REAL ID Requirement Begins May 7, 2025

Office of International Students and Scholars oiss@tulane.edu
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Beginning May 7, 2025, anyone 18 years and older who plans to fly domestically or visit certain Federal facilities will need a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification. The official purposes covered by the Act and regulation are: 

  • Accessing certain federal facilities; 
  • Boarding Federally regulated commercial aircraft; and 
  • Entering nuclear power plants.

REAL ID-compliant cards will have a marking on the upper top portion of the card. If the card does not have one of these markings, it is not REAL ID-compliant and won’t be accepted as proof of identity in order to board commercial aircraft. You can still use your passport to fly domestically in the United States or other TSA approved documentation. If you want to use your State ID or Driver’s License, it must be REAL ID compliant.

Visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a REAL ID. For Louisiana, visit the OMV page. 

- The OISS Team