Washington and Oregon identification cards will now be accepted for domestic air travel through October 2020.
Both states had applied for an extension of the REAL ID program and were recently granted permission, the Portland International Airport tweeted out. The previous deadline was set for October 2018.
After October 1, 2020, travelers may be required to show a passport to board a domestic flight if their states don't have ID's and licenses which comply with the federal REAL ID Act.
For years, lawmakers have struggled on how to best comply with the REAL ID Act, a 2005 federal law that requires state driver's licenses and ID cards to have security enhancements and be issued to people who can prove they're legally in the United States.
Although the program will not be enforced for Washington and Oregon residents for several years, residents can already purchase an Enhanced Driver License now. An EDL typically costs $30 more than the standard driver's license.
A U.S. passport, passport card, and enhanced license are some of the most common forms of identification that meet the REAL ID requirements.
You can check which states are REAL ID compliant here.
