US Passport For Domestic Flights

If you have a domestic flight in the next few weeks and you live in one of the 22 states or 3 US territories highlighted in yellow, then you might have trouble boarding your flight without a passport. This photo was taken directly from the Department of Homeland Security’s website. You can check out the map here.

It Just Got Real!

In a few days you might need a passport just to take a domestic flight in some states. These states have been on notice since 2005 when the REAL ID act was passed by congress. The government started enforcing it in phases in 2013. There has been a gradual rolling out of enforcement but we are now in the final stages of that roll out, which included commercial flights that are federally regulated.

What does that mean for you if you live in one of these states?

If you have an upcoming flight, then you might want to contact the airline and TSA to see what they recommend. You can also reach out to your elected official to find out how things are progressing from a compliance perspective.

The states have until January 22, 2018 to get things in order. This does not appear to be a reality for some of the states. You can check out the Department of Homeland Security’s FAQ page to get more information about your options.

This is a quick post to help make some of you aware in the event this hasn’t been mentioned to you before.

Happy travels!