Federally compliant IDs available starting Monday

Applications for REAL ID-compliant drivers’ licenses or non-driver ID cards opened Monday in Missouri.

While residents can apply for the new cards, they are not required for flying or access to federal facilities until Oct. 1, 2020.

Under Missouri law, residents are not required to hold a REAL ID, but the Transportation Safety Administration will require them to board domestic flights. It will also be required for access to federal facilities including military bases, federal courthouses and nuclear power plants.

The new law does not affect using current Missouri driver’s licenses for driving, registering to vote or voting or age verification.

The card comes from the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 that focused on fraud protection, anti-terrorism and driver’s license and non-driver’s license ID card security. The act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and ID cards. It prohibits federal agencies from accepting driver’s licenses and ID cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes.

The process for applying for the REAL ID is similar to applying for a driver’s license. Residents still apply at one of Missouri’s 170 driver’s license offices and the fees will be the same as they were for the old process. Applicants will have to provide valid, original documents proving identity, lawful status in the United States, Social Security number and Missouri residency.