Real ID card deadline less than a year away

Current licenses can be upgraded within about 2 weeks for $30

Albany International Airport, among others across the country, will require all travelers to have a federally approved Real ID card, such as an enhanced New York state driver’s license, to board commercial flights starting a year from now after May 3, 2023.

The requirement is part of ongoing security upgrades at airports and at the U.S. border. A Real ID is also needed to travel to and from Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean nations. It will also be needed to enter federal installations such as offices or military bases.

A passport can be an alternative for an enhanced license, and if you don’t drive, you can get a Real ID, which is an updated identification card.

How do you know if your driver’s license is enhanced and qualifies as a Real ID? The

license will say ENHANCED above your name and will have a U.S. flag logo.

Current licenses can be converted to enhanced within about two weeks and with an additional fee of $30 at the DMV. Converting a nondriver’s ID into a Real ID costs about $12.50, unless a person’s card is up for renewal, in which case there is no additional cost.

DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder warned that when people make appointments to get a real ID or convert their older ones, they should be prepared. Schroeder joined airport officials Tuesday at Albany International Airport to lay out the new requirements.

“If you want to do what we call one and done, you don’t want to have to come back to the office again, so please bring the documents that you need,” he said.

Individuals must show proof of their Social Security status (present a Social Security card or tax return with Social Security number on it), residency in New York (show a bill, bank statement or pay stub with a New York address) and name (show a birth certificate, passport or resident card) to be approved for an Real ID. An additional hiccup for those who changed their name after marriage — you need to have a document that has your name given at birth on it, and the name you changed it to after marriage. A marriage license often satisfies this requirement.

And it’s important to note that to get a Real ID, individuals must visit a DMV office in person. It cannot be obtained online. Schroeder urged the public to make appointments to get the identification cards now rather than waiting until 2023.

Those who have questions about the need for a Real ID can visit information booths at New York airports, including Albany, or visit the DMV website.