Flying out of Tulsa International soon? Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID, or another accepted ID like a passport, to get through TSA for a domestic flight. Here's how to get yours without a second trip.
Do you actually need one?
You need a REAL ID, a passport or another accepted ID to:
- Board a domestic flight
- Enter military bases and certain federal buildings
- Enter nuclear power plants
You don't need one to drive, vote, go to the post office, visit a hospital, or get Social Security or VA benefits.
Check your card first
A REAL ID has a star in the top right corner. If yours doesn't, you'll need to apply in person, even if you renewed recently.
The documents checklist
This is the list for U.S. citizens:
- One proof of identity: a birth certificate or a U.S. passport. Hospital birth records and keepsake certificates don't count.
- Two proofs of Oklahoma residency showing your home address, such as a utility bill and a credit card statement. A P.O. box can't be printed on a REAL ID.
- Your Social Security number. You don't need the card.
- Name change documents that connect your birth name to your current name: marriage certificates, divorce decrees or court orders.
Not a U.S. citizen? Permanent residents and other non-citizens bring different documents, and there are exceptions this checklist doesn't cover. Service Oklahoma's online REAL ID checklist (opens in a new tab) handles every case, creates a personal list and can email it to you.
Where to go
Licensed Operators like Eastside Tag Agency can issue a REAL ID to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Other applicants apply at a Service Oklahoma Licensing Office. Anyone under 18 needs a parent or legal guardian with them.
What it costs
Service Oklahoma lists these fees for REAL ID credentials:
| Credential | 4 years | 8 years |
|---|---|---|
| Driver license renewal | $38.50 | $77 |
| New Oklahoma license, moving from another state | $42.50 | $81 |
| State ID renewal | $25 | $50 |
Replacing a license or ID is $25. Oklahomans 65 and older pay nothing, except for a CDL.
Give it four weeks
Your REAL ID comes by mail, usually in about three weeks, and it can't be expedited. You'll get a paper temporary at the counter, but TSA won't accept it for flying. Apply at least four weeks before your trip.
After your first one
Once you have a REAL ID, you can renew it online. Only the first one has to be done in person. More answers are in our REAL ID questions.