Every adult passenger 18 and older needs a valid photo ID and a boarding pass to fly within the United States. As of May 7, 2025, that ID must be REAL ID-compliant unless you’re using an alternative like a passport. Beyond identification, there are screening rules for what you can bring and a few practical details worth knowing before you head to the airport.
Identification You Need at the Checkpoint
TSA requires one valid photo ID from an approved list. The most common options are a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or a U.S. passport. Either one will get you through. If your state-issued license has a star in the upper corner, it’s REAL ID-compliant. If it doesn’t, you’ll need a different form of ID.
The full list of accepted IDs includes:
- REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Enhanced Driver’s License (issued by border states like Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont)
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. military ID, including dependent IDs
- Permanent resident card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Tribal government photo ID
- Veteran Health Identification Card
TSA also accepts certain digital IDs, including Apple Digital ID, Clear ID, and Google ID pass, as part of ongoing testing. Mobile driver’s licenses from approved states work too, as long as they’re based on a REAL ID or Enhanced license. And if your ID recently expired, TSA currently accepts it up to two years past the expiration date.
What REAL ID Enforcement Means for You
REAL ID enforcement started on May 7, 2025. A standard (non-REAL ID) driver’s license is no longer enough to board a domestic flight. If your license isn’t compliant and you don’t have a passport or another accepted ID, you won’t make it past the TSA checkpoint.
You can check your license by looking for a gold or black star, typically in the upper right corner. If you’re unsure, your state’s DMV website will confirm whether your license meets the standard. Getting a REAL ID usually requires an in-person visit with documents proving your identity, Social Security number, and address. A U.S. passport works as an alternative and doesn’t require the DMV trip.
What Children Need
Passengers under 18 do not need to show ID at the TSA checkpoint. Children can fly without any identification as long as they’re accompanied by an adult who has valid ID. TSA itself doesn’t require proof of the relationship between an adult and child, though individual airlines may have their own policies for unaccompanied minors, which typically involve extra paperwork and fees at check-in.
If You’re Not a U.S. Citizen
Non-citizens can fly domestically using a foreign passport, a permanent resident card, or a U.S. employment authorization card. A Canadian provincial driver’s license is also accepted. You don’t need a visa stamp to fly within the U.S. if you already have one of these documents, though you should carry your immigration documents in case questions arise at the airline counter.
Carry-On Liquids and the 3-1-1 Rule
Every liquid, gel, cream, aerosol, or paste in your carry-on must be in a container of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or smaller. All those containers need to fit in a single quart-sized clear plastic bag, one bag per passenger. Pull it out of your carry-on and place it in a bin for screening.
Medically necessary liquids are the exception. Prescription medications, insulin, liquid nutrition, and similar items can exceed the 3.4-ounce limit. You’ll want to remove them from your bag and tell the officer so they can be screened separately. Keeping medication clearly labeled speeds things up.
Battery and Electronics Rules
Laptops, phones, tablets, cameras, and other battery-powered devices can go in either carry-on or checked bags. Checked devices must be powered off and protected from accidental activation. But spare batteries and portable chargers (power banks) must always go in your carry-on, never in checked luggage. This is a safety rule from the FAA because lithium batteries are a fire risk in the cargo hold where no one can respond.
Most consumer electronics fall well under the limit of 100 watt-hours per battery, so you won’t need to think about it for a phone or standard laptop. Larger lithium-ion batteries between 101 and 160 watt-hours, the kind found in some professional camera equipment or oversized power banks, require airline approval and you’re limited to two spares. Anything over 160 watt-hours is prohibited entirely.
Flying With a Service Animal
Airlines can require you to fill out a Department of Transportation form confirming your service dog’s health, behavior, and training before the flight. For flights of eight hours or more, a second DOT form may be required confirming the animal can either hold off on relieving itself or do so in a sanitary way. Airlines cannot demand additional documentation beyond these forms.
Your service dog must remain well-behaved. An animal that barks, snarls, runs around, or jumps on other passengers without provocation can be denied boarding, even with the paperwork completed. Only dogs qualify as service animals on flights. Emotional support animals lost their special access under rules that took effect in 2021, and airlines can treat them as regular pets, which typically means a carrier and a fee.
When to Arrive at the Airport
The standard advice is to arrive two hours before a domestic flight, and that’s a reasonable cushion if you’re checking bags, flying from a large hub, traveling during holidays, or going through regular (non-PreCheck) security. At busy airports like Atlanta, LAX, or JFK during peak travel periods, two hours can feel tight.
If you have TSA PreCheck or Clear, aren’t checking a bag, and are flying from a smaller or mid-sized airport, 60 to 90 minutes before departure is usually plenty. The variables that matter most are your airport’s size, the time of day, whether you need to check luggage, and how fast your security line moves. Building in a buffer for the unexpected, like a long rental car return or a broken escalator in a sprawling terminal, is always smarter than cutting it close.