PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is rolling out the state’s Voluntary Travel ID, a credential meeting federal REAL ID Act security requirements for access to airports, restricted federal buildings, military bases and more. It costs $25 and is good for up to eight years.

But there’s no reason to rush out and get one. Most people shouldn’t need the Voluntary Travel ID for another few years.

Here’s why: With the state now offering a credential that complies with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it will consider current Arizona driver licenses and IDs valid through Oct. 1, 2020, for travel by commercial aircraft and access to secure federal facilities.

“With the availability of this new Travel ID, Arizonans have certainty around their ability to conduct business as usual when it comes to flying and accessing federal facilities,” said Motor Vehicle Division Director Eric Jorgensen. “Now everyone has several years to decide if and when to replace their current license or ID with a Travel ID.”

Those applying for a first-time Arizona driver license or ID card can get a Voluntary Travel ID at any MVD office or at any of the 24 Authorized Third Party driver license providers around the state.

Beginning Friday, customers wishing to convert their current driver licenses to the Voluntary Travel ID at an MVD office must make appointments at ServiceArizona.com. To start, appointments can be made at eight offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott and Flagstaff. More offices will be added over time.

Current driver license holders can also convert to a Voluntary Travel ID at any of the 24 Authorized Third Party driver license providers around the state without the need for an appointment.

To meet the REAL ID Act’s goal of making identity documents more consistent and secure, the Voluntary Travel ID design incorporates 39 security requirements. The most obvious is a star indicating that a credential is REAL ID-compliant. Each Voluntary Travel ID requires more documentation from an applicant and greater review than a standard Arizona credential, including checking information against additional databases to confirm an applicant’s identity.

Based on federal guidelines, to get an Arizona Voluntary Travel ID, an applicant must supply:

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

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

Because state law gives residents the choice to get a Voluntary Travel ID, newly issued credentials that don’t comply with requirements in the federal REAL ID Act will be marked with the phrase “Not for federal identification,” as called for by the federal law. Even so, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said these credentials will still be accepted until Oct. 1, 2020.

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

For more information on the REAL ID Act, please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website at dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs.