Starting May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers aged 18 and over must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. In Alabama, this federal requirement is addressed with the STAR ID program, administered by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
STAR is an acronym for “secure, trusted and reliable,” and is part of a nationwide effort to improve the integrity and security of state-issued driver licenses and identification cards, which, in turn, will help fight terrorism and reduce fraud.
STAR ID is available only at ALEA driver licensing examining offices, which are located statewide. STAR IDs will still be available for issuance after May 7. You do not have to wait until your driver’s license is set to expire, though you will be required to pay for a duplicate license.
Anyone who has not obtained a STAR ID or does not possess a valid, unexpired U.S. passport by May 7 but plans to fly domestically or enter certain federal facilities that require such an ID must apply for one at least 30 days in advance (a hard copy of a new driver license may take up to 30 days to arrive).
STAR ID licenses are differentiated with a gold star in the upper left corner; any Alabama license or identification card issued on or after April 25, 2022 that is not compliant with the REAL ID Act will display “Not for Federal Identification” across the top of the license.
The requirements to obtain a STAR ID are a step beyond an ordinary Alabama driver’s license. Applicants must present four documents to verify identity/date of birth, Social Security number and address of principal residence. To find a list of accepted documents, visit alea.gov and scroll to the bottom of the home page to “STAR ID Document List.”
It is important to have all documents with you when visiting a driver’s license office to obtain a STAR ID.
Congress passed the REAL-ID Act of 2005 in response to acts of terrorism committed against the U.S. The act modified federal laws pertaining to security, authentication and issuance procedure standards for state driver licenses and identification cards. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) web site notes that the purpose of REAL ID is to make our identity documents more consistent and secure.
Alabama began its STAR ID pilot program in 2011 and began issuing STAR ID cards statewide in early 2012. States were granted additional time to meet the REAL ID requirements in part due to the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; DHS reports that many state driver’s licensing agencies had to work through backlogs created by the pandemic.ν
