The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced optional REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and photo ID cards are now available for Pennsylvania residents who want one.

A federally-accepted form of identification, such as a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. Passport or Passport Card, a military ID, etc., must be used as identification to board a commercial flight or visit a secure federal building that requires ID at the door on and after Oct. 1, 2020.

There is no requirement any resident obtain a REAL ID and PennDOT will continue to offer standard-issue driver’s licenses and photo IDs.

Federal REAL ID regulations require PennDOT verify a customer’s identity, Social Security number, Pennsylvania residency and name changes (if applicable), even if a customer already has a Pennsylvania driver’s license or ID card.

More information about document requirements, including a printable document checklist, is located on the document check page of the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Customers have three options for obtaining a REAL ID product: They may order their REAL ID online if they have been pre-verified; they can visit any PennDOT Driver’s License Center, have their documents verified and imaged, and their REAL ID product will be mailed to them within 15 business days; or they can visit one of 12 REAL ID Centers and receive their REAL ID product over-the-counter at the time of service.

When a customer gets their first REAL ID product, they will pay a one-time fee of $30, plus a renewal fee (current renewal fee is $30.50 for a four-year noncommercial driver’s license or a photo ID).

The expiration date of their initial REAL ID product will include any time remaining on their existing non-REAL ID product, plus an additional four years, unless the customer is over 65 and has a two-year license.

This expiration date structure means the customer won’t lose time they have already paid for.

After the initial REAL ID product expires, the customer will pay no additional fee, beyond regular renewal fees, to renew a REAL ID product.

PennDOT has added the following location, 1101 MacArthur Road, Whitehall, which is now open for business.

REAL ID-compliant products are marked with a gold star in the upper right corner, standard-issue (noncompliant) products include the phrase “Not for REAL ID Purposes,” per federal regulations.

Sample images can be viewed on PennDOT’s website.

More information about REAL ID in Pennsylvania, including frequently asked questions and information on documents required for REAL ID, can be found at penndot.gov/REALID.