New regional office will serve all Kentucky residents
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 9, 2020) – Beginning today, eastern Kentucky residents now have one more option to maintain U.S. air travel and military base entry thanks to the expansion of REAL ID-compliant card access at a new Morehead issuance location operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).
The Rowan County REAL ID Regional Driver’s Licensing office will serve all Kentuckians regardless of where they live. Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has a driver’s license, permit or identification card may apply for a Kentucky’s REAL ID-compliant version at the new regional office in Morehead if they want to use a state-issued credential to meet upcoming REAL ID requirements that go into effect Oct. 1, 2020.
“We’re excited to expand REAL ID access at the first of many regional offices to serve northeastern Kentucky residents who want the new card version to maintain air travel and restricted federal acess locations once REAL ID enforcement takes effect October 1,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “The Transportation Cabinet is working tirelessly to open regional offices statewide as quickly as possible.”
Residents who already have a valid form of REAL ID, like a passport or military ID, can use that instead of the new REAL ID license if they want to visit military bases and fly within the U.S. starting this October. Current driver’s licenses will continue to remain valid for driving, voting and general identification purposes.
“Kentuckians who plan to use another form of REAL ID, like a passport, are encouraged to check the expiration date to make sure it will be valid after Oct. 1,” said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. “For those who plan to apply for a REAL ID license, avoid unnecessary repeat trips and take the time to now to learn what specific documents are accepted by visiting realidky.com.”
Like Morehead, the REAL ID offices in Frankfort and Madisonville serve as a regional application site welcoming applicants from any county to apply. Offices in Paducah, Bowling Green, and Somerset are best scaled to serve residents in the county they are located in and will serve the region once workstation capacity expands. The Morehead office is located at 126 Bradley Avenue and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BACKGROUND ON REAL ID
WHAT IS A REAL ID LICENSE
Starting Oct. 1, 2020, Kentucky driver’s licenses, permits and identification cards displaying the Kentucky Unbridled Spirit logo or the language “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” will no longer be accepted to board U.S. commercial flights or access restricted federal buildings to comply with federal REAL ID law.
Kentucky is in the process of offering REAL ID-compliant licenses, permits and identification cards accepted at airport security checkpoints, military bases and federal buildings that require ID once federal enforcement begins.
REAL ID licenses serve as one of several forms of REAL ID. Below is a list of common forms of REAL ID Kentuckians may use to maintain air travel and select federal building access:
- Valid U.S. or foreign passport
- Valid U.S. Passport Card
- Voluntary Travel ID license, permit or identification card
- Military ID (issued by U.S. Department of Defense)
- Permanent resident card
- DHS- Trusted Traveler Card
- Global Entry Card
A full list of documents accepted by the Transportation Security Administration is available at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/
WHY YOU MAY NEED A REAL ID
Beginning nationwide on Oct. 1, 2020, a form of REAL ID will be needed to:
- Pass through airport security checkpoints to board a U.S. commercial flight
- Visit a military base
- Visit a federal building or facility that requires ID (White House, nuclear power plant)
WHERE TO GET A REAL ID LICENSE, PERMIT OR IDENTIFICATION CARD
Rowan County residents may visit the KYTC REAL ID Regional Driver’s Licensing Office office located at 126 Bradley Avenue in Morehead. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applicants will receive a temporary 30-day document that serves as a driving credential until the permanent card arrives in the mail at the applicant’s residence. Applicants are encouraged to check www.realidky.com or @realidky on Twitter before visiting a regional office for updates regarding unexpected closures or delays that may impact service.
Only debit and credit cards are accepted (no cash or check). Regional offices are not equipped to serve applicants who require testing or re-testing. The cost of a four-year REAL ID license is $24 and $48 for an eight-year REAL ID license.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY FOR A REAL ID LICENSE
Residents applying for a REAL ID license must present documentation from a list of specific, acceptable documents that meet federal guidelines, including:
- one (1) valid proof of identity (like a certified birth certificate or valid passport)
- one (1) valid proof of social security number ( like a social security card) and
- two (2) valid proofs of residency ( like a Kentucky driver’s license with your current home address or a utility bill dated less than 61 days).
- Additional documentation may be required if an applicant’s name or gender doesn’t match on the four proof documents (like a marriage certificate or divorce decree if your names don’t match due to marriage or divorce). Applicants may need to reorder documents before applying if the documents do not display legal names (like a nickname printed on a social security card). A detailed list of acceptable documents and examples of when additional documentation may be required is available on the REAL ID website www.realidky.com. The online IDocument Guide quiz provides a customized list of documents an applicant will need to present. Some acceptable documents have strict requirements (i.e., no photocopies of birth certificates, no expired documents).
WHAT IF YOU WANT A REAL ID BUT AREN’T WITHIN YOUR RENEWAL WINDOW ( six months before the current card’s expiration date)
- Apply for a REAL ID license for $15, bring in the required documentation and the expiration date of your new license will stay the same
- Once you have a REAL lD license and are within your renewal window, visit a REAL ID regional licensing office to renew your card for four or eight years. You do not need to bring in documentation again unless your name or address has changed.
WHEN TO VISIT THE ROWAN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK OFFICE
The Rowan County Circuit Court Clerk office will continue to serve as the application site for standard, non-REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses, permits and identification cards. A standard driver’s license is $20.
Kentuckians who have never had a Kentucky driving credential or those who require any form of testing or retesting must first visit the Circuit Court Clerk Office before visiting a regional licensing office if they would like a REAL ID license, permit or identification card.
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About the REAL ID Initiative
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is spearheading a statewide effort to improve the security of the issuance and production of state-issued driver’s licenses, permits and IDs to meet federal REAL ID standards. When REAL ID enforcement goes into effect Oct. 1, 2020, Kentucky driving and ID credentials without a star cutout in a black circle in the upper-right corner cannot be used at airport security checkpoints for U.S. commercial air travel or to visit military bases and federal facilities that require ID (like the White House). Kentuckians 18 years of age or older will need a REAL ID-compliant license/permit/identification card or another acceptable form of REAL ID (like an unexpired passport, passport card, permanent resident card) to fly within the U.S. or access restricted federal locations. Passports are still required for international travel. REAL ID licenses are optional and will continue to be offered after Oct. 1, 2020. Circuit Court Clerk offices will serve as the application site for standard, non-compliant cards and KYTC regional office locations will accept requests for REAL IDs*. All REAL ID licenses, permits and identification cards will arrive in the mail, are available in four or eight-year lifespans, feature new pricing and require documentation when applying. To learn more and to prepare, visit realidky.com.
*Franklin County and Woodford County Circuit Court Clerk office locations participated in the pilot program and
continue to offer REAL IDs and new standard driver’s licenses to residents.