Mass RMV Reaches 3.5 Million REAL ID Credentials
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) announced it has reached a milestone of 3.5 million REAL ID credentials.
To date, more than 3.5 million Registry-issued, active credentials are REAL-ID compliant, giving Massachusetts a 62 percent compliance rate.
"The Registry of Motor Vehicles has made tremendous progress in helping residents secure a REAL ID for travel and access to certain federal buildings, and we are incredibly proud to have reached the milestone of 3.5 million credentials issued," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication, professionalism, and compassion of our Registry staff. Day after day, they work hard to serve the public with patience and care, and we are truly grateful for all they do. We also appreciate partners like AAA who continue to support customers throughout the process. As summer winds down and people begin planning for Thanksgiving and the holidays, we are ready to help even more residents. If you want a REAL ID, check what documents to bring, schedule an appointment at a customer center, and know that our team is here to support you from start to finish."
As a reminder, anyone who qualifies, can still obtain a REAL ID credential. Massachusetts residents seeking a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card are strongly encouraged to go online now at Mass.Gov/REALID to learn what documents are needed for a required in-person appointment. By federal requirement, anyone traveling by plane domestically or entering certain federal facilities needs a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or ID, a valid passport, or other federally-accepted form of identification.
Residents are advised to start the application process early, it may take approximately two weeks to receive a REAL ID credential after an application is approved.
The Registry will continue to process REAL ID transactions, so there is no need for anyone to think they ‘missed' their chance. If you have imminent travel planned and you do not have a compliant piece of identification, the RMV is still accepting walk-ins at customer service centers.
The fee to obtain or renew a REAL ID compliant credential is the same as obtaining or renewing the equivalent non-compliant credential:
- The fee for renewing a non-commercial standard or a REAL ID driver's license is $50.
- The fee for renewing a Mass ID is $25.
- The amendment fee for upgrading to REAL ID credential before an existing credential's expiration is $25.
- Customers with a less than five-year stay in the U.S. pay a pro-rated fee.
Appointments can be scheduled by visiting the RMV's Online Service Center at Mass.Gov/myRMV or if you are a AAA member at https://northeast.aaa.com/
The RMV has posted helpful information on REAL ID requirements that customers can use to prepare for their in-person visits, including convenient document checklists to help pre-stage REAL ID applications, at Mass.Gov/REALID. Documents required for this transaction include:
- proof of lawful presence,
- two (2) proofs of Massachusetts residency, and
- proof of a full Social Security Number (SSN).
Customers who have had a name change since the issuance of a birth certificate, passport, or other lawful presence document, will need to show the reason for the name change by presenting documentation like a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document. These required documents must be original or certified versions. The RMV recommends customers gather these documents well in advance of appointments to ensure they have the information required by federal law.
Customers are eligible to renew up to one year in advance of the expiration date printed on their license or ID. Customers who already have a full-term compliant credential may renew online, provided their legal name has not changed. A REAL ID-compliant credential from the Massachusetts RMV has a star surrounded by a yellow or gold circle, at the top right corner of the license or ID.
The Massachusetts RMV has been offering the REAL ID to customers since March of 2018. For information on acceptable identification at airport security points, please visit tsa.gov/travel/security-
