Jersey drivers who want to use their license as identification at the airports are in luck. Federal officials will accept them for another year. But change is coming.

State issued driver's licenses and identification cards will be accepted as valid ID at airports and federal facilities until October 2019 after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security granted an extension.

"Our extension was formally granted yesterday (Tuesday) by the federal Department of Homeland Security, a day ahead of the Oct. 10 deadline," said Jim Hooker, a state Motor Vehicle Commission spokesman.

That extension is for one year, until Oct. 10, 2019, he said.

But drivers and air travelers could start to have new Real ID licenses in their hands as soon as next spring. The MVC plans to begin issuing licenses and ID cards that comply with Real ID standards starting next spring.

Drivers who want to use their license as identification at the airport or federal facilities will have to get a replacement license that meets Real ID standards by October 2020, MVC officials said.

To handle the added work load, the MVC is upgrading various computer systems to ensure a smooth rollout of Real ID licenses and to increase reliability, officials said. Some computer improvements will improve customer flow, and allow the MVC to add online services so that fewer people will need to visit an agency, officials said.

The state started on the road to Real ID compliance in 2011 when the Motor Vehicle Commission switched to the "enhanced digital driver's" license. That license contains over 20 overt and covert features to help the state to meet the guidelines established by the federal Real ID law.

In 2012, the MVC changed the documents it accepts from drivers to conform with federal Real ID standards and embarked on "Operation Facial scrub", which required a new photograph of every driver taken for facial recognition purposes.

Among the changes that drivers would see on a Real ID document is that licenses and ID cards will show a person's full first name, instead of the nine characters displayed now, MVC officials said. Drivers would be photographed at the beginning of the licensing process instead of toward the end to meet a federal requirement.

Homeland Security granted the last extension to New Jersey in Oct. 2017. Extensions are granted based on a state's progress to meeting the deadline. Currently 15 states, including neighboring Pennsylvania have extensions. Pennsylvania's extension expires on August 1, 2019, according to th DHS website.

The ultimate deadline for all states to issue licenses and ID cards that comply with Real ID standards is Oct. 1, 2020. After that date, air travelers from states issuing ID that doesn't meet the more stringent security standards will have to use a Passport or Military ID as proof of identity at airports or federal facilities.

The 2005 "REAL ID" law was passed in response to the 9/11 terror attacks.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

