Deadline for Real ID is tomorrow: Here's what New Mexicans need to know

If your New Mexico driver’s license does not have a white star with a bright gold outline in the upper right corner, it could be time to make a trip to the Motor Vehicle Division and apply for a Real ID.

The Department of Homeland Security announced that starting May 7, any person attempting to fly commercially or wanting to enter a federal building must have a Real ID in order to do so.

While Real IDs are required for various federal activities, users have other options to identify themselves, including using a passport as identification, and users do not need the enhanced driver’s license for any state offered services, New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department spokesperson Bobbie Marquez said.

Currently, 80% of New Mexicans have a Real ID, Marquez said. Roughly, 370,448 New Mexicans have a standard driver’s license, which allows them to legally drive in the state but is not accepted for federal purposes, she added.

New Mexico began distributing federally-compliant identification cards in 2016, something Taxation and Revenue Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke said has helped reduce wait times at the MVD and stress for New Mexicans.

“We’re really glad we got an early start on this and that said, we don’t want any New Mexican to be caught unaware and be surprised and unable to travel when that deadline hits,” Clarke said.

New Mexico adopted its two-tier license system in 2016, after a bruising political fight over whether undocumented immigrants should be able to drive legally. The current system essentially allows New Mexico residents to opt out of Real ID by obtaining a standard driver’s license.

New Mexicans who have a mobile ID will be able to use that as a federally accepted form of identification at Albuquerque International Sunport or at the Lea County Regional Airport, Clarke said.

“When we went about designing our mobile driver’s license, we made sure at the outset that it would be accepted as a Real ID and accepted by (the Transportation Security Administration), because we kind of thought, what’s the point of issuing a mobile driver’s license if it doesn’t meet those requirements,” Clarke said. “The TSA scanning equipment is also able to basically see that it’s a Real ID and accept it for that purpose.

MVD will continue to offer a standard license for New Mexicans who do not want or are ineligible for a Real ID. Other federally accepted documents include permanent resident cards, border crossing cards and more.

“New Mexicans may have another form of ID that will be acceptable by the federal government for these purposes,” Marquez said. “In addition to those who may not want a Real ID, there are some New Mexicans who are not eligible to receive a Real ID.

“Eligibility requires the individual to have all required documentation to prove their legal status, and for the individual’s legal name to match or be linked across all documents.”

To apply for a Real ID, individuals can make a same-day appointment with MVD. Users can also apply to renew their driver’s license entirely online through the MVD website.

Required documents to apply for a Real ID include proof of residence, an item with an identification number and proof of lawful identity. If approved, individuals will receive a printed, temporary license in place of a Real ID, which would be mailed to users within a few weeks, and can use the temporary license in the meantime.