As of May 3, 2023, Arkansas
will require its residents to update their driver’s licenses to comply with REAL ID standards in order to board a plane, including domestic flights. Obtaining a REAL ID is as simple as providing documentation and paying a fee at your local Revenue Office. What is REAL ID?
The REAL ID is a nationwide federal initiative to improve the security of state-issued identification cards in an effort to combat identity fraud and terrorism. Following the tragedy of 9/11, Congress adopted the recommendations set forth by the 9/11 Commission and rolled out the REAL ID Act of 2005.
While the pace of the rollout has been slow, REAL IDs will become necessary across the U.S. starting in 2023.
Who needs a REAL ID?
Next year, a REAL ID-compliant license will be required for:
Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, including domestic flights
Visiting a nuclear power plant
Gaining access to certain federal facilities
Even if you’re not a government or nuclear power plant employee, REAL IDs will be necessary to check in at TSA checkpoints and board commercial flights, even if you’re only flying one state over.
Therefore, it’s important to update your Arkansas driver’s license
to comply with REAL ID standards if you plan on doing any air travel beyond next May. Key Takeaway: The REAL ID Act sets new standards for identification documents as put forth by the 9/11 Commission.
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Start earning nowHow to get an Arkansas REAL ID
Luckily, getting a REAL ID in Arkansas is a straightforward process. Arkansas’s Department of Finance and Administration has created a simple quiz
to help you identify what documents you’ll need to bring with you. Here’s a summary of what you’ll need:
Proof of legal presence (ex: U.S. passport, a U.S. birth certificate, valid permanent resident or resident alien card, valid employment authorization card)
Proof of identity (ex: valid driver’s license or ID, photo ID for your work or school, military ID)
Proof of Social Security number (ex: Social Security card, W-2 form, 1099 form, pay stub)
You can find a full list of approved documentation on the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
website. It’s important to note that if you’ve changed your name or gender, or have amended your date of birth, you’ll need to bring along the original documents as well as proof of name change linking documents (marriage certificates, divorce decrees, court orders).
Visit your local Revenue Office, present your documentation, pay an issuance fee, and that’s it! You’re ready to fly into 2023 and beyond.
If you’re upgrading your current, valid Arkansas driver’s license to a REAL ID-compliant license, the fee is only $10. For issuance of a new license, the fee is $40.
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