Time Is Running Out: Real ID Required for Flights Starting May 7

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California DMV opens early at select offices to speed up the process—schedule your appointment now.

Although there is no official deadline to apply for a Real ID, May 7, 2025 marks the beginning of its requirement.

Countdown to Get the Real ID: New York DMV Takes a Key Step to Speed Up the Process

Real ID in California: DMV Modifies Office Hours to Obtain It Before May 7
With May 7 just around the corner—the date from which a Real ID will be required to board domestic flights in the United States—the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has decided to adjust its service hours to help residents complete the process. Starting this week and continuing through June 27, 18 DMV offices in California will open one hour earlier on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, but only for individuals with scheduled appointments to obtain the Real ID.

To meet the growing demand for appointments, the DMV announced that the 18 selected offices will offer the additional early hour exclusively for those with appointments to get the Real ID.

Here are the 18 DMV offices in California opening earlier:

• Pleasanton (6300 W. Las Positas Blvd.)
• Fremont (4287 Central Ave.)
• Folsom (323 E. Bidwell St., Suite A)
• Carmichael (5209 North Ave.)
• Thousand Oaks (1810 E. Avenida De Los Árboles)
• Van Nuys (14920 Vanowen St.)
• Arleta (14400 Van Nuys Blvd.)
• Glendale (1335 W. Glenoaks Blvd.)
• Pasadena (49 S. Rosemead Blvd.)
• Culver City (11400 W. Washington Blvd.)
• Westminster (13700 Hoover St.)
• Costa Mesa (650 W. 19th St.)
• San Clemente (2727 Via Cascadita)
• Rancho Cucamonga (8629 Hellman Ave.)
• San Diego – Clairemont (4375 Derrick Drive)
• San Marcos (590 Rancheros Drive)
• El Cajon (1450 Graves Ave.)
• Poway (13461 Community Road)

This measure is aimed at avoiding last-minute crowding and speeding up the application process before May 7, when the Real ID becomes essential for air travel within the country and for accessing federal buildings.

These are the documents required to obtain a Real ID in California:

• Proof of identity – such as a valid license, birth certificate, or passport.
• Social Security number verification – or official documentation explaining its absence.
• Proof of legal status – including citizenship, permanent residency, or valid temporary status.
• Two proofs of California residency – such as utility bills or bank statements.

While there’s no official deadline to apply, May 7, 2025 marks the start of the requirement for domestic flights and access to secured federal facilities. As Mark JF Schroeder, New York DMV Commissioner, explained, “The last thing you want is to delay a trip—or worse—not be able to fly in an emergency because you don’t have the right ID.”

Additionally, not having this ID may be a barrier in professional or personal situations that require federal identity verification.

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