Sec. of State reminds Mainers that REAL ID enforcement begins in one year

Evan Popp
·3 min read
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(Image via Office of Maine Secretary of State)

Starting a year from today, U.S. travelers boarding domestic flights will need to provide a REAL ID, a valid passport or passport card, or another federally-issued form of identification, the Maine Secretary of State’s Office said Tuesday. 

The requirement is due to the REAL ID Act, which was signed into law back in 2005 in response to a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission. However, the law’s implementation has been repeatedly delayed amid issues with REAL ID access as well as privacy concerns. In 2022, the U.S Department of Homeland Security announced yet another extension, stating that the law would go into effect on May 7, 2025. 

The Maine Secretary of State’s Office noted that getting a REAL ID is optional and that a standard Maine ID is valid for all in-state purposes. But a REAL ID will be needed next year for domestic flights and access to federal facilities or nuclear power plants, unless a person uses a passport or other federal ID instead. 

So far, Mainers have not been particularly enthusiastic about REAL IDs, as the state has one of the lowest rates of uptake in the country. The Secretary of State’s Office said as of the beginning of May, only about 20% of issued Maine IDs were REAL IDs. 

For those not interested in getting a REAL ID, information on alternative forms of federal identification can be found at the Transportation Security Administration’s website. People who choose to get a passport instead should factor in a processing time of 8-11 weeks, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. 

A REAL ID is a version of a Maine driver’s license or State ID. In Maine, a REAL ID is signified with a gold outline of the state with a white star cutout in the center.

“Mainers should be aware of the upcoming deadline and consider whether obtaining a REAL ID credential is right for them,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in a news release. “For Mainers who want one — either because they don’t have a passport or other qualifying credential, or they want a backup option for domestic flights — our [Bureau of Motor Vehicles] staff are here to assist you.”

There are BMV offices located around the state that are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for scheduled appointments or walk-in service. The Secretary of State’s Office said it takes an average of 10-14 calendar days for an ID or driver’s license to be mailed out and encouraged those interested in obtaining a REAL ID to do so promptly. Information about the documentation needed to get a REAL ID can be found here. 

“Mainers who don’t have a REAL ID credential yet but want one should come in to a branch sooner rather than later,” said Cathie Curtis, deputy secretary of state for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. “Processing times for REAL ID credentials require a couple weeks, so taking the time now could save a traveler a big headache at the airport this time next year.”

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