You can now apply for your REAL ID at MSP

MINNEAPOLIS — Want to skip a trip to the DVS? You can now apply for your REAL ID at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicles Services division has opened up a REAL ID office at MSP, so travelers can get their questions answered and apply while they're at the airport.

The office opened March 2 in the Terminal 1 mall area, next to the Prince store near the entrance to Concourse G. It will be by appointment only. Those can be scheduled at drive.mn.gov. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To use this office, travelers must:

• Be a ticketed passenger at MSP Terminal 1 for the day they schedule their appointment.
• Be a current Minnesota resident.
• Hold and bring a valid Minnesota driver’s license, permit or state ID. If expired, it must have expired less than one year ago.
• Complete the online pre-application. Visit REALID.dps.mn.gov to pre-apply.
• Be eligible for a REAL ID and bring all required documents.
• Bring a valid credit card for payment.

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"This is the first airport in the United States, to our knowledge, that has opened a REAL ID station inside security," said Metropolitan Airports Commission Chairman, Rick King. "This is a place where the 40 million passengers who come through this airport every year actually spend time waiting ... why not take advantage of the down time that people have?"

Minnesotans will no longer be able to fly or enter federal buildings with their standard driver's license beginning Oct. 1, 2020. They will need a REAL ID, enhanced driver's license or ID card, passport or passport card, or other acceptable ID form.

As Minnesota approaches the deadline, the DPS is asking people to apply for their REAL ID or enhanced driver's license by June 15, if they need to have it in-hand by Oct. 1. As of March 4, DPS says it is working on processing applications from Jan. 3.

More than 60,000 Minnesotans applied for REAL ID-compliant licenses, ID cards or enhanced driver's licenses in February alone. The DPS says the number of Minnesotans who are "REAL ID ready" stands at 642,040. That's 13.62% of driver's license or ID card holders.

Learn more about what a REAL ID is and how to apply here.