The TSA defines proper identification as a tamper-proof form of photo ID, which also lists the traveler's name, date of birth, gender and an expiration date.
All forms of identification for U.S. citizens must meet standards set under the Real ID Act of 2005, such as micro-printing, ultraviolet and multi-faceted optical features, which cannot be reproduced via basic forgery techniques. For this reason, no paper IDs will be accepted.
The forms of identification accepted from U.S. citizens include U.S. passports, U.S. passport cards, U.S. Military IDs, Driver's Licenses, State-issued IDs, Native American Tribal IDs, and Travel Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC).
Foreign citizens traveling throughout the United States must be able to produce one of the following forms of identification: Foreign passport, Permanent Resident Card, Border Crossing Card, Canadian provincial Driver's License, or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card.
U.S. citizens traveling by car must have a valid driver's license. Foreign operators must travel with an official foreign driver's license as well as an International Driving Permit obtained before traveling to the U.S. Non-citizens who are permanent residents can obtain a U.S. driver's license.
It is illegal to drive without being issued a license or to drive without proof of licensing (the inability to physically show the license to officials). Consequences for these offenses vary by state.
With the exception of foreign passports for air travel, minors under the age of 18 are not required to present photo identification for travel within the U.S.
Air travelers without proper photo identification may still be allowed on their flight at the discretion of the TSA after undergoing the Travel Document Checking process to verify their identity.
