Beginning May 7, travelers will need a REAL ID or passport to fly within the United States
Allentown, PA – At an event at the Lehigh Valley International Airport yesterday, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll joined the officials from the airport and the American Automobile Association (AAA), to remind Pennsylvanians of federal REAL ID enforcement starting May 7. These efforts reflect the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to ensuring residents have the information and opportunities they need to be ready for federal REAL ID enforcement.
Read what some Lehigh Valley media had to say:
- The Morning Call: Final push for Pa. residents to get REAL ID ahead of deadline
- WFMZ: WATCH: PennDOT discusses upcoming REAL ID enforcement | Video | wfmz.com
Getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, but beginning May 7, travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card, or another form of federally-acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to board a domestic commercial flight, and enter a military base or other federal facilities that require ID at the door. More than 2.6 million Pennsylvanians have gotten a REAL ID driver’s license or ID card since they became available in the state in 2019.
“Pennsylvanians have options available to apply for a REAL ID-compliant product – mailed to you when you apply at a driver license center – or issued over-the-counter at a REAL ID center,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “With federal REAL ID enforcement beginning on May 7, your travel planning should include making sure you have proper ID to fly, especially if you have flights planned for the summer.”
PennDOT is hosting a series of REAL ID Days at driver license centers across the commonwealth. During these events, centers will be exclusively processing REAL IDs to help Pennsylvanians obtain a REAL ID before the enforcement date. REAL ID Days are held on Mondays when the centers are typically closed. The centers will still be open during their normal hours and people can also get a REAL ID or conduct other driver license business during that time. A complete schedule of REAL ID Days events can be found on PennDOT’s website.
“We don’t want anyone with current or future travel plans to be blindsided when they arrive at the airport and find out they and their families aren't allowed to fly,” said Theresa Podguski, Director of Legislative Affairs, AAA East Central. “We recommend that everybody stop and think if there will ever be any reason whatsoever that they think they would need to fly domestically, or enter a federal facility. If yes, don’t put REAL ID on hold.”
If you're not sure whether a REAL ID is right for you, our REAL ID online wizard may be able to help. A passport is still needed for international travel.
“We need you – the traveler – to be ready to fly, which includes having a Real ID-compliant document beginning on May 7th – which is just 6 weeks away. This new requirement applies to all domestic commercial flights including airline bus service from Lehigh Valley International Airport,” said Thomas R. Stoudt, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley International Airport. “The Airport strongly encourages everyone to prepare by identifying their Real ID-compliant document and make it part of their pre-travel checklist. You will not be permitted through the TSA Checkpoint if you fail to display one.”
More information about REAL ID document requirements can be found at pa.gov/REALID.
For a full list of driver license centers, REAL ID Centers, and services offered, please visit the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website and click on Find A Location.
For more information on REAL ID, visit PennDOT’s REAL ID website.
Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; REAL ID pre-verification; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Aimee Inama, ainama@pa.gov or 717-787-0485
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