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If your New York State license or ID does not have a star or a flag on it, then you do not have a REAL ID-compliant document.
A REAL ID is a federally compliant DMV-issued driver license, learner permit, or non-driver ID which you will be required to have to board a domestic flight (within the U.S.) or enter certain federal buildings starting in May 2025, unless you have a valid passport.
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses, permits, and ID cards. The Act also prohibits federal agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), from accepting cards for official purposes from states that do not meet these standards.
A REAL ID is optional and is not needed for the following:
If you are a U.S. citizen and New York State resident, you can apply for a New York State Enhanced Non-Driver ID (ENDID) that can be used instead of a passport to return to the US by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, and some countries in the Caribbean. An ENDID is not acceptable for air travel between these countries.
A New York State ENDID is compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
We recommend you contact your travel agent, your cruise line, or the specific countries of destination to verify your travel document requirements
How to Apply
The DMV’s online document guide shows you exactly what documents you need to apply for a REAL ID or Enhanced document. It creates an individualized checklist of all the documents you need to bring to the DMV such as a utility bill, Social Security card, and more. Expired or outdated documents will not be accepted. Certified copies of both birth and marriage certificates are accepted. Complete this guide to be sure you have the proof of identity you need to get a license, permit, or ID before you go to a DMV office.
You can have your REAL ID / Enhanced document application securely pre-screened before you visit a DMV office to have your photo taken and complete your document upgrade.
Confirming your application and identity documents are approved before you arrive at the DMV will ensure that you complete your transaction with just a single office visit.
After you submit your application for pre-screening, we will contact you. You will receive notifications that will include instructions and describe the next steps in the process. Once your application is approved, we will alert you to schedule your in-person visit at a participating DMV location on a date and time that is convenient for you. You will also be able to check your application status 24/7.
Submit all your documentation to a DMV office.
After you apply you will receive a temporary document. It takes about 2 weeks for your new Enhanced and REAL ID document to arrive in the mail.
REAL ID: There is no additional fee for a REAL ID. All normal transaction fees still apply.
Enhanced: The additional fee for an enhanced driver licensed (EDL) or enhanced non-driver ID card (ENDID) is $30.00. The fee is added to the other fees for the driver license or non-driver ID transaction.
Tips to Avoid MistakesIf you are applying for a REAL ID or Enhanced document you must provide two proofs of New York State residency. A New York State license, permit or non-driver id card, a recent bank statement, or a recent pay stub showing your current New York State address are just some of the acceptable proofs of residency. DMV will accept certain electronic documents such as a utility bill, a credit card statement, or a pay stub if they are printed. Documents with a P.O. Box listed cannot be accepted.
Additionally, any documents issued more than one year before your office visit will not be accepted. For example, a bank statement or utility bill that is provided as proof of residency must have been issued within the last 365 days of the customer’s visit to the DMV.
DMV may only print your legal name on a REAL ID or Enhanced document. A nickname, like an abbreviated or alternate version of your legal name, is not allowed. If a nickname, abbreviated name, or confirmation name appears on any of your proof documents, additional proof of full, legal name, or proof of a court-ordered name change, must be shown.
If your name has changed once or multiple times due to marriage or divorce, for example, proof of each change, such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree, must be provided to show the connection.
Early Renewal With Conversion to an REAL or Enhanced Photo DocumentYou can normally only renew a New York State driver's license or non-driver ID card within 12 months or less before the expiration date. However, you can apply for renewal earlier than normal to convert to a REAL or Enhanced License or ID.
To renew early and convert to an enhanced document your license or ID must
You must also meet the proof of lawful status, identity, and residency requirements for a REAL or Enhanced photo document.
The early renewal fees with conversion to REAL or Enhanced photo document fees are based on
If you get a REAL or Enhanced photo document through an early renewal, the year your license expires and your total fee will be different than if you renewed on a normal schedule. The fee can be higher because your license is issued for more months than a normal renewal.
Our online calculator can tell you the fee you would need to pay.
NOTE: The calculator provides the fee you would pay if your application were processed on the same day you use the calculator. If you apply at a later date, the fee may change.
To calculate the fee to convert to an enhanced document, you must have the DMV ID Number (Client ID Number) from your New York State driver's license, learner permit, or non-driver ID card.
