REAL ID

What is REAL ID?

Effective May 7, 2025, a federally compliant Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card, or a Passport will be required to board an airplane for domestic flights or enter a secure federal facility. Your current Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card will be accepted until May 7, 2025. Your REAL ID Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card will be marked with a star in the top right corner to indicate it may be used for federal identification.

Do you need it?

REAL ID is voluntary in New Hampshire, but you should consider it if you want to travel by air domestically or enter a secure federal facility (such as a military base or courthouse) and you do not have a Passport, or other federal identification, or if you do not wish to use your Passport for those purposes.

What will happen if you do not get it?

Your Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card will indicate "NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION" and you will need another type of federally compliant identification, such as a Passport, to board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal facility.

Plan ahead.

If your Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card expires before May 7, 2025, you may wait until your renewal to switch to REAL ID. If your renewal falls after May 7, 2025, you should make the switch as soon as possible.

How do you get it?

You will need to visit a DMV at the time of your Driver License or Non-Driver Identification card renewal and bring required documentation to prove your identity, your Social Security Number and your New Hampshire residency. We are now offering appointments to upgrade to REAL ID outside of renewal time. Please visit our Appointments and Services page for more information.

Online Document Checker is available below to help determine what documents need to be provided at the time of your visit. If you opt in before your renewal, there will be a $3.00 replacement fee. You will also need to bring the appropriate application for your license type (Commercial Driver License or Driver License).

Has your name changed due to: Marriage, Divorce, Adoption or Other?

An important part to proving your identity is ensuring that your birth certificate or Passport reflect your current name. Your proof of identity must show your current name, or you will need to show proof of your name change(s). For example, if you have been married, you will need to show a document for each time your name changed, so if you have been married multiple times, you will need to show the proper documents for each marriage. It is important to note that we need to have proof that the person named on the birth certificate is the person applying for the Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card.

Please feel free to utilize our Name Change Wizard, located within our Online Document Checker when trying to determine what documents you will need to bring in.

Customer Service Support: If you have additional questions pertaining to your specific situation, please call (603) 227-4000 to speak with a customer service representative.