For Pennsylvanians adding travel experiences to their list of 2026 New Year’s resolutions, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reminds travelers that a REAL ID, or other form of federally accepted ID, is required to board a domestic commercial flight, enter a military installation, or enter some federal facilities. A passport is still required to fly internationally.

“While thinking about the year ahead, now is a good time to ensure you are travel-ready with a Pennsylvania REAL ID,” said PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kara Templeton. “The new year is a great opportunity to inventory your documents and ensure that you have what you need to meet your domestic travel goals.”

Travelers must present a federally accepted identification – like a PennDOT-issued REAL ID, valid passport, or military ID – to board a domestic commercial flight. A REAL ID issued by PennDOT is one way to meet this requirement. PennDOT reminds Pennsylvanians to verify that they have one of these forms of identification prior to embarking on travel plans to avoid delays or setbacks at the airport.

Individuals who received their first Pennsylvania driver’s license, learner’s permit, or photo ID card after September 5, 2003, may already have their REAL ID documents on file with PennDOT. Customers can visit PennDOT’s website and complete the online pre-verification form. If they are eligible, customers may be able to skip the trip to the driver license center and order their REAL ID online and receive it by mail within 15 business days.

To determine if a REAL ID may be the right choice for you, please use PennDOT’s REAL ID online wizard to verify the following documents in order to issue a REAL ID. Examples of acceptable documents for each required category can be found on PennDOT’s REAL ID Document Checklist. Originals of each document are required, and photocopies cannot be accepted.

— One proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or valid passport.

— One proof of a Social Security Number, like a social security card.

— Two proofs of Pennsylvania residency.

— Proof of changes to legal name or date of birth, if applicable.

To apply for their first REAL ID, customers will pay a one-time $30 fee, along with applicable driver’s license renewal fees. They will then receive a REAL ID that is valid for four years plus the remainder of the driver’s current license term. Moving forward, all future driver’s license renewals will include the REAL ID designation, and the customer will then only pay the applicable standard fee to renew the license.

Starting Feb. 1, Pennsylvanians who are unable to present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly will have the option to pay a $45 fee to use TSA Confirm ID – an alternative identity verification system – for a 10-day travel period until they are able to get a REAL ID.

The Find a Location tool on our website is available to identify a Driver License Center near you to apply for your REAL ID.

You can receive your REAL ID over the counter at the time of service if you visit and apply at one of 15 full-service REAL ID Driver License Centers.

You can receive your REAL ID in 15 business days via mail if you visit and apply at one of 76 Driver License Centers.

Visit pa.gov/REALID for information on how you can get a REAL ID.

Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID, and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver’s license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver’s license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver’s license and photo ID duplicates; REAL ID pre-verification; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.