Kentucky officials urge residents to obtain REAL ID ahead of holiday air travel
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
FRANKFORT, Ky., (KBSI) — With the holiday travel season approaching, Kentucky officials are encouraging residents to obtain a REAL ID-compliant credential to avoid travel delays at airports.
State leaders say improved staffing and new line management systems have significantly reduced wait times at Driver Licensing Regional Offices, making it easier for Kentuckians to upgrade or renew their licenses. From April to October, average walk-in waits times dropped from 49 minutes to 14 minutes, and appointment wait times fell from 25 minutes to 11 minutes.
REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025. Travelers flying domestically or visiting a military base must present a REAL ID-compliant license, permit or ID card, or a valid passport. About 45% of Kentuckians have opted for a REAL ID, and issuance numbers hit record highs this year — more than 130,000 credentials were issued in May alone. Between January and October, the state issued over 1.1 million credentials, including more than 21,000 permits for 15-year-olds.
Gov. Andy Beshear said the state made customer service improvements after hearing concerns about long wait times. “These changes are making a real difference, and Team Kentucky will continue to build on that progress so people can spend less time in line and more time getting where they need to go,” he said.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) credited several initiatives with reducing wait times, including hiring about 125 full-time contracted employees, adding a fifth licensing office in Louisville, updating line management systems and encouraging residents to use the state’s “Skip the Line” tool to determine eligibility for online or mail-in renewals. REAL ID requests, however, must be made in person and are delivered by mail within 10 to 15 days.
KYTC Secretary Jim Gray urged travelers not to wait until the holidays to upgrade their credentials and reminded residents to bring proper documentation.
Information about required documents and regional office locations is available at realidky.com, where residents can also complete an IDocument Guide quiz for a personalized list of acceptable documents. The “Skip the Line” quiz at drive.ky.gov can help determine whether online or mail-in renewal is allowed.
The Transportation Security Administration recently announced that, starting Feb. 1, 2026, passengers without an acceptable form of ID may pay a $45 fee to use TSA’s modernized identity verification system, Confirm.ID. The option is valid for 10 days of travel but does not replace the requirement for a REAL ID.
