The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is rolling out the state’s REAL ID cards which meet the Obama administration’s requirements for access to airports, restricted federal buildings, military bases and more. It costs $25 and is valid for up to eight years.
Most people shouldn’t need the REAL ID card for another few years.
With the state now offering a credential that complies with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it will consider current Arizona driver licenses and IDs valid through Oct. 1, 2020, for travel by commercial aircraft and access to secure federal facilities.
Those applying for a first-time Arizona driver license or ID card can get a Voluntary Travel ID at any MVD office or at any of the 24 Authorized Third Party driver license providers around the state.
Beginning Friday, residents can convert their current driver licenses to the Voluntary Travel ID at an MVD office must make appointments at ServiceArizona.com. To start, appointments can be made at eight offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott and Flagstaff. More offices will be added over time.
Current driver license holders can also convert to a REAL ID card at any of the 24 authorized third party driver license providers around the state without the need for an appointment.
Based on federal guidelines, to get an Arizona REAL ID card, an applicant must supply:
All residency documents must have current address.
A full list of approved documents is available at azdot.gov/travelID.
Because state law gives residents the choice to get a REAL ID card, newly issued credentials that don’t comply with requirements in the federal REAL ID Act will be marked with the phrase “Not for federal identification,” as called for by the federal law. Even so, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said these credentials will still be accepted until Oct. 1, 2020.