Real ID Coming Soon to Minnesota (For Real This Time)

Beginning this spring, your old Minnesota driver license won't be enough to board a flight in the U.S. You'll need an updated Real ID Minnesota license or passport.

If it seems like this deadline has been moved a hundred times, you're right. This law was originally passed in 2008, and the final enforcement deadline was set for October 1st, 2020; then COVID happened, so the deadline was delayed one year -- until October 1st, 2021. States still said they couldn't re ready, so it was delayed once again until May 3rd, 2023. Did that deadline stand. No again.

Now, time is finally running out to make the change to your Minnesota driver license. Effective May 7th, 2025 an older old Minnesota driver license won't be enough to board a flight in the U.S., or to enter certain federal buildings and facilities. You'll officially need an updated Real ID Minnesota license or passport (or other approved official types of federal identification).

Get our free mobile app

What's the Difference Between a Real ID and the Old Licenses?

The main difference between the Real or Enhanced ID Minnesota driver license and the old Minnesota driver licenses is that, like a passport, the new Real ID will serve as an enhanced level of proof of identification. Applying for a Real ID requires additional documents when you apply; like a birth certificate, proof of residence, and those types of things. You can see a complete list of required documents here.

I got my Minnesota Real ID drivers license about a year ago and its a piece of cake, assuming you can find your birth certificate. If you can't, you can request a duplicate from the county of your birth.