PHOENIX – Arizonans thinking about getting a Travel ID to replace their current standard driver license or ID card should make an appointment at an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division office soon to prepare for the Oct. 1, 2020, changes to ID requirements at airport security checkpoints.

“As of this week, there are about 500 business days, excluding government holidays, for people who want to get the Travel ID,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser Richards. “There are literally millions of Arizonans who may want to get this credential, so making an appointment at ServiceArizona.com to visit an MVD office and obtain the Travel ID is becoming more important as time passes.”

Arizona is one of 37 states to offer a choice between a credential that meets federal standards and one that does not.  Arizona law requires that MVD provide customers with this choice.

The Arizona Travel ID replaces the holder’s current card and is distinguished by a gold star embedded in the upper right-hand corner. This indicates the holder has verified his or her identity to meet the more stringent standards of the federal REAL-ID Act. It does not replace a U.S. passport for international travel.

When making an appointment, customers should be prepared to bring several different forms of identification. Some examples include:

• One document such as a birth certificate or valid U.S. passport to verify identity
• One document with the user’s Social Security number such as a Social Security card or W-2 form
• Two documents such as utility bills or bank statements that prove Arizona residency

A full list of acceptable documents is available online at azdot.gov/travelID.

Customers should bring documents that are consistent with each other in regards to a person’s name and other information. For example, name changes due to marriage or divorce, use of nicknames instead of given names and so forth, need to be considered when bringing in documentation.

Some Authorized Third Party dealers provide full license and ID services, including offering the Travel ID. Go to azdot.gov/thirdpartyDLservices for more information on locations and availability.

PHOENIX – With Oct. 1, 2020, fast approaching, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is adding more tools to make it easier for customers to find offices to obtain the Voluntary Travel ID.

The Voluntary Travel ID is an Arizona driver license or ID card that meets the additional identification requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. Standard Arizona licenses or ID cards do not conform to the federal REAL ID requirements because of a state law that says those steps must be taken voluntarily by the license or card holder.

Obtaining the Voluntary Travel ID requires an office visit at an MVD or Authorized Third Party location. To ease the process, MVD added a new “Voluntary Travel ID Locations and Information” online link on the “Hours and Locations” page at azdot.gov/mvd. This convenient feature directs customers to nearby offices that provide Voluntary Travel ID services. Office appointments can be made online through ServiceArizona.com.

The October 2020 date is critical because that’s when the U.S. Transportation Security Administration will no longer accept standard Arizona driver licenses or IDs at airport security checkpoints. Fliers must have the Voluntary Travel ID or another form of federally accepted identification such as a U.S. passport.

“The Voluntary Travel ID is available at all MVD locations and 37 Third Party offices that are full-service providers,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser-Richards. “We encourage customers to make an online appointment to get the Voluntary Travel ID, and we’ve added a link to clearly show which offices provide this service.”

The cost is $25 for renewals and first-time issues. Per federal law, the credential is valid for eight years.

For a complete list of examples of identification documents and for additional information, please visit the Driver Services section under Motor Vehicles at azdot.gov.

PHOENIX – Arizonans who plan to use their driver license or ID card to get through security checkpoints at U.S. airports and other restricted, federally controlled facilities should take action to get an Arizona Voluntary Travel ID through the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

The Transportation Security Administration will provide MVD informational flyers at its airport checkpoints in Flagstaff, Phoenix Mesa-Gateway, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Tucson International and Yuma International. The flyers advise passengers that starting Oct. 1, 2020, standard credentials won’t be accepted by the TSA.

“Now is a great time to get a Voluntary Travel ID because the federal deadline gets closer every day,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “MVD is making this process simple. Customers can go to ServiceArizona.com and make an office appointment. The website provides information about what documents that customers should bring with them to meet the REAL ID requirements for the Voluntary Travel ID. Appointments also help MVD offices run more efficiently, helping to get customers out of line and safely on the road.”

The Voluntary Travel ID is an Arizona driver license or ID card that meets the additional identification requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. Standard Arizona licenses or ID cards do not conform to the federal REAL ID requirements because of a state law that says those steps must be taken voluntarily by the license or card holder.

The cost is $25 for renewals and first-time issues. Per federal law, the credential is valid for eight years, in most cases. Customers whose photos need to be updated in the near future may wish to get the Voluntary Travel ID.

Forms of identification  required for a Voluntary Travel ID include one document such as a birth certificate or a passport that proves identity; one document that proves a Social Security number such as a Social Security card or W-2 form; and two documents such as utility bills or bank statements that prove Arizona residency.

