Have you applied for your REAL ID yet ?

If not, you can start the process at the Landside Terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport on three upcoming dates:

• Monday, Nov. 19       1 – 8 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 17        1 – 8 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 28       1 – 8 p.m.

On those days, staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will be on hand to assist residents with the pre-verification process. Look for them on the Ticketing Level next to the myPITpass check-in counter.

In case you’ve forgotten, getting a REAL ID is required by law, at least if you plan to fly or enter federal facilities. Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, Pennsylvania residents who are flying (or who are visiting federal facilities other than federal courthouses) will be required to show either a valid passport or REAL ID.

You’ll still need a valid passport for international travel, and you also can use your passport in place of REAL ID to board a domestic flight.

“The main advantage to having REAL ID is that you’ll always have it on you,” said Vince Gastgeb, PIT’s Vice President of Government & Community Affairs. “Unlike a passport, people usually carry their driver’s license in their wallet or purse, and REAL ID will be just as convenient to carry.”

REAL ID cards, mandated by Congress, are encrypted with multiple safeguards and can’t be fraudulently reproduced.

To begin the process, come to the airport with:

• proof of identity, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate with a raised seal or a valid U.S. Passport
• your Social Security card (laminated or sealed-in-plastic cards are not acceptable)
• proof of all legal name changes, such as a marriage certificate or court order issued by your county’s family court
• two proofs of your current, physical Pennsylvania address (such as a current driver’s license and a bank statement or utility bill that is less than 90 days old)

If you get verified at PIT, you’ll be able to order your REAL ID online from PennDOT in March 2019 without having to visit a Driver License Center or REAL ID Center.

“We’re glad the airport is able to play a part in the verification process,” Gastgeb said. “We know this is a big change, so we are trying to do what we can to make it as easy as possible for travelers.”

If you received a learner’s permit, driver’s license or photo ID after 2003, you may not need to complete the pre-verification process. The state has your required documentation and will contact you about obtaining your REAL ID. You also can visit www.PennDOT.gov/REALID to find out if your required documents are on file.

For more information, click here.