Starting May 7, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will fully enforce the REAL ID requirement at all U.S. airports, including Alaska’s Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Fairbanks International Airport, and TSA-screened rural airports. Travelers aged 18 and older will need to present a REAL ID-compliant identification to pass through TSA security checkpoints.
Standard state-issued driver’s licenses or IDs that are not REAL ID-compliant will no longer be accepted for air travel. However, travelers may use other approved forms of identification, such as U.S. passports, military IDs, and other federally recognized documents.
This change affects flights between Alaska and the Lower 48 and air travel within Alaska, including between rural communities.
The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities emphasizes the importance of being prepared to avoid disruptions, especially given how vital air travel is for maintaining connections across the state’s vast and often remote regions.
Commissioner Ryan Anderson, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, encourages all Alaskans to verify their identification status and take steps to obtain a REAL ID if necessary. “As Alaskans, travel is essential to staying connected with our families, friends, and communities across our vast and remote state.”
With the enforcement date fast approaching, travelers are urged to act now to ensure seamless travel during the busy summer months and beyond.
For detailed information about REAL IDs and the process of obtaining one, visit the official TSA website: REAL ID Overview – Department of Homeland Security.
