A standard Kentucky ID (left) compared to a new real ID (right). Note the star in the top right. ID images provided by the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Enforcement of federal REAL ID requirements for domestic air travel will begin Wednesday, and people are already lined up inside county offices looking to get their IDs updated.

Lines in the Kenton County Government Center on the morning of May 5, 2025, waiting to sign up for new Kentucky-issued REAL IDs. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Kentucky REAL IDs are distinguished from older standard IDs by the black star in the upper right-hand corner of the card (see picture above).

You can still travel within the United States without a state-issued REAL ID, but authorities will ask you to furnish additional documents in conjunction with your standard ID, such as a passport, a military identification or a green card. You can view a list of acceptable travel documents here.

To apply for a REAL ID, you’ll need to visit a regional driver’s licensing office and present proof of identification, proof of social security number, proof of residency, and proof of any changes in name, gender or other identity changes if applicable. You can read a list of acceptable documents here. To find your nearest regional driver’s licensing office, visit drive.ky.gov/Pages/Find-An-Office.aspx

You can find other information, including information on pricing, FAQs, required documents and how to schedule an appointment at drive.ky.gov/RealID/Pages/default.aspx. You can also consult the fact sheet below for more information.

Kentucky READ ID fact sheet provided by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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