After nearly two decades of delays, the US is set to enforce the REAL ID Act on 7 May 2025. This legislation, passed in 2005 in response to the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, aims to standardise the issuance of state identification documents to enhance national security. However, its implementation has been fraught with challenges, including logistical hurdles, political resistance, and privacy concerns.
The REAL ID Act was designed to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driving licences and ID cards, making them acceptable for federal purposes such as boarding commercial flights and accessing federal facilities. Despite its passage in 2005, enforcement has been postponed multiple times due to a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and uneven state-level compliance efforts.
As of 2025, all US states and territories have achieved compliance, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin full enforcement in May. Travellers will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant licence or an acceptable alternative form of identification, such as a passport, to board domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings.
To obtain a REAL ID, applicants must present documents proving their legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, address of residence, and lawful immigration status. This comprehensive vetting process has led to criticism from privacy advocates, who argue that the system facilitates government overreach and increased surveillance. Critics assert that REAL ID, while not officially a national identity card, effectively creates one through federal mandates and interconnected databases.
The aggregation of personal information, retained by states and verified through federal channels, has raised concerns about data breaches and the potential for misuse. Civil liberties organisations, including the American Civil Liberties Union 1, warn that the infrastructure supporting REAL ID could be used for tracking citizens in ways that extend beyond its stated purpose of identity verification and transportation security. While supporters view the programme as a necessary step to counter identity fraud and protect critical infrastructure, the broader implications for individual privacy remain hotly contested.
REAL ID-compliant identity cards must conform to a detailed set of specifications aimed at ensuring both visual authenticity and data integrity. Each card must feature a star in the upper corner, marking it as compliant, and must include advanced security elements such as holographic images, UV printing, microtext, and ghost imagery to deter forgery. The cards display the holder’s full legal name, date of birth, gender, residential address, unique identification number, photograph, and signature.
Beyond the physical characteristics, the issuance process is strictly regulated. Applicants must provide original documents that are then verified through federal databases such as those maintained by the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). States are obliged to retain copies of these documents and implement rigorous record-keeping protocols. To prevent individuals from acquiring multiple REAL ID cards in different states, systems must be interconnected and capable of cross-referencing applicants. Additionally, employees involved in the issuance process are required to undergo background checks, further bolstering the programme’s resistance to fraud and internal misuse.
These specifications were first outlined in the DHS’s final rule in 2008 and have been refined through subsequent regulatory updates. Full technical details can be reviewed in the DHS’s Publications Library 2.
1 - https://www.aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology/national-id/real-id?utm_source=chatgpt.com
