The REAL ID Act of 2005 requires state-issued ID cards to comply with federal security regulations for the holders to access federal facilities and board flights within the United States. Twenty years after the law’s passage, its enforcement is scheduled to begin on May 7, 2025. For people who do not have a state-issued ID like a driver’s license that complies with REAL ID, the deadline prompted a rush to their state’s department of motor vehicles; facilities across the country report challenges to service last-minute residents scrambling to obtain a REAL ID. Luckily, service members, dependents, veterans, and other military-affiliated populations with one of the following ID cards don’t need to rush to the DMV because these IDs are acceptable at TSA checkpoints and federal facilities.
Common Access Card (CAC)
To no one’s surprise, the CAC will still get you through TSA the same way it gets you through the front gate of a military base. Almost as important, the DOD ID number on the back of the card serves as a Known Traveler Number that can grant access to TSA PreCheck. TSA notes that this expedited screening is available to the following travelers who have a CAC: active duty branches of service, reserve components of the U.S. military, National Guard (both Army and Air), U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, Students of the U.S. military service academies (USMA, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, USMMA), United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Office Corps, federal civil service employees, and non-appropriated fund (NAF) civilians.
Next Generation Uniformed Services ID Card
The Next Generation USID began replacing the legacy paper-based USID in 2020. Printed on plastic cardstock like a CAC, but turned horizontally and lacking a chip, the Next Generation USID is more secure against counterfeiting and fraud. This card is accepted at federal facilities and TSA checkpoints and can be issued to many military-affiliated populations including dependents of active duty service members, members of the Individual Ready Reserves and Inactive National Guard, 100% disabled veterans and their spouses, and retired members entitled to retired pay. The DOD’s Common Access Card website provides a full list of eligible populations.
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
The VHIC is issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (which is completely separate from the Department of Defense) and is used to check in to VA health care appointments. It can also be used for care and prescriptions received in the community from VA contractors. Moreover, the VHIC is an acceptable form of identification at TSA checkpoints. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can apply for a VHIC in-person at a VA medical center or online through AccessVA. Veterans who have a VHIC but not a Next Generation USID will still have to go to the visitor center to access military bases. Check with specific federal facilities to see if their security policy allows them to accept the VHIC.