NEW ORLEANS — The Transportation Security Administration and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles are telling people that they need to get their REAL IDs as soon as possible because the deadline is coming up.
Thursday, there was a news gathering at the New Orleans International Airport to let people know that they would need REAL IDs by May 2025.
In Louisiana, a REAL ID puts a star in the top right corner of a driver’s license.
Soon, people who want to get on an airplane will need a driver’s card that works with REAL ID. The TSA says that if a person’s driver’s license doesn’t work with REAL ID, they will need to show another form of ID, like a passport, in order to get on a plane or into a secure government building or military base.
REAL ID will be used starting on May 7, 2025, nine months from now.
In a statement, Arden Hudson, TSA’s federal security director for the state of Louisiana, said, “REAL ID is a coordinated effort across the country to make driver’s licenses and ID cards more real.” “The built-in security features make it harder for terrorists to hide their identities by using fake IDs.”
People who live in Louisiana can either get a REAL ID if their license doesn’t already have the star on it, or they can keep their old regular driver’s license. In contrast, the TSA says that a regular ID without a star will not be accepted to board a plane or enter secure government buildings such as military bases and some federal offices.
People who want to use a mobile driver’s license at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport TSA checkpoint need to have a REAL ID card.
People who want to get the REAL ID star will need to show proof that they are U.S. citizens and live in Louisiana at a Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles field office or Public Tag Agent site.
One form of identification, like a passport or birth certificate, is needed. Non-U.S. citizens must also show proof of legal presence. Residents of Louisiana must show two forms of identification and a current driver’s license if they want to switch one from another U.S. state.