Department of Revenue News Release

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security notified Governor Mike Parson yesterday that Missouri is in full compliance with the federal REAL ID Act and regulation. With this notification, federal agencies may continue to accept for official purposes driver licenses and nondriver identification cards issued by Missouri that are not REAL ID-compliant, until Oct. 1, 2020.

“The letter received by my office stated that DHS has reviewed the information provided by Missouri and found that the state has begun implementing a program that meets the standards of the Act and regulation,” said Governor Parson. “I want to thank all those, especially the dedicated staff at the Department of Revenue, who diligently worked to ensure Missouri’s implementation of a REAL ID program went smoothly and adhered to the various requirements of the REAL ID Act.”

Missouri reached full implementation of a REAL ID program on March 25, when the Department of Revenue began offering REAL ID-compliant driver licenses and nondriver ID cards. Under Missouri law, applying for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card is optional.

“Implementing a federally compliant REAL ID program in Missouri was an enormous undertaking,” said Ken Zellers, acting director for the Department of Revenue. “I’m very proud of my colleagues who got us to this point and want to thank them for their hard work and dedication in seeing this through.” 

Effective Oct. 1, 2020, residents of every U.S. state and territory will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, or another form of ID accepted by the Transportation Security Administration, to board federally regulated domestic flights. Individuals will also be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card, or another form of acceptable ID, to access federal facilities, including military bases and federal courthouses, and to enter nuclear power plants.

For more information about Missouri’s REAL ID program, visit dor.mo.gov/drivers/real-id-information/.

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