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Federal agencies requirement for REAL ID Driver License delayed from 10/01/2020 to 10/01/2021.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Office of the Secretary
6 CFR Part 37
RIN 1601-AA97
Minimum Standards for Driver’s Licenses and Identification Cards Acceptable by Federal
Agencies for Official Purposes
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This rule delays the date for card-based enforcement of the REAL ID regulations
from October 1, 2020 until October 1, 2021. Beginning on that date, federal agencies may not
accept a state-issued driver’s license or identification card for official purposes from any
individual unless such license or card is a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification
card issued by a state that DHS has determined is in full compliance as defined under this part.
The regulations also permit federal agencies to accept for official purposes until September 30,
2020, certain non-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. This rule extends that
date, authorizing federal agencies to continue to accept non-compliant driver’s licenses and
identification cards until the new card-based enforcement deadline.
DATES: Effective on [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Yonkers, Director, Biometrics and
Credentialing/REAL ID Program; telephone (202) 447-3274; email steve.yonkers@hq.dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. The REAL ID Act, Implementing Regulations, and Phased Enforcement
This document is scheduled to be published in the
Federal Register on 04/27/2020 and available online at
federalregister.gov/d/2020-08481, and on govinfo.gov2
The REAL ID Act (the Act) sets minimum security requirements for the issuance and production
of driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by the states, territories, and the District of
Columbia in order for federal agencies to accept these documents for official purposes.1
Official
purposes include: (1) accessing federal facilities, (2) boarding federally regulated commercial
aircraft, (3) entering nuclear power plants, and (4) any other purposes that the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall determine.