With the REAL ID Act of 2005 taking effect in three months, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, TDOSHS, is expanding access by adding 1,432 additional REAL ID-specific appointment slots per day at Driver Services Centers across the state.
The REAL ID Act requires anyone 18 or older to have a REAL ID or another federally issued photo ID to board commercial flights within the United States or to enter certain federal buildings, military bases, and nuclear power plants.
To apply for a REAL ID, customers must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). All documents must be original or certified. Photocopies are not accepted. To ensure you’re bringing the correct documents, TDOSHS encourages you to have your REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
Federal law requires REAL ID applications to be made in person. You can apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center or a participating County Clerk if you have a Tennessee Driver’s License or ID. If you do not have a Tennessee Driver’s License or ID, you must apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center. Tennesseans can save time at the Driver Services Center by scheduling an appointment for a REAL ID. Find a Driver Services Center or participating County Clerk near you and schedule an appointment at tnrealid.gov.
Obtaining a REAL ID is optional. Non-REAL ID licenses will continue to be accepted for general identification purposes such as driving, purchasing alcohol or tobacco products, applying for federal benefits, voting, or accessing hospitals, post offices, banks, federal courts, etc.
After the REAL ID implementation, Tennesseans may also use a valid passport or other federally issued photo ID to fly domestically. For the complete list of acceptable IDs, visit the Transportation Security Administration’s website, tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.
