Photos & video from today’s event can be found here Pictured left to right: Christopher Murgia (TSA),
Ricky Smith (MAA), and Chrissy Nizer (MVA). BALTIMORE, MD (March 11, 2025) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) today joined officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall) to remind Marylanders of the upcoming implementation of the Federal REAL ID Act, which will take effect on May 7, 2025. Once in effect, travelers will be required to have a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or state issued identification, or another form of federally recognized form of identification, such as a valid passport, to board all domestic flights or gain access to federal facilities. “Maryland is fully prepared for the REAL ID implementation, and I’m proud to announce that 99% of Maryland residents are REAL ID compliant, one of the top rates in the country,” said MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer. “We’ve made it easy for customers to assess whether they are compliant, or not, through a myMVA account. By setting up their own myMVA account, Marylanders can see their REAL ID status, as well as other relevant driver and vehicle information.” The Maryland MVA permits customers to renew their driver’s licenses up to 12 months before the expiration date, and customers who are eligible for a REAL ID are required to present the required documents in order to renew. The REAL ID required documents include one proof of age and identity, one proof of Social Security, and two proofs of Maryland residency. For Maryland-born customers, the MVA can provide a certified Maryland birth certificate to fulfill the age and identity requirement at the following branch offices: Annapolis, Baltimore City, Essex, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Largo and Salisbury. Customers can also verify their REAL ID status by entering a driver’s license or ID card number into the REAL ID Lookup Tool here. "As Maryland's primary gateway for air travel, BWI Marshall Airport is ready for the changes that the REAL ID Act brings,” said Ricky Smith, Executive Director/CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration. “Our team has been working hard to ensure a smooth transition for all passengers." The federal REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 as a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission. In December 2022, the Department of Homeland Security extended the REAL ID compliance deadline to May 7, 2025, due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit the MVA REAL ID page. ###
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