Arizona residents will be grounded without new travel ID

As of Oct. 1, 2020, Arizona residents won't be able to travel out of several airports throughout the state and country with just a standard driver's license as identification, the Arizona Department of Transportation said.

Driver's licenses in Arizona are not compliant with the REAL ID Act, which was passed by Congress in 2005 and tightened requirements for identification presented by travelers at airports.

The Arizona Legislature passed a law that said a license or card holder must voluntarily take steps to secure a Voluntary Travel ID.

The Department of Homeland Security has designated a Real ID-compliant driver’s license as one of more than a dozen forms of acceptable ID for air travel. Others include a passport, a U.S. Department of Defense ID, a border crossing card, a DHS trusted traveler card, such as Global Entry, or a permanent resident card. For a complete list, visit tsa.gov.

Those traveling out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Phoenix Mesa-Gateway, Flagstaff, Tucson International and Yuma International airports will need identification to meet the requirement if they want to get past Transportation Security Administration screeners.

Some federally controlled facilities also will be inaccessible without a travel ID.

How to get a Voluntrary Travel ID

State officials said the Voluntary Travel IDs are available through the state's Motor Vehicle Division, which is part of ADOT.

The biggest visible difference between a standard driver's license and the Voluntary Travel ID is a gold star in the top right corner of the new cards.

Douglas Nick, an ADOT spokesman, said Arizona residents who want to obtain a Voluntary Travel ID can go to ServiceArizona.com and set up an appointment or just walk into the closest MVD building.

"What you need to do is come into an MVD office and bring one document that proves identity, such as a birth certificate or passport, a document that has your Social Security number and two documents that prove Arizona residency," Nick said.

Documents that prove Arizona residency can include utility bills, credit-card or bank statements or insurance policies. The MVD is looking for two documents with a current Arizona address.

The travel ID is $25 and valid for eight years.

Once the appointment is made and proper documents are shown to the MVD, Nick said, it should take about seven to 10 days to get the new ID in the mail.

Minors under 18 will not be required to have the ID if traveling with an adult who carries an ID.

Additional information can be found on ADOT's website, azdot.gov.

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