New ID requirements began in May 2025 for anyone over 18 who wants to fly or visit a federal courthouse, military base or other federal facility.

REAL ID is not an acronym or the opposite of a fake ID, but the name of a bill enacted in 2005 to address terrorism. The REAL ID Act set federal security standards for state-issued identification that are finally being implemented 20 years later. Missouri’s REAL ID has a star in the top right-hand corner.

The $27 cost is much lower than a $130 passport, but the documentation requirements are confusing, often requiring a second trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. You need to bring at least five documents:

• 1 document proving your identity with your full name and date of birth (e.g. passport or certified birth certificate)
• 1 document  proving  your lawful status with your full name and date of birth (same  passport or certified birth certificate might be accepted)
• 1 document with your name and full Social Security Number (e.g. Social Security card)
• 2 documents with proof of residence showing your name and the same city, state and ZIP code (e.g. bank statement and insurance policy)

For other examples, go to: https://dor.mo.gov/driver-license/issuance/real-id/.

Anyone applying for REAL ID must prove any legal name change with a court order or certified marriage license that clearly connect your identity document to your current full legal name. This can be especially challenging for women who changed their name after getting married. Missouri is one of the many states that requires a certified copy of a marriage certificate with the stamp or raised seal of the issuing authority if a woman’s birth certificate doesn’t match her current ID. A marriage certificate from a church is not acceptable.

Proof of residence documents can also be rejected if one utility bill is listed in a husband’s name and the second is in the wife’s name. While mail can be delivered to the same address whether the city is listed as Clayton or St. Louis, that’s not acceptable for proof of residence.

Since there can be delays and additional costs to obtain certified documents, anyone wanting a REAL ID should apply by April 1. For support getting a birth certificate or other needed documents, contact the Missouri State ID Access Coalition (https://www.moidaccess.org/).

In order to vote in Missouri, a non-expired Driver’s License or non-Driver’s License ID issued by the state of Missouri or an ID from the federal government is currently required. A non-expired Real ID would be acceptable but is not required to vote.

However, to not be blocked from flying or from access to a federal facility, anyone without a passport  should consider making the effort to apply for a REAL ID in April in case they might need it after May 7.