The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) reminds Alabama residents that the REAL ID Act of 2005, went into effect on May 7, 2025. This means Alabamians planning to fly domestic in the United States (U.S.) or enter certain federal facilities will need a REAL ID-compliant driver license (known as STAR ID in Alabama) or another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport. In 2012, Alabama began offering STAR IDs statewide to ensure those who wished to obtain a STAR ID were able, well before the federal deadline.
“Currently, citizens who fly domestic are able to use their regular driver licenses or other photo identity cards issued by their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to board a plane,” explained Holley Cook, Director of ALEA’s Driver License Division. “However, the REAL ID Act changes this. If you plan to use your state-issued ID or driver license to fly within the U.S. then it must be REAL ID compliant after May 7, 2025. In Alabama, the REAL ID is known as a STAR ID.”
The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, aimed to enhance the security of state-issued identification documents in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While a STAR ID is optional, travelers will need some form of federally accepted identification to board a domestic flight in the U.S. This includes a valid U.S. passport or other approved ID. A complete list of acceptable forms of identification can be found on TSA’s website: Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint | Transportation Security Administration.
HELPFUL HINT:
Bibb County citizens can obtain a Star ID at the Bibb Probate Court Annex, on Thursdays only. Long lines have been forming and applicants may have been disappointed. We found last week that the ALEA office in Selma is open all 5 days and appointments may be made. We walked in last week and obtained a Star ID with a short wait.
