The REAL ID Act of 2005, which requires anyone 18 years old or older to have a REAL ID or other federally issued photo ID, such as a passport, to enter certain Federal buildings, military bases and nuclear power plants or board commercial flights within the United States, will go into effect on May 7, 2025.
Of Tennessee’s 5.8 million valid credentials, 1.6 million are not currently REAL ID compliant. Tennesseans are encouraged to decide before the implementation date to avoid the potential influx of customers to Driver Services Centers.
Obtaining a REAL ID is optional. Regular Tennessee driver licenses will continue to be accepted for general identification purposes such as driving, purchasing alcohol or tobacco products, applying for federal benefits, voting, accessing hospitals, post offices, banks, federal courts, etc.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.