AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa Department of Transportation's urging Iowans not to put off getting their REAL IDs even with another extension from the federal government.
"With the pandemic, a lot of service centers across the nation closed to the public, and had some proclamations extending their current drivers licenses. Here in Iowa, we were able to maintain services" says IDOT Customer Services Bureau director Darcy Doty.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security extended the Real ID deadline until May 3rd, 2023.
After that date, people who fly on a commercial airline or enter a federal building where they have to show ID will be required to have the enhanced identification.
Doty says some additional paperwork's needed to get the REAL ID.
"A copy of either a U.S. passport or a certified copy of a birth certificate, social security number, two pieces of mail with an Iowa residency on them, and proof of legal name changes if the name is different from the passport or birth certificate," Doty says.
She says more than half of driver’s license and ID holders have a REAL ID
"Currently 53 percent of driver’s license and ID holders--about 1.3 million Iowans--have a REAL ID marked card. So far, about 43 percent of people living in other states have their REAL ID cards," Doty says.
The Iowa DOT says people who want a REAL ID have to make an in-person appointment at a DOT service center or county issuance location.