Does Your License Meet TSA ID Travel Regulations?

Passports are a mainstay of global business travel, but fewer hold a passport than you may think. For many people, a driver’s license is all the identification one needs to travel. After all, not everyone travels internationally. If your employees only ever travel domestically, they may not have a passport and have been using their drivers license to travel for business. Up until recently, that was not a problem. However, the rules of travel are changing and a standard driver’s license will soon not be enough.

Here is what your employees need to know.

The REAL ID Act

In 2005, Congress passed a law called the REAL ID Act. It set forth a variety of security measures that would be adopted as a minimum standard for state-issued identification, like driver’s licenses. Whereas previously people could travel within the United States and its territories with only a driver’s license or state-issued identification card, the new rules would require travelers have an ID that meets REAL ID standards.

The roll out of these security changes is incremental, but significant.

Travelers will be able to use their existing driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards for domestic travel at least until 2018. There is a chance that you will still be allowed to fly if you forget your identification, but only if you have another acceptable form of identification – and you should know that privilege only exists until 2020.

“Starting January 22, 2018, travelers who do not have a license from a compliant state or a state that has been granted an extension will be asked to provide alternate acceptable identification. If you cannot provide an acceptable form of identification, you will not be permitted through the security checkpoint,” explains the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). “Starting October 1, 2020, every traveler will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of identification for domestic air travel.”

Several states have been granted an extension (check the compliance of your state here).

You May Already Be in Compliance

Some states became compliant with the REAL ID Act early on. “There are 23 states and territories that needn’t worry — all are compliant with the REAL ID Act, which means that travelers can continue to use their licenses indefinitely,” writes Conde Nast Traveler. States already in compliance include:

• Alabama

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Florida

• Georgia

• Hawaii

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Kansas

• Maryland

• Mississippi

• Nebraska

• Nevada

• Ohio

• South Dakota

• Tennessee

• Utah

• Vermont

• Washington, D.C.

• West Virginia

• Wisconsin

• Wyoming

In addition, Conde Nast goes on, “A number of other states and territories will have to change their licenses to comply with the federal standards from the REAL ID Act, but they have some time.” Currently, there are five states or territories that are both noncompliant and have not received an extension:

• American Samoa

• Illinois

• Minnesota

• Missouri

• Washington

Twenty-seven states and territories have received an extension in order to become compliant, meaning that travelers from these states have until at least January 22, 2018, to use their current state-issued driver’s license or ID card.

REAL IDs Look Different

One of the biggest changes is that the information featured on driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards will become standardized. According to the REAL ID Act, each one will need to list the person’s full name, date of birth, gender and principal residence. They will also need to include a digital front-facing photograph, an identification number and the person’s signature, in addition to security features, in order to prevent tampering or duplication. Compliant identification cards will need to include technology that makes the cards scan-able.

REAL IDs also look different from traditional state-issued driver’s license and identification cards. In addition to listing all the standardized information noted above, there will be a star in the top corner of the identification card.

Alternatives to REAL IDs

While REAL IDs will become a standard in the United States, there are alternatives your employees can use until they receive their REAL IDs. “A number of other documents can also be used as REAL ID. A valid U.S. passport book or passport card can be used as REAL ID, as can valid passports from foreign countries,” explains Passport Info. “Permanent Resident Cards, Trusted Traveler cards and valid U.S. military IDs also count as REAL ID.” Again, these alternative documents will allow your employees to travel domestically after the REAL ID requirement has gone into effect, but they are not a substitute. In addition, Passport Info writes that “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses, which demonstrate U.S. citizenship, can be used for REAL ID purposes.”

Enhanced Driver’s Licenses Are NOT REAL IDs

Enhanced driver’s licenses (EDLs) are state-issued identification cards that are issued after an extensive process that includes collecting certain biometric data. In addition to acting as a driver’s license, EDLs allow travelers to visit neighboring foreign countries, including Canada, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean, as long as they are traveling through a sea or land port of entry. They include two unique security measures: a vicinity Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) or barcode that can be scanned as a backup to the RFID technology. EDLs are not REAL IDs. They cost more than REAL IDs and are only available to people who are both licensed drivers and U.S. citizens.

New TSA ID travel regulations could cause serious issues for travelers in the coming years – but don’t worry! There is plenty of time to get prepared and to be sure that your business travel isn’t affected by the new REAL ID standards.