Real ID Act: What it means for you

Take a look at your identification card: does it have a gold star or a white star on a black circle in the upper right-hand corner? If not, you're not in compliance with the Real ID Act.

Starting in October 2020, TSA will require travelers to bring a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or other forms of ID, such as a passport. That's even if you're flying domestic. To see a list of accepted travel documents, click here.

Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005. This enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government set security standards for state-issued driver licenses and IDs.

To get a Real ID, you’re required to prove your age, identity, Social Security number, address and residency or legal status. This means you will have to bring more documents with you when you renew your license.

But until then, the Colorado Springs Airport says the old IDs should suffice at airports until 2020.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story implied that only licenses with a gold star are Real ID compliant. This article has been updated to clarify that both a gold star and a white star in a black circle indicate Real ID compliance.