To get a Maryland REAL ID, schedule an in-person appointment at a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration branch and bring original documents that prove your identity and age, your full Social Security number, and two separate proofs of Maryland residency. The card looks like a standard license or ID with a small gold star in the corner, and federal enforcement at TSA checkpoints and federal facilities began on May 7, 2025.
Documents to Bring
The MVA requires original or certified documents in four categories. Photocopies and digital scans are not accepted, so a wrong-format document means starting over. Before your visit, run your specific situation through the MVA’s online Document Guide to confirm what you need.1MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Identification (ID) Card
Proof of Age and Identity
Bring one document that establishes both. The two common choices are a U.S. birth certificate (original or certified copy) or a valid U.S. passport.1MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Identification (ID) Card
If your current legal name is different from the name on that document because of marriage, divorce, or a court-ordered change, bring the original or certified copy of every document that changed your name. The MVA has to trace a continuous paper trail from your birth name to the name you use now, and a missing link will stop the application.
Proof of Social Security Number
Bring one document that shows your full Social Security number. An original Social Security card is easiest, but a W-2 or an SSA-1099 benefits statement also works if the full number is visible.2Maryland Department of Health. Real ID Requirements Anything showing only the last four digits will be rejected.
Two Proofs of Maryland Residency
You need two documents, from two different organizations, that show your name and your Maryland residential address. Acceptable items include a utility bill, bank statement, insurance card, vehicle registration, credit card bill, residential lease, or mail from a federal, state, or local government agency.2Maryland Department of Health. Real ID Requirements Two statements from the same bank will not satisfy the requirement because they come from a single source.
The MVA Appointment
REAL ID applications happen in person. The MVA recommends scheduling an appointment through its online system, though branches may accept walk-ins depending on availability.3MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Appointments and Online Services Completing the online pre-application before you arrive saves counter time because your biographical information is already in the system. You still have to bring the physical documents; the pre-application does not replace the in-person review.
At the appointment, an MVA agent inspects your documents, verifies them, and confirms they match your pre-application data. Once approved, you pay the fee. Maryland does not add a separate REAL ID charge on top of the regular license or ID cost.4MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. License and ID Fees Common transaction fees:
- Driver’s license renewal: $64 for an eight-year license
- New driver’s license, age 21 and over: $88, prorated at $11 per year
- New driver’s license, under 21: $11 per year
- Duplicate or corrected license: $30
- Photo ID card, new or renewal: $40
- Photo ID card, duplicate or correction: $30
There is no fee for an ID card if you are 65 or older or have a disability that limits a major life activity.4MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. License and ID Fees
After you pay, the agent gives you a temporary paper receipt that works as valid identification until the permanent card shows up. The MVA mails the physical card to the address on file, and delivery generally takes 7 to 10 business days.1MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Identification (ID) Card Keep the receipt on you if you have travel planned inside that window.
If You Are Not a U.S. Citizen
Lawful permanent residents use a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card as proof of age and identity. The Social Security and residency requirements are the same.1MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Identification (ID) Card
If your lawful status in the United States is temporary, you can still get a REAL ID, but it will be issued as a limited-term card that expires when your authorized stay ends rather than running the standard eight years.1MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Identification (ID) Card Applicants who cannot document lawful presence can be issued a noncompliant Maryland ID card, but that card cannot be used for federal purposes such as boarding flights or entering federal buildings.
Whether You Actually Need One
A REAL ID is not the only way to satisfy federal identification rules. TSA accepts a U.S. passport or passport card, a Department of Defense military ID (including dependent IDs), a DHS trusted traveler card such as Global Entry or NEXUS, a permanent resident card, and certain tribal-issued photo IDs.5Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you already carry one of those, you can fly domestically without upgrading your Maryland license.
Children under 18 do not need any ID for domestic flights, so there is no need to run family members through this process.6Transportation Security Administration. Do Minors Need Identification to Fly Within the U.S.? Airline policies for unaccompanied minors are a separate matter to check with the carrier.
If you arrive at a TSA checkpoint with only a standard Maryland license, you will not automatically be turned away. TSA can run you through its ConfirmID program to verify your identity, but that carries a $45 fee per screening.7Transportation Security Administration. TSA ConfirmID For anyone who flies more than occasionally, getting the REAL ID in advance is cheaper. A standard license still works fine for driving, age verification, and anything that is not a federal purpose.
Adding Your ID to Your Phone
Once you have the physical REAL ID, Maryland offers a Mobile ID you can add to Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet.8MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Get a Maryland Mobile ID TSA accepts Maryland’s Mobile ID at more than 250 checkpoints nationwide, provided the mobile credential is tied to a REAL ID-compliant physical card.9Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs
Both the MVA and TSA recommend carrying the physical card with you as a backup. Not every federal facility or checkpoint reads mobile credentials yet, so treat the phone version as a supplement rather than a replacement.5Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint