WASHINGTON — Travelers who aren’t Real ID compliant by the deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny, the head of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

Secretary Kristi Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the Real ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline arrives Wednesday.

Those who still lack an identification that complies with the Real ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,” Noem said. “But people will be allowed to fly. We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”

In recent weeks, Noem has been warning the public about the deadline.

In a TV ad put out by Homeland Security, she warned that these IDs were needed for air travel and for entering public buildings, adding: “These IDs keep our country safe.”

Why is this happening?

When the Real ID Act was signed into law in 2005, it enacted a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs.

“Real ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver’s licenses and identification cards,” John Essig, the Transportation Security Administration’s Security Director for airports in the New York City region said in a news release April 3. “The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.”

The Real ID Act was supposed to begin rolling out in 2008 “but has faced repeated delays due to state implementation challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Nina Ruggiero, senior editorial director for Travel + Leisure. “The combination of varying state processes and shifting deadlines has added to the overall confusion around Real IDs and likely led some travelers to take the deadlines less seriously.”

How do I know if I already have a Real ID?

If you’ve gotten a new ID in the last few years, it could already be Real ID-compliant.

A Real ID-compliant driver’s license has a symbol (in most states, a star) in an upper corner of the card.

If you live in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont or Washington, it’s possible you could have an “enhanced” ID card instead, which permits you to both fly domestically and cross land and sea borders into Mexico and Canada from the U.S. It does not, however, allow you to fly into either of those countries. Enhanced IDs will have an American flag icon, as well as the word “enhanced” at the top of the card.

How do I get Real ID?

The requirements vary by state, so you will need to visit the website of your state’s driver’s licensing agency to find out the specific steps, including whether you’ll need to make an appointment at a DMV and what documentation you’ll need.