REAL ID Compliance
Countdown to May 7, 2025 Deadline
- What is the REAL ID Act?
Effective May 7, 2025 federal requirements will require you to comply with the REAL ID Act. Having a REAL ID compliant driver license or ID card will be necessary to board commercial aircraft or gain access to federal facilities.
To be considered REAL ID compliant, you must have the required (original or certified copy) documents on file with the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles.
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act complies with the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the federal government set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver licenses. The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes, such as at airport security checkpoints. For more information on REAL ID, visit the Department of Homeland Security's website.
- Is Colorado REAL ID compliant?
Colorado has been REAL ID compliant since 2012. This means that REAL ID eligible Coloradans currently have our REAL IDs. Our customers were either issued a REAL ID during their first issuance of a Colorado credential or when they renewed their existing Colorado credential between 2014 and 2025. If you are a US Citizen, Permanently Lawfully Present, Citizen of Freely Associated States or a CDL Holder, your Colorado credential is already REAL ID compliant- so there is nothing you need to do!
Colorado credentials with a black banner, known as Standard credentials, are not REAL ID compliant, do not have the “star” and cannot be used for federal purposes like flying, voting or federal public benefits. These credentials cannot be upgraded to REAL ID compliant.
- How do I tell if my license or ID card is REAL ID compliant?
Your credential should have a REAL ID compliant “star” on its front. Colorado has been REAL ID compliant since 2012 and all Colorado federally compliant REAL ID credentials have either a black star (new design as of 2020) or a gold star (pre-2020).
- Can I fly commercially if I don't have a REAL ID-compliant credential after May 7, 2025?
Beginning May 7, 2025, adult travelers over 18 must present a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card or acceptable alternative or they will not be permitted through the security checkpoint. TSA has a list of other acceptable identification that can be used at a checkpoint in lieu of a REAL ID compliant credential.
- Who is eligible for a REAL ID in Colorado?
All Colorado residents who are eligible for a federally compliant REAL ID will be issued a REAL ID and include the following groups of individuals:
- US Citizen
- Permanently Lawfully Present
- Citizens of Freely Associated States
- Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants (whether permanent or temporary residents)
All applicants must provide proof of identity, lawful presence, and Colorado residency. You must also provide your Social Security number, which will be verified through the Social Security Administration. This applies even if you transfer your REAL ID credential from another state. Check out our New to Colorado page for more information.
See what you need here: Identification Requirement Charts
- What documents do I need to bring with me when I apply for a REAL ID license or ID card?
You can find the list of documents that Colorado requires on our DR2300A form and our New to Colorado web page. Required documents include proof of your identity, and lawful status as well as Colorado residency and your social security number.
- Who is not eligible for a federally compliant REAL ID credential?
Credentials issued under the Colorado Roads and Community Safety Act (CO-RCSA) are not federally REAL ID compliant. CO-RCSA driver licenses and IDs also known as “standard” credentials have a black banner which reads "NOT VALID FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION, VOTING, OR FEDERAL PUBLIC BENEFIT PURPOSES." Undocumented residents and Temporarily Lawfully Present (TLP) residents receive Standard credentials in Colorado. Check out our FAQ’s about Standard credentials on our Standard License FAQ page for more details about what you will need.