Do you like to catch a flight for business or a quick vacation? Maybe your business requires you to visit Federal buildings. Do you want to visit the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola? To complete any of those task you will need a "Real ID" starting May 7, 2025. This does NOT mean that your current Driver's License is void or cancelled. But you should be prepared for the TSA and other changes soon if you plan on domestic air travel, though you can also use a valid Passport.

After years of delays, the Transportation Security Administration will begin enforcing the Real ID Act, which was introduced in 2005 to heighten air travel security. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) repeatedly pushed back the deadline from its original 2008 date but this year the new law is truly being enacted.

According the the ALEA website, in order to comply with the Federal REAL ID Act, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency developed the STAR ID program. STAR ID is a step beyond an ordinary Alabama driver's license or non-driver identification card and it meets all the requirements of federal law.

Once the provision of the REAL ID Act (STAR ID) goes into effect, individuals who do not have an unexpired U.S. passport will need an Alabama STAR ID to board commercial aircraft for domestic flights or to enter certain regulated federal facilities.

So what documents can you take to prove your identity for a STAR on your Alabama ID? Applicants must present four documents to verify identity/date of birth, Social Security number and address of principal residence. Below is a list of accepted documents in each category. Photocopies of these documents are not acceptable.

Applicants must verify their identity and date of birth by providing one of the following documents*:

• Valid, unexpired United States Passport
• Certified Birth Certificate issued by a State Office of Vital Statistics
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545
• Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
• Unexpired employment authorization document (EAD) issued by DHS (Form I-766 or Form I-688B)
• Unexpired Foreign Passport with a valid, unexpired U.S. Visa affixed, accompanied by the approved I-94 form documenting the applicant’s most recent admittance into the United States.
• Certificate of Naturalization issued by DHS (Form N-550 or N-570)
• Certificate of Citizenship issued by DHS (Form N-560 or N-561)

*If the applicant’s name has changed from the name displayed on the document presented to verify identity and date of birth, certified documents verifying this change are also required (ex. marriage certificate, adoption, court order).

Applicants must verify their Social Security Numbers by providing one of the following documents displaying their full Social Security Number:

• Social Security card
• United States Military Form DD 214
• Medicare/Medicaid Identification Card (if Social Security Number is followed by the letter A)
• W-2 Tax Form, current or previous year

Applicants must verify their address of principal residence by providing any two of the following documents:

• Valid Alabama Driver License or Identification Card displaying applicant's current address
• Voter Registration Card
• Residential Mortgage Contract
• Current Lease or Rental agreement for housing
• Proof of payment of residential property tax (Homestead)
• Previous year tax returns bearing applicants address
• Vehicle registration bearing applicants name and address
• Utility bill (Water, Gas, or Electric) less than 90 days old
• Any State or Federal Court documents indicating residence address
• School enrollment documentation
• Defense Department Form 214 (Report of Separation)
• Sex offender registration documents
• Current Homeowners insurance policy with name and address
• Social Security benefits statements/summary mailed to physical address
• U.S. or State Government check or other document mailed to applicants physical address
• Military Orders documenting duty station and place of residence.

Many local readers are familiar with the DMV office location:

Baldwin County

Baldwin County Satellite Courthouse

201 E. Section Avenue, Foley, AL 36535

Main Phone: 251.990.4690

Reinstatement Phone: 251.972.8597