Starting today, you'll need a Real ID to fly or face additional screening by TSA

The Transportation Security Administration on Wednesday began enforcing new rules requiring air travelers to present a Real ID or other federally approved form of identification to board domestic flights.

But even as the mandate took effect, it appeared grace was issued at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Some travelers without Real ID driver's licenses or ID cards — denoted with a gold star or U.S. flag in the upper right corner — were handed cards reading "the ID you present is not Real ID-compliant," and allowed to pass through screening.

Kyle Potter, editor with Thrifty Traveler, posted on social media that he received one of the cards at MSP after showing a standard driver's license. He has a Real ID, he said, but was testing the system Wednesday.

"Through security in 4 minutes with little more than a stern reminder," Potter said in a posting on X. "'Enforcement' of Real ID is increasingly just looking like a campaign to remind people to get one."

The red card warned travelers they would need an acceptable form of ID for their next flight or they may face delays. Passports, Global Entry cards and tribal and military IDs are valid forms of identification.

There was no hint of disruption Wednesday at MSP. Lines at security checkpoints breezed along with waits under 10 minutes all morning. Most travelers appeared to have a Real ID or passport as they entered the checkpoints. Few travelers stopped at an information desk in Terminal 1 to ask about the real ID requirements.

For Sue Bennett, it was business of usual. A message about Real ID popped up on the screen as she checked in a bag for her Delta flight to Myrtle Beach. "I didn't read it because I have one," Bennett, of Hermantown, Minn., said.

Even travelers with pets made it through security with no problems, though one passenger from Britain was a bit worried her schnauzer might draw unwanted attention. Asked if her dog, Bunny, was Real ID-compliant, the woman who gave her name simply as Jorja said "I hope so."

As it turns out, "all he had to do was fit in a bag," she said, showing an agent a foreign-issued passport, another acceptable form of ID.

You still have options without Real ID

Procrastinators 18 and older without approved ID my have to go through "extra steps" before making their journey, said TSA spokeswoman Jessica Mayle.

Signs throughout the terminal like one in front of the American Airlines ticketing counter reminded travelers that Real ID is now the law of the land.

Most flyers won't see much turbulence as a result of the change, Mayle said. More than 80% of travelers at TSA checkpoints nationwide already present an acceptable identification, including a state-issued Real ID, Mayle said.

"We strongly suggest customers travel with all current and valid documentation for their travel," a Delta spokesperson said.

Congress in 2005 voted to improve standards for identification in response to security vulnerabilities exposed by the 9/11 attacks. Enforcement has been delayed multiple times over the years, but federal law requiring Real ID to enter certain government facilities kicked in Wednesday.

High demand at DVS offices

Lines have spilled out the door for the past two weeks at the Roseville License Center where those without appointments but seeking a Real ID have been forced to wait 2 to 3 hours, said center manager Pam Ryan Senden.

Appointments are booked well into July, she added.

"These are in demand," Ryan Senden said, noting her office is processing almost 200 requests for Real ID a day, a 50% increase over last year. "People think they need to have it by the deadline. If you don't have to travel [soon] or have another means to travel, don't get mixed up in the chaos."

Processing Real ID applications takes longer than for standard licenses because applicants must show multiple documents to prove their identity. Clerks must verify those documents and scan them into the system.

"That is why wait times are way up there," Ryan Senden said.

Receipts or paper copies showing a traveler has paid for a Real ID but has yet to receive an actual card will not fly, Mayle said.

About 42% of Minnesotans have a Real ID compliant driver's license or state ID card, and the number is rising fast, said Mark Karstedt, a spokesman with Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). The arm of the Department of Public Safety is processing 900 to 1,000 requests for Real ID a day during April, a figure Karstedt described as "crazy."

Turnaround as of Tuesday stands at about 45 days, Karstedt said. But applicants can reduce their wait to a little as 2 weeks by opening a MyDVS account online, uploading their documents for review and bringing the same documents to an in-person inspection.

"You can help the process," he said.

What you need for Real ID

Applicants need to prove their full name, date of birth and proof of legal presence in the United States by showing a passport, birth certificate or permanent resident card. Two documents showing proof of address, such as utility bills or tax returns, and a Social Security number also are needed.

Watch out for scams

Cliff Steinhauer, Director of Information Security and Engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, is warning about scams related to Wednesday's deadline. He said scammers may call or send text messages or emails with links trying to steal sensitive information.

"The DMV or the government will not reach out to you," Steinhauer said. "Don't trust incoming messages. You have to initiate this on your own side."

Do I really have to get a Real ID?

While lines and waits have been as long as ever at the Hennepin County Government Center, not everybody needs to get a Real ID, said Neng Lor, who manages the service center at 300 S. 6th Street.

"People are concerned about the deadline, but you don't need it if you are not going anywhere," Lor said.

Standard licenses and ID cards will still remain valid for transactions such as banking, health care and buying alcohol and tobacco. And most importantly, Lor said, "you don't need it to drive."