RALEIGH, N.C. — The deadline to get your NC REAL ID is fast approaching. 

On May 7, a Real ID or a passport will be required to board a plane or enter certain federal buildings or sites.

What You Need To Know

  •  May 7, 2025 is the deadline

  •  People will need a Real ID to board a plane or enter certain federal buildings

  •  Appointments can be made up to 90 days out at the DMV

  •  60,000 Real IDs were issued in January in North Carolina

Officials with the State Department of Motor Vehicles say many people already have the Real ID.

“Our renewal period for a driver's license or ID card is actually eight years. So everyone that's been here has already had a chance to get one,” said Marty Homan, communications manager for the NCDMV. “About 50% of people already have one, 49.8% at the last count, and we expect to be at 50% by May 7. We did about 60,000 Real ID’s in January alone, so we're cranking them out.”

The Real ID Act was passed by congress in 2005 in response to the 9-11 attacks, but the implementation deadline has been pushed back multiple times. 

“Obviously we're within about 60 days of the implementation date and we don't expect it to move again,” Homan explained.

Appointments can be made at the DMV to apply for your Real ID up to 90 days out. 

Officials advise checking online before you go to make sure you have the required documentation.

“We have 50 offices already open an hour early, providing an extra hour of service and appointment times. We have 42 more that we'll be adding in the coming weeks that will open again at 7 a.m. and offer another hour of appointments,” Homan said.