As deadline nears, RMV now taking Real ID walk-ins
Starting May 7, standard licenses or ID cards that are not federal Real ID-compliant will no longer be accepted as identification for domestic air travel or entering federal buildings and nuclear power plants. People 18 and older without Real IDs will need to present a passport along with their license or ID card. Compliant Mass. IDs feature a white star inside a yellow circle in the top right corner of the card.
Most of the 3.1 million Bay Staters who already have a Real ID-compliant identification got theirs after making an appointment in advance at either an RMV location or AAA branches. But Tuesday, the RMV said it is now accepting walk-ins at all service centers for people 'who do not have valid form of federally acceptable ID and have travel plans scheduled in the near future.'
The RMV said anyone who walks in looking to complete a Real ID transaction will either be assisted then, or RMV staff will try to find the person a time slot later that day or within 'the next several days.'
'We are increasing our capacity at our service centers, and we are also accepting walk-ins for individuals who have imminent travel plans that require a REAL ID,' Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie said. 'Meanwhile, we urge everyone to become familiar with the required documentation, so they know what they need to bring with them when applying for the REAL ID.'
Customers must bring proof of lawful presence (U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, etc.), two ways to prove Massachusetts residency (current driver's license, state-issued credentials, tax bills, etc.), and proof of a full Social Security Number (Social Security card, W-2 with full Social Security number printed on it, etc.) to obtain a Real ID.
The RMV said anyone who does not have imminent travel plans but wants to obtain a Real ID-compliant identification should make an appointment online either with the RMV or a AAA branch. Officials stressed that Real ID applications will continue to be processed once the May 7 enforcement deadline passes. The state is also monitoring the possibility that the federal government phases in enforcement of the long-discussed ID update.
Massachusetts has offered Real ID-compliant licenses and IDs since 2018, and about 56% of the valid credentials here were Real ID-compliant as of March, a take-up rate that lags most other states, Ogilvie told lawmakers that month.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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