HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WDNews)– If you’ve heard that May 7 is the last day to get a STAR ID— you heard wrong.
That date marks the beginning of federal enforcement of the REAL ID Act, not a cut-off for applying. Starting May 7, you’ll need a federally accepted form of ID.
Federally accepted forms of identification include the STAR ID, a valid U.S. passport, a passport card or active military ID in order to fly domestically or enter certain federal facilities.
But if you’re not flying or visiting a federal site anytime soon, you can still apply for a STAR ID after May 7 at any ALEA Examining Office across Alabama.
Alabama residents do not need a STAR ID to drive or vote within the state. Alabama has offered STAR IDs since 2012 so it is not a new program.
The only new development is the federal enforcement date, which was extended due to COVID.
Once you apply, your STAR ID will be added to your current Alabama Driver License, with a gold star in the top left corner. It’s not a separate card.
If your Alabama license was issued after April 26, 2022, and does not have a gold star, it will include the label “Not for federal identification.”
With 75 ALEA Examining Offices statewide, residents are encouraged to check appointment availability at nearby locations if slots are full locally.
For those with a valid passport or another accepted federal ID, getting a STAR ID is optional, as Alabama remains an optional state under the REAL ID Act.
For more information, visit TSA.gov or the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) website.
