Massachusetts to Issue New Licenses in 2017

In order to comply with federal identification document security standards which were implement as a post September 11, 2001 anti-terrorism safeguard, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing driver’s licenses which comply with the Federal Real ID Act in the Fall of 2017. Although compliance with the Real ID Law was controversial, it is necessary in order for Massachusetts license holders to be able to enter secure federal buildings and board planes, using their licenses as forms of identification. In order to get one of these more secure identification credentials, the applicant will have to satisfy the Registry of Motor Vehicles that he or she is legally present in the United States. Those who are here illegally will not be able to obtain a Massachusetts Real ID Driver’s License. However, these individuals can use another secure document such as a valid passport to prove their identities and to be able to board aircraft.

Real ID Act Compliant Licenses are not mandatory. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will continue to issue driver’s licenses which are not complaint with the Act. Therefore, Massachusetts drivers will have the option of obtaining a Real ID Mass. Driver’s License or the less secure older form of a driver’s license, which confers the same driving privileges.

These new licenses are necessary because the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prevents air carriers and others from accepting a driver’s license which does not satisfy certain security requirements. The Registry has been granted numerous extensions, so as to give it more time to meet Real ID Act Standards and this latest action will ensure compliance when the latest extension expires. The Registry has been working hard to make the necessary operational and logistical improvements required to be able to issue this more secure credential and it will be ready to do so next year.