As of  May 7, 2025 you will need to have the REAL ID to board a domestic flight or access secure federal facilities.  If you have a U.S. Passport or another form of approved identification, you can use that instead. Effective immediately, some military bases may no longer accept non-REAL ID compliant credentials which display Federal Limits Apply.  REAL ID compliant credentials display a small star in the upper right corner to indicate they meet federal requirements. 

 

The Virginia REAL ID is completely optional. If you won’t need it, you don’t need to get it. Your standard driver’s license, like the one you may have in your wallet right now, can be used to drive. In addition, a driver’s license or identification card can be used as ID to vote, cash a check, apply for or receive government benefits, or conduct everyday local business. The next time you renew your standard credential and choose not to upgrade to a REAL ID, it will display Federal Limits Apply in the top right corner in order to distinguish it from a REAL ID compliant license.

 

To get a REAL ID-compliant license, you'll have to show up to a Virginia DMV location, pay a $10 surcharge plus any other fees related to obtaining a new license and present the following: one proof of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Virginia residency.  If you have had a name change, through marriage or divorce, you will need a certified copy of that document.Choose which docments you’ll need to bring to DMV to get a REAL ID with DMV’s interactive Document Guide.