REAL ID Driver's License for Immigrants

Can an undocumented New Yorker obtain a REAL ID driver's license for air travel?

• No. To obtain a REAL ID driver's license in New York State, proof of certain immigrant status is required. Federal law requires state-issued driver's licenses to be presented for air travel to comply with the REAL ID Act.

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) participants, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and other immigrants living in New York with work authorization or legal status can apply to obtain a REAL ID driver's license. However, such a driver's license expires at the same time as your work permit or legal status.