START HERE to get REAL ID ready.
(en español)
About REAL ID
You only need a REAL ID if you plan to fly within the U.S., visit a military base or other federal buildings. The Department of Homeland Security may require identification that is REAL ID compliant (or show another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport).
You are not required to get a REAL ID; it is optional. If you do not apply for the REAL ID, your current driver license or ID status remains unchanged until the expiration date.
Wisconsin DMV issues REAL ID compliant products (marked with a
µ) in accordance with the federal
REAL ID Act of 2005. If you aren't sure if you have a Real ID, you can
check now.
- Wisconsin offers both non-compliant and the optional REAL ID-compliant driver licenses and ID cards. The
cards look similar; REAL ID-compliant are marked with a
µ, while non-compliant cards are marked “NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES.”
- Upgrade to a REAL ID-compliant card for no additional fee when you renew.
- If your current driver license or ID will not expire before 2025, and you wish to obtain a REAL ID-compliant card, the cost of a
duplicate card will apply.
- A valid U.S. passport or other acceptable form of federal identification can be used in place of a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card to fly within the United States. View list of Transportation Safety Administration approved documents.
- A REAL ID-compliant card can be used to board a plane for domestic flights or enter a federal facility. A passport is needed for international travel.
How to get a REAL ID
- Use DMV’s interactive
Driver License Guide to receive a personalized checklist of the required documents you will need to bring when you visit a Wisconsin DMV. It also allows you to pre-fill any required application(s), print and bring with you or submit electronically (if eligible). You may also be able to schedule an appointment for the DMV for faster service, but an appointment is not required.
- To obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, you must present
additional documentation when you apply. Original document or certified copy (not a photocopy, fax or scan) from each category is required. Some documents may be used for more than one category, whereas some will only satisfy the requirements of a single category. (For example, if you have a U.S. birth certificate, it can be used to provide “proof of name and date of birth” and “proof of legal presence in the U.S.”)
The document categories include:
- After presenting all required documents, and paying applicable renewal or duplicate fees, you will be issued either a new Wisconsin ID or driver license with a star in the corner.
For questions on REAL ID, enforcement, cards at airport screenings and other issues, visit the
Department of Homeland Security.
More driver license resources: