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REAL ID

REAL ID deadline: May 7, 2025 with alternating REAL ID stars

REAL ID

What is REAL ID?

As of May 7, 2025, Michigan residents will need to present a REAL ID-compliant document to fly within the United States and enter certain federal facilities to comply with federal law. REAL ID requirements ensure the secure production and issuance of licenses and IDs to prevent copying or altering.

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Old and new Michigan driver's license
Old and new Michigan enhanced driver's license

Deadlines and requirements

The REAL ID requirement took effect May 7, 2025. You can still convert your license or ID to REAL ID after the deadline at a Secretary of State office.

You aren’t required to convert your license or ID to become REAL ID-compliant. However, as of May 2025, you will need to present a REAL ID document when you:

  • Board a domestic flight in the U.S.
  • Enter a military base or nuclear power plant.
  • Visit certain federal buildings.

If you have a valid, unexpired Michigan enhanced license or ID, U.S. passport, or DHS Trusted Traveler’s card, you are already REAL ID-compliant.

Costs

There is no added charge for converting to REAL ID if you do so at the time of renewing or replacing your license or ID.

Otherwise, there is a correction fee ($9 for license; $10 for ID) to convert to REAL ID.

Converting to REAL ID

To convert to REAL ID, visit a Secretary of State office and provide the following documents:

  • Your current Michigan driver’s license or ID.
  • A certified legal name-change document, if your name is different from what is on your birth certificate.
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of legal residence*

*Proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of legal residence

To apply for a REAL ID driver’s license or state ID, Michigan residents must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of legal presence.

Documents are verified with the issuing agency - the verification process may take more than one day.

State and federal law requires the department to verify the applicant’s status through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service SAVE application before issuing a Michigan license or ID.


Proof of U.S. citizenship
– The following documents can be presented as proof of U.S. citizenship to obtain a REAL ID credential.

  • Valid U.S. passport or passport card
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. State Department (form FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545)
  • Certificate of Citizenship (form N-560 or N-561)
  • Certificate of Naturalization (form N-550, N-570 or N-578)
  • Certified birth certificate issued by the Vital Records office of the state of birth. Birth certificates can only be accepted if they have the following information:
  • U.S. government unit (city, county, state, U.S. territory) that issued the record
  • Applicant’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth
  • Parents’ names (at least one parent must be listed)
  • Date the record was filed with the registrar’s office
  • Certification statement and signature from the registrar indicating the original record is on file with the registrar’s office
  • Seal or stamp indicating the document is a certified record (not a photocopy)

NOTE:

  • Delayed foreign birth certificates aren’t acceptable (these are issued to customers who were adopted from another country). These applicants are eligible to apply for a U.S. passport, passport card, or Certificate of Citizenship.
  • Hospital birth certificates aren’t acceptable.
  • Adoption records aren’t accepted as birth certificates.
  • Puerto Rico birth certificates must be issued on or after July 1, 2010


Proof of legal presence
– The following immigration documents can be used as proof of legal presence to obtain a REAL ID credential.

  • Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (form I-551)
  • Valid foreign passport with U.S. visa and evidence of entry (form I-94 or entry stamp in the passport). Both the passport and visa must be unexpired.

- International students who have an F-visa also need to present form I-20.
- International students who have a J-visa also need to present form DS-2019.
- Not acceptable: B1 and B2 visas, and WB and WT visa status

  • Valid Employment Authorization Document (I-766) are only eligible for a REAL ID credential if the following statuses are verified by the federal government’s SAVE application:
  • Refugees (class of admission A03 will show on the face of the card)
  • Asylees (class of admission A05 will show on the face of the card)
  • DACA (class of admission C33 will show on the face of the card)
  • Temporary Protected Status (class of admission A12 or C19 will show on the face of the card)
  • Afghanistan parolees (class of admission C11 will show on the face of the card)

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)


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