The Transportation Security Administration no longer accepts state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant from all airline passengers 18 and older as of Wednesday, May 7, 2025.As a result, Maine residents who have tried to acquire a REAL ID before the enforcement deadline have faced waits of several hours at Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices over the past month.However, adult air travelers do not necessarily need a REAL ID in order to be able to pass through a TSA security checkpoint and board a domestic flight.Here is what you need to know about obtaining a REAL ID in Maine and what other documents can be used to fly within the United States.What is REAL ID?REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued driver's license or identification card that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification.The 9/11 Commission recommended that the federal government set standards for issuing identification. That recommendation was included in the REAL ID Act, which was passed by Congress in 2005.States can still issue non-compliant licenses and IDs, but those will not be accepted as a form of identification to board a federally-regulated commercial aircraft, access certain federal facilities or enter a nuclear power plant.If the REAL ID Act was passed in 2005, why has enforcement taken this long?REAL ID was supposed to be rolled out in 2008, but its implementation has been repeatedly delayed.Nearly half of states and other jurisdictions have only been certified to issue REAL IDs since 2018. The Maine BMV began issuing REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses and state identification cards on July 1, 2019.The COVID-19 pandemic caused three more pushbacks on the deadline.Difference between REAL ID and standard license/IDA REAL ID contains a number of security features that make it more difficult to counterfeit than a state-issued driver's license or identification card.Also, people looking to obtain REAL ID need to bring additional proof of identity to their state motor vehicle agency when they apply for it.REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses and identification cards usually have special markings that set them apart from standard state IDs, in most cases that includes a star symbol. A few states display that star in different ways, including Maine, which has the star located in the silhouette of the state.What you need to get a REAL ID in MaineMaine residents who want a REAL ID will need to go to a BMV branch with documentation that establishes their identity, lawful status in the United States, a valid Social Security number and Maine residency.One of the following documents can be used to establish identity:Unexpired U.S. passport or passport cardCertified copy of birth certificate from a U.S. jurisdictionConsular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545)Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)Unexpired I-551 permanent resident cardUnexpired foreign passportUnexpired employment authorization cardREAL ID driver's license or identification card (if you are renewing in Maine or have one from a different state)One of the following documents can be used to establish lawful status:Unexpired U.S. passport or passport cardCertified copy of birth certificate from a U.S. jurisdictionConsular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545)Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)Unexpired I-551 permanent resident cardEvidence of refugee or asylum statusEvidence of a pending asylum, TPS or permanent residency applicationEvidence of an approved deferred action or TPS application Unexpired employment authorization card*Evidence of unexpired nonimmigrant visa status*The items with an asterisk (*) next to them require additional documents in order to prove lawful immigration status, including Forms I-94, I-20 or DS-2019 showing unexpired nonimmigrant visa status and other USCIS documentation that can be used to verify lawful status.REAL ID applicants in Maine are not required to bring their Social Security card or an official document showing their Social Security number to their BMV appointment. Applicants only need to provide their Social Security number by writing it on a form, according to the Maine Secretary of State's Office.Two of the following documents bearing the applicant's name and Maine residential address are acceptable. Documents featuring a post office box address will not be accepted:Maine driver's license or IDProperty tax bill or deedMaine vehicle registrationInsurance binder, card or policyPay stubUtility bill (cable, phone, satellite, etc.)Financial statementMaine vehicle titleMaine firearms permitMaine hunting/fishing licenseSchool transcript or report cardLien or lease agreement (auto or property)Tax return or W-2Home services contractTwo residency affidavits (Form MVL-17)DHHS complianceWhat if your name changed?Applicants who have legally changed their last name must provide a proof of the name change in order to obtain a REAL ID. Acceptable documents supporting a legal name change include a marriage license, divorce decree or court order. In all cases, the documents must show a clear trail of name changes from the name on the applicant's identity document to their current name.How much does a REAL ID cost in Maine?In the state of Maine, an original or renewed REAL ID driver's license costs $55 for non-commercial drivers under the age of 65 and $40 for those 65 and older. For commercial drivers, an original or renewed REAL ID license costs $59 for those under the age of 65 and $47 for those 65 and older. A REAL ID identification card costs $30 regardless of age or whether it's original or renewed. All duplicate REAL ID licenses and identification cards cost $30.Can a REAL ID be obtained past May 7?Officials want to clarify that May 7 is not the deadline to obtain a REAL ID, just when TSA will no longer accept driver's licenses or identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant.In fact, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said the BMV will be offering REAL IDs long after May 7. Bellows encouraged people who do not have any upcoming travel plans to make an appointment later in the summer to avoid long waits at BMV branches.What else can be used to get through airport security?Maine residents who have upcoming travel plans and were unable to obtain a REAL ID before May 7 can use the following documents at TSA checkpoints:U.S. passportU.S. passport cardTraveler cards trusted by Homeland Security, such as Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FASTU.S. Department of Defense ID, including identifications issued to dependentsPermanent resident cardBorder crossing cardAn acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation or Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)HSPD-12 PIV cardForeign government-issued passportCanadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cardTransportation worker identification credentialU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)U.S. Merchant Mariner CredentialVeteran health Identification Card (VHIC)What if a traveler does not have a REAL ID or any of the TSA-approved forms of ID?Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Tuesday that air travelers who do not have a REAL ID, passport or any other form of identification that complies with the REAL ID law will still be able to fly, but should be prepared for extra scrutiny.Noem said those travelers "may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step," but TSA will be working to make the process as seamless as possible."Individuals traveling without a REAL ID are going to be subject to additional screening and review of their documents to make sure that you are the individual that your ID said you were," said Zach Sundquist, the Portland International Jetport's assistant airport director. "We do recommend getting to the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure where typically, for anybody else, we're recommending an hour prior you can show up."The TSA website states that people who do not have an acceptable form of identification may be asked by an officer to complete an identity verification process, which includes collecting information such as the traveler's name and current address to confirm their identity. If the traveler's identity is confirmed, they will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where they may be subject to additional screening."You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if you choose to not provide acceptable identification, you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process, or your identity cannot be confirmed," the TSA website states.Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and the Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Transportation sent a letter to TSA and Homeland Security, proposing a phased-in approach to Real ID compliance and to allow Maine residents to be given a warning if they do not have REAL ID.Bellows' office said it had not received a direct response from Homeland Security or the TSA regarding that letter, but state officials were made aware TSA plans to provide a flyer to travelers who do not have the proper identification. The flyer states the traveler will need a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification for their next flight, or they may expect delays. State officials said it was also their understanding that those passengers may also be subject to additional screening.