12. Real ID Act FAQ (Base Access).pdf

REAL ID ACT INFORMATION AND FAQs.

What is REAL ID Act?

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses”. The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards, and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting them for official purposes, from states that do not meet standards. These purposes are:

• Accessing certain federal facilities

• Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft

• Entering nuclear power plants

IAW DoD guidance, as of 7 May 2025 non-REAL ID Act compliant stated issued driver’s licenses or identification credentials will no longer be accepted for identity proofing at DoD installations (can’t be used as a form of identification for access).

Only REAL ID Act compliant driver’s licenses/identification credentials (meaning the license or card must include the REAL ID compliant star marking) or other approved forms of identification, will be accepted for identity proofing of personnel requesting access to

MHAFB (to include all visitors).

What other forms of ID can be used in place of a REAL ID Act compliant state issued driver license/identification card?

• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License

• U.S. passport

• U.S. passport card

• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents

• Permanent resident card

• Border crossing card

• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).

• HSPD-12 PIV card

• Foreign government-issued passport

• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

• Transportation worker identification credential

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

How to determine if a state issued driver’s license is REAL ID compliant?

REAL ID-compliant cards will have of one of the following markings on the upper top portion of the card. If the card does not have one of these markings, it is not REAL ID-compliant and won’t be accepted as proof of identity.

Examples of REAL IDs:

Can jurisdictions meeting the standard of REAL ID continue to issue non-compliant driver licenses and identifications?

Yes. REAL ID allows jurisdictions (e.g., states) to issue identification cards and driver’s licenses that are not in compliance with the requirements of the Act. Those licenses and identification cards, however, must clearly state on their face and in the machine-readable zone that the card is not acceptable for official purposes.

Examples of Non-Compliant IDs:

Is an Enhanced Driver’s License/Enhanced Identification Card (EDL/EID) accepted for

REAL ID purposes?

Yes. State-issued Enhanced Driver's Licenses and identification cards (EDL/EID) are designated as acceptable border-crossing documents by DHS under the Western Hemisphere

Travel Initiative and are an acceptable alternative to a REAL. Currently there are only 5 states that issue EDL/EIDs, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington.

EDL/EIDs can be identified by having an image of the U.S. flag and the word Enhanced at the top of the card.

Examples of Enhanced Driver's Licenses:

Will minors need to have a REAL ID Act identification.

No. It is not required for children under 18 to provide identification. The sponsor will need acceptable identification.

What happens if someone requesting installation access shows up at the Visitor Control

Center (VCC) or gate without a REAL ID Act compliant identification.

They will not be allowed installation access until they can produce an approved form of identification. They CAN NOT be escorted onto the installation.

Does having a REAL ID Act compliant state driver’s license or Enhanced Driver's License or identification card allow installation access?

No. The REAL ID Act compliant identification is for identification purposes only. All visitors still need to meet all visitor access requirements, to include all installation access background checks.

Is a REAL ID Act compliant state driver’s license or Enhanced Driver's Licenses and identification cards (EDL/EID) considered proof of US residency?

No. IAW DoDM5200.08V3/AFMAN 31-101V3, Installation Access Control only foreign personnel with a valid Permanent Resident Card/Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-

551) or a foreign passport with a temporary (I-551) stamp or temporary (I-551) printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa and will be considered US residents for installation access.

A foreign visitors can use their REAL ID Act identification as a form of identification for installation access, but if they do not present one of the forms identified above as proof they are a US resident, in addition to a valid form of identification, they are considered a Foreign

Visitors and will be proceeded for installation access IAW Foreign Visitors procedures.

What identification do I have to use to access the installation if I have more than one credential?

IAW Volume 1 of DoDM 1000.13, DoDM5200.08V3/AFMAN31-101V3, individuals holding more than one acceptable credential must use the credential most accurately depicting the capacity in which the individual is acting for the specific visit to the installation

EXAMPLE: A retiree entering the installation to complete work as a contractor or driving a delivery vehicle must obtain a DBIDS pass/card as they are not entering the installation as a retiree, rather as a contractor/vendor.

Personnel (e.g., contractors/vendors) in possession of another acceptable credential (e.g., retired identification, family member identification, etc.) must have their sponsor complete an SF From 30 for issuance of a separate contractor identification for specific period of the applicable contract.

PLEASE CONTACT THE VCC AT 8-6022 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.