Are you ready, NJ? REAL ID deadline draws closer

⚫ Soon, a standard license will no longer allow you to board a domestic flight

⚫ You will need to make an in-person visit to update your license

⚫ Switching to REAL ID is not mandatory

It appears that this application date has indeed been respected.

We have less than a year until the federal government stops accepting your standard driver’s license or state-issued ID as the proper document when you want to board a domestic flight or enter a federal establishment.

Starting May 7, 2025, a REAL ID will be the only license type accepted.

It was announced at the end of 2022 that the application date planned for May 2023 would be pushed back by two years. The original deadline was October 2020; there have been some delays due to circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We want people to be aware of this federal deadline. As of right now, we have no indication that this is going to be delayed,” said William Connolly, spokesman for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

To date, NJMVC has issued approximately 850,000 REAL ID-compliant licenses and credentials. They are marked with a star in the upper right corner.

It’s unclear how many eligible New Jersey residents will want or need to obtain a REAL ID. A passport will still serve as the document for all flights, as well as for entering a federal establishment. And a standard license will always be sufficient to drive a vehicle.

Officials just want residents to be ready for the application date, and they would like to avoid any rush before then.

“If you typically use your license to board a domestic flight, you will probably need a REAL ID,” Connolly said.

How to get a REAL ID

If you want to make the change, ideally you will do so when your license is renewed.

Either way, to get the ball rolling, you’ll need to make an appointment at a licensing center for an in-person visit.

To prove you are who you say you are, you will need two proofs of your address (such as a utility bill or credit card statement), a verifiable social security number, and all 6 points. standard identity. Use this link to learn more.

Once the transaction is complete, customers can expect to receive their REAL ID/license in the mail within two weeks, NJMVC said. New Jersey licenses and IDs are sent via first class mail from a secure facility.

The cost is $35. A standard license costs $24.

Individuals can still apply for a REAL ID after the effective date of May 7, 2025.

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