Washington State Drivers: Is Your License Travel-Ready?

As of May 2025, all adult air travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant form of identification to board a domestic flight in the US. This means that a standard Washington state driver's license will no longer be accepted as a valid form of ID at airports for those flying within the country. However, Washington residents can obtain an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID card, which are both REAL ID-compliant and can be used for domestic air travel. To apply for an EDL or EID, individuals must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, identity, a valid Social Security number, and Washington state residency.

Washington state driver's licenses are not valid for air travel after October 2020

As of May 2023, Washington state residents are no longer able to use a standard driver's license to fly. This means that Washington state driver's licenses are not valid for air travel without an accompanying REAL ID-compliant identification document. This change was enforced by the REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, which established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. The Act also prohibited federal agencies, including the TSA, from accepting state-issued driver's licenses or identification cards that do not meet these minimum standards.

The REAL ID Act was initially supposed to go into effect in October 2020, but the deadline was extended to May 2023 due to licensing office closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Washington residents must have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification, such as an enhanced driver's license (EDL), to board a commercial flight. EDLs can be obtained by visiting a driver licensing office and providing documents that verify one's identity, Social Security number, state residency, and U.S. citizenship. The EDL will have the words "Enhanced Driver License" across the top.

It is important to note that standard Washington state driver's licenses are still valid for rail and car travel. Additionally, other forms of federally acceptable ID that can be used for air travel include:

• U.S. or foreign passport
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential
• Federally recognized tribal-issued photo ID
• U.S. passport or passport card
• Homeland Security-issued trusted traveler card
• Border crossing card
• Airline or airport ID issued under a TSA-approved security plan
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 Personal Identity Verification card

The REAL ID Act requires minimum security standards for state IDs

The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005, in response to the September 11 attacks. The Act sets out minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards. It prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses and ID cards for official purposes from states that do not meet these standards. The requirements include the verification of personal information, security features on the document, and electronic sharing of databases between states.

The Act requires that the person applying for an ID document must provide documentation of their full name, date of birth, and residential address; a Social Security number or documentation that they are not eligible for one; and documentation that they are a U.S. national or a foreign national legally present in the U.S. The state must capture the applicant's photograph, store digital images of the documents presented, and verify the documents directly with the relevant authorities. The state must also confirm that any existing ID document issued by another state is terminated, limit the validity of ID documents to eight years, implement background checks and fraud prevention programs for employees issuing ID documents, and maintain an electronic database of ID documents issued, which must be accessible to all other states and territories.

The ID document itself must display the person's full name, date of birth, gender, photograph, address, signature, document number, security features, and machine-readable technology.

The REAL ID Act will come into full effect on May 7, 2025, when every state and territory resident will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, or another acceptable form of identification, to access federal facilities, including boarding commercial aircraft. REAL ID-compliant cards feature a star in the top right corner. As of May 2022, an estimated 137 million Americans (49% of the population) held REAL ID-compliant identification.

Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDLs) are REAL ID-compliant

As of October 2020, a standard Washington state driver's license is no longer acceptable as a form of identification for those flying within the United States. This is due to new federal rules regarding what kinds of state-issued identification are acceptable.

However, Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDLs) are REAL ID-compliant. An EDL is a combined driver's license and passport card, allowing for international land and sea travel (but not air travel) to countries that recognize it. EDLs are available to U.S. citizens who reside in Washington state.

An EDL meets REAL ID standards and can be used to re-enter the U.S. by land and sea after traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. It includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that signals a secure system to pull up your biographic and biometric data for the CBP officer as you approach the border inspection booth. It also includes a Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) or barcode that the CBP officer can read electronically if RFID isn't available.

The process of obtaining an EDL is secure and includes additional requirements beyond those for a standard driver's license. To obtain an EDL, an individual must show proof of U.S. citizenship, in addition to the standard requirements of proof of identity and residence.

EDLs can be used to cross borders by land or sea

As of May 2023, a standard Washington state driver's license is no longer valid for air travel. However, Washington state residents can opt to obtain an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) for this purpose. EDLs can also be used to cross borders by land or sea.

An EDL meets REAL ID standards and can be used to re-enter the U.S. by land and sea after travelling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Washington's EDLs are REAL ID-compliant and can be used as a form of identification at TSA security checkpoints for domestic air travel within the United States. They are also valid for crossing the borders of Canada and Mexico by land or sea.

To obtain an EDL, individuals must visit a driver licensing office and provide certain documents, including proof of identity, U.S. citizenship, and state residency. There is an application fee of $35, plus an issuance fee of $13 per year. The total cost for an EDL issued in 2023 or 2024 is $110 for five years.

It is important to note that while an EDL is a convenient option for those who travel frequently within the U.S. and want to use their driver's license as their primary form of identification, it is not the only acceptable form of identification. Other acceptable forms of ID for domestic air travel include a U.S. passport, foreign passport, trusted traveler card, border crossing card, and federally recognized tribal-issued photo ID, among others.

Other forms of ID can be used for air travel, such as a passport

As of May 7, 2025, US travelers must have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. A Washington state driver's license that is REAL ID-compliant will be acceptable for domestic US travel. However, it's important to note that Washington residents have the option to choose between a standard driver's license or an enhanced driver's license (EDL), and only the EDL meets REAL ID standards.

If you are a Washington resident and have a standard driver's license, you will need to use another form of ID to fly within the US after May 7, 2025. Fortunately, there are several other forms of ID that are accepted for air travel within the US, including:

• A US passport or passport card
• A foreign government-issued passport
• A Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-issued trusted traveler card, such as Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST
• A Border crossing card
• An airline or airport ID issued under a TSA-approved security plan
• A Federally recognized tribal-issued photo ID, such as a Native American tribal photo ID or an Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC)
• A US Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• A Permanent resident card

These forms of ID can be used in lieu of a REAL ID-compliant driver's license for domestic air travel within the US. It's always a good idea to check with your airline and the TSA for the most up-to-date information on acceptable forms of identification for air travel.

Frequently asked questions