The REAL ID deadline has come and gone. After the first official 2023 deadline was extended, the Federal Government gave states until May 7, 2025 to ensure that all their residents had their state IDs changed tot his new secure format, and the State of New York is no exception to this. Although for now having the previous ID is still technically legal, this transition process has gone on for a very long time, and soon enough it will not be, so if you have yet to update your license, you should go to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and get your documents up to date.
It may seem like a rash decision on the part of the authorities, but this is just because the change was done mostly quietly and gradually, and it is not until now when the deadline has passed that those in charge ae urging residents of the State to comply if they have not yet done so it is being publicized. The REAL ID Act was actually passed by Congress in 2005 after the 9/11 Commission issued the recommendation.
After the terror attack, the 9/11 Commission noticed that many security measures in the country could be and should be tightened, and since every state has a very different format of ID, they recommended some kind of standard for how licenses and IDs are issued and produced to be set by the federal government to make sure that no one would go through security with an invalid license.
Since the states have the prerogative over the type of license that they issue, the REAL ID system was created, which would add specific markings to all state IDs to ensure compliance. Since the process was to be taken on by every state, they gave ample deadlines to make sure that everyone could comply, but the deadline has come and gone and now that means if your ID is not REAL ID-compliant, you will not be able to use it for things like domestic flights, getting into federal buildings, or accessing military bases.
Getting your REAL ID issued in New York State
Although the initial recommendations from the New York DMV and other agencies was to not wait until the last minute in order to ensure not just compliance on time but straight up delays caused by people panicking, there are still some that did not manage to make the transition on time.
For those who did not manage to sneak under the wire, there is still time to make the transition, and they can just go to the DMV with two documents that confirm New York State residency like a utility bill, a bank statement, a pay stub, or even a report card if you are a student. Additionally, the traditional paperwork to renew licenses will be expected, like documentation showing your full legal name, such as a valid U.S. passport, a government-issued birth certificate, or a Permanent Resident Card.
Also remember that renewing a license in New York requires a fee, and that if you are going to choose an enhanced ID on top of the REAL ID you will have to pay an extra $30 on top of the usual cost. Both REAL IDs and enhanced IDs meet federal requirements, but there are a few differences between them, they both allow you to board domestic flights and access federal facilities but enhanced IDs have the added bonus of letting U.S. citizens cross into Canada and Mexico by land or sea, so if you cross the border frequently you might want to think your choice carefully.