For a list of examples of identification documents and for additional information, please visit the Voluntary Travel ID section of the ADOT website at azdot.gov/TravelID.

PHOENIX – New to driving or new to Arizona? Renewing a driver license or getting a 12-year photo update? If you’re planning to visit an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division office for these reasons, you’re among those who may want to consider getting a Voluntary Travel ID – and bringing along the documentation needed to get one.

The Voluntary Travel ID is the credential that complies with the federal REAL ID Act for getting through security checkpoints at airports, restricted federal buildings and military bases. It’s available as both a driver license and an identification card.

While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that all Arizona driver licenses and ID cards are valid at these checkpoints until October 2020, it may be worth getting a Voluntary Travel ID now if you need a new driver license.

“We want first-time applicants and those renewing their licenses to understand their options around Voluntary Travel ID, particularly if they travel frequently,” ADOT Motor Vehicle Division Director Eric Jorgensen said. “While it is up to the customer, we would hate for them to spend their time and money to get a standard driver license now only to have to return in a couple of years to go through the whole process again to get a Travel ID.”

The Voluntary Travel ID costs $25 and is valid for a maximum of eight years. Standard licenses cost no more than $25 and are valid until the driver’s 65^th birthday, although a new photo is required every 12 years.

A Voluntary Travel ID requires specific documentation, and failing to bring it will cost you time if you decide to get one. You must provide:

• A document establishing citizenship or legal presence such as a certified birth certificate, valid U.S. passport or valid immigration documents.
• A Social Security card or a W-2 form to confirm Social Security information.
• Two forms of documentation to establish proof of residency such as a bank statement, utility bill or an Arizona Voter Registration Card. All residency documents must have a current address.

A full list of acceptable documents is available at azdot.gov/TravelID.

Those who decide against a Voluntary Travel ID should keep in mind that the REAL ID Act requires newly issued standard Arizona driver licenses and identification cards to contain the phrase “Not for federal identification.” However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will continue to accept these credentials until October 2020.

Not everyone needs a Voluntary Travel ID. Arizonans who travel by plane or need to pass through other federal security checkpoints may use an alternate form of ID such as a current U.S. passport or a military ID.

For more information on the Voluntary Travel ID, please visit azdot.gov/TravelID.

PHOENIX – Less than a year ago, it was uncertain how long Arizona driver licenses and identification cards would continue getting residents through airport security. When a state law that took effect in July 2015 allowed the Arizona Department of Transportation to create a credential complying with the federal REAL ID Act, Motor Vehicle Division employees had to move quickly to make it happen.

Today, the state has a Voluntary Travel ID and an assurance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that current credentials will be accepted at airports and restricted federal facilities until Oct. 1, 2020. In late April, federal officials formalized that by certifying the Voluntary Travel ID.

The achievement follows exhaustive work by MVD employees who, facing a deadline of April 1, 2016, created not only a credential meeting all 39 security requirements of the REAL ID Act but the processes and procedures needed to make it available to customers.

“Governor Ducey has challenged state agencies to operate at the speed of business, and our dedicated MVD team did just that to create this new Travel ID on such a tight schedule,” Motor Vehicle Division Director Eric Jorgensen said. “Thanks to their hard work, Arizonans now have time to decide if and when they want to get one.”

Sixty team members worked to create the new credential. Many wrote code within MVD’s computer system for the new ID and had to distinguish it from the standard driver license and ID card since state law gives people the option of getting a Travel ID, a process that took months to complete.

MVD also went through a series of tests with the vendor that prints Arizona’s driver licenses and ID cards to ensure the information was transmitting correctly. The vendor, in turn, had to ensure the credential would integrate with MVD systems. The computer system had to be tested as well to verify that records were being properly created.

“In addition to all of the computer programming, we had to train hundreds of staff members and Authorized Third Party employees to learn the new process for issuing the Voluntary Travel ID and develop new forms and policies as well,” MVD Driver License Specialist Madelene Carbajal said. “At the end of the day, we had dozens of employees spending thousands of hours on this project.”

Because the Voluntary Travel ID is in place and approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there’s no rush for Arizonans to get one. Everyone applying for renewal or first-time driver licenses and ID cards has the option, and those who wish to convert current driver licenses and ID cards may do so at select MVD offices by making appointments at ServiceArizona.com. In addition, 24 Authorized Third Party partners offer driver licenses services and can convert existing licenses or IDs.

To learn more about the Voluntary Travel ID, please visit azdot.gov/TravelID.