Shave off time on your office visit when you get your REAL ID with these tips
Sept. 8, 2022
As helpful and kind as the staff in our Driver and Vehicle Services division (DVS) are, it's an unfortunate truth that most people don't enjoy going to their offices. It's an errand that inevitably requires waiting in line and filling out paperwork, which are typically nobody's favorite things.
However, the enforcement deadline for REAL ID is coming up fast, so Minnesotans who plan to fly domestically next year need to make the trip. Fortunately, DVS is ready to make your visit to their office as painless as possible.
In less than a year — May 3, 2023 — Minnesotans and the rest of U.S. travelers can't use their standard driver's license to fly within the U.S. or visit some federal buildings. Instead, they will need to have a REAL ID. As of March 1 of this year, less than 30 percent of Minnesota driver's license and identification card holders were REAL ID ready.
If you're among the 70 percent who aren't, you can shave time off your office visit by pre-applying online at drive.mn.gov. The mobile-friendly web application includes the option to upload documents, so DPS-DVS can verify you have the right documents. DPS-DVS has a full list of what you need to prove your identity and residency on its
website here.
Those documents are the most important part of getting ready for your REAL ID.
Keep in mind that the documents must be original. DPS-DVS cannot accept:
- Photocopies
- Scanned images
- Faxed images
- Digital images on a cell phone or other electronic device
- Laminated documents
The name on those documents must match the name on the application. If you've changed your name for any reason, you'll need to bring proof of each name change from your birth to present day. Examples of acceptable proof include certified copies of:
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce decree or dissolution of marriage
- Adoption decree
- Court-ordered name change
The mobile application also lets you receive your REAL ID driver's license or ID card in 7-10 business days, so you won't be waiting weeks for it to come in the mail.
Don't put off getting your REAL ID. That May 3, 2023, deadline will be here before you know it. If you've got questions, DPS-DVS has answers. Check out its
Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
