In 2005, the United States Congress passed the REAL ID Act to comply with a set of standards for state-focused identification, which were recommended by the 9/11 Commission. As these new standards are implemented, many within the business community want to know how this will impact their company, and what can be done to prepare?
For firms with employees that will be boarding a commercial flight, visiting a secure federal building or have a reason to enter a military installation, the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) encourages those individuals to begin the process now of replacing their South Carolina driver’s license with one that’s compliant with the new standards.
While South Carolina’s REAL ID licenses will not be available until the first quarter of 2018, the SCDMV recommends that citizens take the steps now to change their card, so they can use their new cards to pass security at airports nationwide. Please note that a valid U.S. Passport will still be required to travel internationally. Also, South Carolinians wishing to use a passport instead of a new license as primary identification for domestic flights are welcome to do so.
For additional information on REAL ID and what documents are needed to change a license, click here.