On May 7, 2025, Washington residents flying domestically or accessing some federal facilities such as USCIS for biometric appointments and interviews, will need to have an enhanced Washington State driver’s license, a U.S. passport, permanent residency card, Trusted Traveler document, or driver’s license issued by another state in compliance with the Real ID Act.
An added benefit of obtaining the enhanced Washington State driver’s license is that it can be used as a substitute for a U.S. passport for the purposes of traveling to and from Canada.
We recommend applying for a REAL ID, enhanced Washington State Driver’s License as soon as an appointment is available so you beat the rush and do not forget to do it. There is nothing like missing an airline flight because you do not have the proper identification. Please reach out to Ryan Swanson’s immigration attorneys if you have any questions.
You can find a list of acceptable IDs at TSA checkpoints here. To learn more about REAL ID, visit the Washington State Department of Licensing’s page.
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