All passengers must present a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or another approved ID to board domestic flights. This requirement is part of the implementation of the Real ID Act, passed in 2005 to establish uniform national standards for state-issued IDs.
Under the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) directive, passengers who present a state-issued ID that is not Real ID-compliant at TSA checkpoints, and who do not have another acceptable form of ID, will be notified of their non-compliance and may be directed to a separate area for additional screening.
The directive also introduces facial recognition technology into the screening process at select airports. Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) scanners equipped with facial recognition have already been installed at 84 airports, with plans to expand the program to over 400 locations.
Participation in facial recognition screening remains optional. Passengers may opt out and request a manual ID check without losing their place in line or experiencing delays.
Facial recognition technology is a crucial layer in our evolving security strategy. We want to keep you safe & this is one way we do that, as the use of fraudulent IDs is an emerging security threat. It’s a quick process, but if you wish to opt-out, you absolutely can. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/XXuT3dREtW
— TSA (@TSA) April 7, 2025
“The facial recognition technology TSA uses helps ensure the person standing at the checkpoint is the same person pictured on the identification document (ID) credential. Photos are not stored or saved after a positive ID match has been made, except in a limited testing environment for evaluation of the effectiveness of the technology,” TSA clarified in a statement.
