For the duration of the COVID-19 national emergency, the TSA has said that, for a short time, people can use expired driver’s licenses to get through airport security. Licenses can be valid for up to a year after they expire. If you arrive at the airport without valid identification, either because you lost it or because it is at home, you may still be permitted to fly. However, if you’re wondering whether you can fly in 2023 with an expired ID, the answer is yes. It is still possible to fly if you meet certain conditions. If you can’t meet the requirements, there are other ways to prove your identity that you can use to fly. You just need to be aware and have those requirements ready.
Can You Fly With an Expired ID in 2023?
A valid passport is required to fly internationally and enter a foreign country. On the other hand, all you need to travel within the United States is a valid form of identification. Passengers frequently use their driver’s licenses to verify their identity. But can you fly with an expired ID in 2023?
If your driver’s license or state-issued ID expires on or after March 1, 2020, and you can’t renew it through your state’s driver’s license agency, you can still use it to fly at the checkpoint. A year after expiration, the TSA will accept expired driver’s licenses or state-issued IDs. The REAL ID deadline has been pushed back to May 3, 2023, by the Department of Homeland Security.
If you plan to fly within the United States after May 3, 2023, make sure your state-issued ID or license is REAL ID compliant. Starting May 3, 2023, anyone 18 or older who wants to fly within the United States will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID. If you are unsure whether your ID is REAL ID compliant, contact your state’s department of motor vehicles.
Can I Fly If I Forgot My ID?
If you arrive at the airport without valid identification because you lost or left it at home, you may still be able to fly. To confirm your identity, the TSA officer may request that you complete an identity verification process, which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information. You will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint if they confirm your identity. You will be undergoing additional screening, which will include a patdown and a search of your carry-on luggage.
If your identity cannot be confirmed, you refuse to provide proper identification, or you refuse to cooperate with the identity verification process, you will be denied entry to the security checkpoint. The TSA recommends arriving at least two hours before your flight time.
How Can I Travel Without ID?
Bring additional forms of identification with you (credit card, photo business card, student ID, even mail or prescription medication with your name and address). Once the airline official is satisfied that you are who you claim to be, they will issue a boarding pass noting that you do not have an ID.
Acceptable Forms of Identification for Flying
Other than a driver’s license, other forms of identification for flying are acceptable. For domestic travel, however, the TSA accepts a variety of other forms of identification.
If you are looking for a new ID for flying, here are the TSA ID requirements that may save you time and energy. The following are acceptable forms of identification for flying in 2023, so make sure to stay up to date on the flying ID requirements.
- Driver’s license
- Other US State Photo ID issued by DMV
- Border Crossing Card
- US Passport Card
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Canadian provincial driver’s license
- Valid Passport
- Permanent resident card
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Proof of Residency.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- State-wise Driver’s License
These Forms of ID Are Not Accepted:
- A Temporary Driver’s License
- A Weapons Permit
There are no guarantees here, but even if you don’t have an acceptable form of ID, there are a few items you could bring to the airport to help your case with the TSA officer. (Remember, however, that you should arrive early because the process may take some time.)
Furthermore, you can make a compelling case for flying without identification. Identification documents such as a credit card, a business card with a photo of the cardholder, mail or prescription medication bearing the cardholder’s name and address, proof of voter registration, or a library card can bolster an applicant’s case.
It’s also a good idea to file a police report about your missing ID. To begin with, bringing the police report to the airport is proof of your story and can help TSA confirm your identity. It will also help prevent someone from stealing your identity. Even if you lose your ID, rather than having it stolen, someone else may find it and decide to do something wrong with it.
NB. If you’ve lost your driver’s license, notify your local DMV as well. If someone is pulled over while using your license number, it may be possible for them to record it.
Can You Fly Domestically Without an ID?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has other methods of confirming your identity using publicly available databases if you lose your ID, so you should be fine.
However, you must first complete an identity verification process with a TSA officer—so arrive at the airport well before your flight’s scheduled departure time for the best chance of making it for takeoff. (We recommend leaving at least two hours ahead of time.) The TSA officer will request information such as your name, current address, and other personal information that will be used to confirm that you are who you claim to be. The procedure may take some time.
They’ll let you through security if they can verify your identity using their database. (Your boarding pass will have a note that says you don’t have an ID.) However, they will have to refuse your entry if they are unable to verify your identity. (A day spent crying under the covers, then.)
What Happens if You Want to Travel Internationally Without an ID?
That’s a more difficult problem. Different countries have different rules regarding the types of identification they accept for commercial flights. So, unless you’re taking a domestic flight within the United States, we strongly advise you not to travel without a passport. If you misplace your passport while traveling abroad, go to the nearest US embassy as soon as possible to obtain a replacement. It’s the only way to ensure your safety.
Can I Fly With Just a Picture of My ID?
This will help your case, though we cannot guarantee specific outcomes. But it’s worth a shot. You can bring a photocopy or digital scan of an acceptable form of identification to show the TSA officer (if it’s a digital scan, keep it somewhere secure, such as a private Dropbox or another cloud-based account).
Can My Child Fly Without an ID?
Children do not need an ID to fly domestically within the United States. Children under 18 will be able to pass through security with a responsible adult who has a valid picture ID. However, keep in mind that airlines may require you to show proof of your child’s age. As a result, you should bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate with you. Of course, if you’re traveling abroad, your child will require a passport.
Children Ages 15-17 Traveling Alone Should Bring One of the Following:
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- Library card
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- Credit card
- School ID
- Company ID
- Proof of auto insurance in the passenger’s name
- Organization ID (such as an athletic club, etc.)
Children ages 5 to 14 traveling alone are not required to show identification at check-in, but they will need to carry some form of identification with them.
Conclusion
You can fly domestically with an expired ID in 2023 if the expiration date was less than a year ago. The TSA does not consider a temporary license to be a valid ID. If you provide personal information at the airport and the TSA can identify you, you may be able to fly without a valid ID. To be considered a valid ID, your driver’s license will soon need to be Real ID compliant.
Can You Fly With an Expired ID FAQs
Can I fly with a temporary driver’s license?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not accept temporary driver’s licenses as valid identification, even for domestic flights.
Can I use my birth certificate to fly?
A person’s birth certificate cannot serve as primary identification when flying as an adult. However, it can be used with other documents to confirm a traveler’s identity if their ID was lost or stolen.
Do I need REAL ID to fly?
The use of REAL ID for travel was supposed to begin on October 1, 2020; however, due to the pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pushed the REAL ID enforcement deadline to May 3, 2023.
What ID do I need to fly in the US 2022?
All travelers must still physically carry and present for inspection a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. In addition to your digital ID, the TSA agent may ask to see this form of identification.
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