Real ID Enforcement Begins October 1, 2020

Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford reminds travelers that beginning October 1, 2020, every traveler must present a Real ID-compliant driver license or identification card, or another acceptable form of identification, to fly within the United States. As of October 1, 2020, individuals who are unable to produce a Real ID-compliant credential or other acceptable form of identification, such as a valid passport, federal government PIV card or US military ID, will not be permitted to enter a TSA checkpoint and will not be allowed to fly.

The Real ID Act passed by Congress in 2005 establishes the minimum-security standards for state-issued driver licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies, like TSA, from accepting licenses and identification cards for certain official purposes, including boarding federally-regulated commercial aircraft, entering secure federal buildings and visiting military installations. Although Florida is a compliant state, if a citizen has a non-compliant driver license or identification card, he or she will be required to show a second form of identification to board a plane or access these federal facilities.

It is simple to check your compliance. If your driver license or identification card has a gold star in the upper right corner, you are Real ID compliant. If your credential does not have the gold star and expires within the next 18 months, visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com to make an appointment to renew. In Escambia County, 87 percent of driver licenses and 97 percent of identification cards are Real ID compliant, leaving almost 33,000 Escambia County records that are not Real ID compliant.

Becoming Real ID compliant is easy. Just bring the following documents to your appointment:

  • Identification (bring one)
    • Current valid US passport
    • Certified US birth certificate
    • US Certificate of Naturalization
    • Consular Proof of Birth Abroad (FS-240 or FS 545)

Name change(s) since birth

  • Valid US passport with correct name (or)
  • Certified proof of legal name change(s) (i.e., marriage certificate, adoption, legal name change, court order). All documents presented must be certified. Documents must link birth record to current name.
  • Social Security number
    • Social Security card
    • Medicare or Medicaid card with full name and Social Security number
    • Pay stub showing full Social Security number
  • Residential address (not post office box) – bring two with complete matching addresses
    • Deed, mortgage, payment booklet or lease
    • Florida vehicle registration, title, utility bill, cell phone bill
  • Previous license if not lost or destroyed
  • Non-US citizens – all non-US citizens must present proof of lawful presence
    • Immigrants
      • Green card (Form I551)
    • Non-immigrants
      • Valid employment authorization card (Form I-688B or I-766)

Also, parents can obtain a Real ID-compliant identification card for their children ages five and up.

Visit our website at EscambiaTaxCollector.com for more information on Real ID requirements, other tax collector services or to make an appointment.

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