Can I travel with my passport instead of ID?
The U.S. passport book and U.S. passport card are both accepted as ID for domestic flights. You may not have heard about the U.S. passport card before. The passport card cannot be used for international air travel, but it is still a great ID to have in your wallet.
Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel. Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant.
Once your information is compared and your identity is verified, you will be allowed to continue through the security checkpoint. If you're traveling with an expired license or passport you may still be able to fly. Acceptable forms of ID cannot be more than 12 months past the identified expiration date.
Come prepared with additional forms of identification (credit card, photo business card, student ID, even mail or prescription medication with your name and address). Once the airline representative is satisfied that you are who you say you are, they will issue a boarding pass with a note that you don't have an ID.
The short answer is, no. An official U.S. passport will get you through airport security and can be used in place of a Real ID. If you are only traveling domestically, you can use a Real ID or passport. If you are traveling internationally, you still need a valid passport.
You must present an acceptable ID, such as a valid passport, state-issued enhanced driver's license or U.S. military ID, to fly within the U.S. You will not be allowed to fly if your identity cannot be verified.
Air Travel: All non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants traveling to the United States by air are required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Only limited exceptions apply. Learn more about this requirement and accepted vaccines.
The officer will insert each photo ID into the CAT unit where the ID is scanned and analyzed. CAT is linked electronically to the Secure Flight database, which confirms travelers' flight details, ensuring they are ticketed for travel that day.
The US will accept your expired passport as a valid form of identification. Your old passport can still prove your identity and legal status.
However, according to the governments of New South Wales and Queensland, an Australian passport that expired less than 2 (two) years ago is an acceptable form of ID. As always, if the document was ever reported lost, stolen or damaged it will no longer be considered a valid ID by any state or territory.
Can I use an expired passport to fly?
An expired passport isn't valid by definition. However, if it's all you have, you should bring it with you if you're traveling within the United States. If you can persuade the TSA that you are who you claim to be, you may board a domestic flight without proper identification; an expired passport may be helpful.
A school ID, library card, Social Security card, birth certificate or an organization ID all suffice, as do the allowed identification forms for an adult, such as a state ID. Children younger than 14 do not require identification when traveling alone.
Do you have a passport? A passport is an acceptable form of identification and may be used in lieu of a REAL ID Drivers License or ID to board domestic flights and visit federal facilities.
6. Re: Proof of age for drinking? A copy of your passport along with your drivers license should be fine.
According to State Department officials, you won't be able to fly home with just a copy, but it can help in the event your passport is lost or stolen. Bottom line: "If you lose your U.S. passport while traveling overseas, even in an airport, you will need to replace it before returning home," said Bernier-Toth.
In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. By providing additional information, TSA has other ways to confirm your identity, like using publicly available databases, so you can reach your flight.