At long last (after nearly 20 years of delays), the federal REAL ID Act requirements take effect today. You’ll need to have a state licence that meets minimum federal security standards to avoid delays when traveling through a US airport. But I’m resisting getting a REAL ID…for a mix of vanity and nostalgia.

REAL ID Enforcement Has Begun

As of today, May 7, 2025, you’ll theoretically need a “REAL ID” to fly, even domestically, in the United States. Compliant IDs are generally marked with a star in the upper right corner (designs may vary by state) and meet federal security standards, which, in some cases, are higher than the standards necessary to receive a state driver’s licence or ID.

I say “theoretically” because Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated yesterday that passengers without REAL IDs “will be allowed to fly.”

“They may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step…But people will be allowed to fly. We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.” – DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

To obtain a REAL ID, you need to take the following to a DMV:

• valid ID, passport, or birth certificate
• social security card (real or copy)
• two items that show residence

Other forms of valid ID include passports, military ID, permanent residence cards, and Global Entry cards.

TSA spokesperson Daniel Velez stated:

“The good news is that 81% of passengers already use their REAL ID or other acceptable forms so we do not expect there to be any inconveniences or wait times at all.”

Initial reports today suggest that this is the case.

Why I Don’t Have A California REAL ID

Despite REAL ID being available in California since 2018, my driver’s license is still not REAL ID compliant.

The honest reason? I like my picture and getting a REAL ID requires a fresh picture. Thanks to the pandemic, I was able to renew by mail for a third time, which not only saved me a trip to the DMV, but spared me from having to take a new picture.

And you may recall, I have a horrible passport picture…that even caused me to be detained in Qatar and delayed in Algeria. I do have a Global Entry card that I’ll start traveling with…I suppose that will have to do for now (though that picture isn’t great either).

Is this all foolish vanity? I suppose. But I look back at that 20-year-old Matthew and there’s so much today I’d say to him. So many warnings. So many admonitions. It has been a turbulent decade and a half with high peaks but also deep valleys.

Regrets are part of life, and as I look back on where I was at age 20 (college degree, White House and military under my belt, the world ahead of me) and where I am now, there are many different roads I wish I had taken.

I never wanted to drive in the first place…I used to use public transport, even in LA. My father would drive me to work in Pasadena each morning and pick me up in the afternoon. Eventually, as with all Angelenos, a license became inevitable.

Back in that time, I wore a suit most days…you may remember I used to wear a coat and tie for all my conference appearances. It seems like ages ago.

And of course, there are immense positive things that have happened since that photo was taken. Firstly, I had only been to Mexico when that picture was taken…now I’ve been to nearly 150 countries. I’ve married a beautiful, smart, and strong woman and have two wonderful children. I’ve practiced law and run a successful independent travel blog for 16 years. My consulting service has done very well.

Hindsight may be 20-20, and it does me little good to dwell on my mistakes rather than look forward toward the future. But there’s something about that picture that makes me very reluctant to change it. It’s foolish to be vain, and it’s foolish to look back and wish that we had done certain things differently when time marches on.

But that’s the human condition, isn’t it?

And I’m not changing my photo ID until California forces me to…