive?
You don’t need a REAL ID driver’s license to drive in North Carolina or in the US. If you do not have or need a driver’s license, you can get a REAL ID identification card instead. The process to obtain a REAL ID card is the same as obtaining a REAL ID driver’s license. You’ll have to visit a North Carolina DMV office.
Can I Travel Without a REAL ID?
Those who do not have a REAL ID can travel using a US passport or other federally-approved identification, including (but not limited to):
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Veteran Health Identification Card
- US Department of Defense ID
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
REAL IDs are Optional in North Carolina
The state makes it clear that REAL IDs are “completely optional” in the state of North Carolina. Residents are not legally required to get a REAL ID. The state does not require you to have a REAL ID to drive, vote, apply for benefits, serve on a jury, or the like.
A REAL ID will be required for commercial travel and visiting federal sites and facilities. However, people who aren’t involved in such activities may not need to upgrade their license or ID to a REAL ID.
And, as mentioned above, you can still engage in those activities without a REAL ID—though you would be required to supply additional documentation along with your traditional ID or driver’s license.
