When that famous British boy band sang about the long and winding road, they might well have been referring to the REAL ID Act.
The REAL ID Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2005, prompted by the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for license issuance and production.
Over the past 20 years, REAL ID security standards have been refined, while individual state and territory governments wrestled with the acceptance and compliance with the REAL ID requirements. Events such as the COVID pandemic complicated matters, and the REAL ID enforcement date was delayed several times.
Major milestone: From May 7, 2025, forward, the REAL ID Act will be enforced by commercial airlines, military bases, some federal courthouses, and nuclear power plants. And REAL ID is still evolving!
Download our new infographic illustrating the REAL ID Journey, with links to Keesing resources and articles that have informed thousands of people along the way. One key resource: our LIVE Blog.
Since 2018, Keesing has provided timely updates on the progress of the REAL ID Act, especially regarding the design of state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards. We’ll continue to keep you up to date as new developments arise.
Sources/References:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The Keesing Platform team brings you the latest in various fields, including security documents, security printing, banknotes, identity management, biometrics, blockchain, crypto technology and online onboarding.
