Don’t wait to get your Real ID in KS or MO. Follow these steps before the new deadline

Kynala Phillips

Missouri and Kansas residents have a bit more time to get a Real-ID before the federal deadline, but it’s never too early to start the process.

A Real ID is a state driver’s license or identification card that meets a set of federal standards that will be required to access domestic flights and other federal facilities and agencies. They’re marked with a yellow star in the upper righthand corner.

The new Real ID is part of a federal push to increase fraud protection and fight terrorism by amping up security standards for state IDs and driver’s licenses, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

When do you need a new ID?

By May 7, 2025 residents nationwide will need a Real ID in order to fly domestically and access certain federal facilities. Residents in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and four U.S. territories will need to provide evidence of their date of birth, social security number, state residency and lawful status in the United States, in order to get a Real ID compliant driver’s license or identification card.

Will your old ID still work?

This new ID will not automatically invalidate your regular state driver’s license or IDs, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue. You will not need a Real ID to drive, vote, verify your age or access state agencies and resources, just to get on a plane or into some federal government buildings.

The Real ID will not replace a passport. If you plan to travel internationally, you will still need a passport to do so. If you only plan to travel domestically, by air, you will need either the Real ID or a passport by May 2025 to do so.

Why are Real IDs going to be required to fly?

The requirement to get a new ID goes back to the Real ID Act of 2005 in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The implementation of that law has been delayed many times since it was originally enacted. The program’s first deadline was in 2008. It was then set for October 2020 but was pushed back again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since been pushed back multiple times and is now slated to go into effect in 2025.

“This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

How to get a Real ID in Kansas or Missouri

Missouri began issuing Real IDs in 2019, and Kansas started its Real ID program in 2017. So, if you are interested in getting your Real ID before 2025, here’s everything you need to know to get yours now.

You can get a Real ID by visiting your local Department of Motor Vehicles in Missouri or Kansas. To find a location in Kansas, visit here. To find a location in Missouri, visit here.

To verify your identity you will need one of the following documents:

  • A valid, unexpired U.S. Passport

  • A valid, unexpired U.S. Passport Card

  • An original certified U.S. Birth Certificate

  • A consular report of birth abroad (basically a document that verifies a child acquired US citizenship at birth)

  • A certificate of naturalization

  • A certificate of citizenship

  • A valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card

If you have had a name change, you may be asked to present one of the following:

  • A certified marriage certificate

  • A court ordered divorce decree

  • Adoption paperwork

  • Any legal name change documents

To verify your social security number you will need to show one of the following documents:

  • Social Security Card (In Missouri, this should be signed if over 18 years old and cannot be laminated)

  • Current W-2 or 1099 showing full Social Security Number

  • Current pay stub showing full Social Security Number

In both states, you will need at least two documents that prove your state residency. This can include documents like:

  • Utility bill (examples include a phone, water, gas or electric bill)

  • A 2nd utility bill that is different from the first one.

  • Voter Registration Card

  • A lease agreement

  • Car Registration

  • Bank statements

  • A check from the government

  • Property tax receipt

If the resident is under 21 years of age, you can also use the following documents to verify residency.

  • School records

  • Hospital record

If you’re having trouble getting a Real ID, let us know what’s going on at kcq@kcstar.com.

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