REAL ID vs Passport

Starting on May 7, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require a specific type of identification for domestic air travel: a REAL ID, a U.S. passport book, or a U.S. passport card. All three work at TSA, but they are not the same document and they are not equally valid for all types of travel.

TSA has published a list of acceptable forms of identification, and the two most common for travelers are a REAL ID-compliant state-issued ID and a U.S. passport book. The less-familiar U.S. passport card was introduced because of requests from travelers who rarely need a passport book, has the same security features as the book and can be used at the TSA checkpoint.

Unlike a passport book, the passport card cannot be used for international air travel. It works for domestic flights, and it works as a substitute for the state-issued REAL ID that will be required on May 7, 2025.

A REAL ID is issued in a driver’s license or non-driver state ID card. It is typically marked with a star at the top if it is compliant, and the state-issued card is the most common way for Americans to meet the new May 7, 2025 TSA requirement for domestic flights. If the card does not have a star or other listed REAL ID marking, it is not REAL ID-compliant. Commonly required documents for a REAL ID include a state-issued birth certificate, Social Security card, and lease or mortgage statement.

REAL IDs support domestic air travel, entry to some federal buildings and military bases. They do not work for international travel.

The TSA-required REAL ID is not the only way to board a domestic flight. U.S. passport books and passport cards are also accepted at the checkpoint. The State Department has published a guide that lists these, along with trusted traveler cards, military ID, and foreign passports, as alternatives to the REAL ID at the TSA.

While the passport card and passport book both meet the May 7, 2025 TSA checkpoint rules, they fill different practical needs for travelers.

The passport card has the same security features as the passport book, but it does not include a valid visa page. It is only valid for domestic air travel, and travel by land and sea across U.S. borders and territories. Both documents are REAL ID compliant and work as alternates to a REAL ID-compliant driver's license. The State Department’s 2025 guidance specifies roles for both formats, including public warnings that the passport card’s naming can cause it to be confused with border crossing cards intended for only land or sea type travel instead of domestic flights.

The passport book is the most comprehensive document for a U.S. citizen, because it covers all types of legally required overseas travel. A passport card is a good alternative for people who do not regularly travel to foreign countries by air, or who do not expect to.

The final decision for a domestic traveler is made easier by the compromise state authorities are building into the issuance of REAL IDs and the passport card option. For passengers who are sure they will never go abroad by air, the option to use a passport card gives a way to meet TSA requirements. For any traveler who could conceivably need a passport book, that more expensive option preserves access to broader options.

When it comes to travel documents, the old adage might be worth considering: it's good to have a backup. For a domestic flight, here are three.