Is your ID ‘real’? Everything to know about Real IDs before they’re required for travel

Starting May 7, 2025, you’ll need a Real ID to fly within the US. The Department of Homeland Security initially set a deadline for late 2020 before postponing that to 2021, 2023, and now, to 2025 to ensure all states have time to comply.

Click Here to Check If Your ID Qualifies as ‘Real.’

Here are a few things to know about Real ID in Wisconsin:

What It Is: Real ID is a more secure version of the traditional driver’s license. The cards have a detailed black and white photo laser-engraved on a polycarbonate card as well as two high-definition, high-contrast images, making the card much more difficult to counterfeit. Wisconsin Real ID cards are marked with a star in the upper righthand corner.

When You’ll Need It: Starting May 7, you’ll need a Real ID to fly within the US or to visit a federal facility, like a military base. As long as it hasn’t expired, your driver’s license will still be valid after that date, but you won’t be able to fly domestically unless you have a US passport.

How to Get It: You need to go to the DMV in-person to get a Real ID in Wisconsin. Although you can’t complete the process online, you can use the DMV’s interactive website dlguides.wi.gov to start filling out the right forms.

At the DMV, you’ll have to prove your information in up to six categories, showing your passport, birth certificate, marriage license, Social Security card, W-2 tax form, and/or more. Here’s the full list of what to bring.

How Much It Costs: Wisconsin’s Real IDs are the same price as getting (or renewing) a regular driver’s license: $34. A regular photo ID costs $28. If your current ID hasn’t expired yet and you want to get a Real ID before then, you’ll have to pay the cost of a duplicate card: $14.

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