- Yes, you can use a valid DoD or VA-issued ID card to board a domestic flight instead of a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license.
- The REAL ID Act’s enforcement deadline was May 7, 2025. Military and veteran ID cards were unaffected by it.
- TSA accepts the CAC, the Uniformed Services ID (including the Next Generation USID), older legacy DoD cards still within their validity, and the VA’s Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC).
- The separate Veteran ID Card (VIC), used mainly for discount verification, is not on TSA’s accepted list.
- Cards printed with an INDEF (indefinite) expiration date remain valid — TSA has confirmed this in writing, though some travelers report scanner-related delays.
- Since February 1, 2026, travelers with no acceptable ID at all can use TSA ConfirmID, a $45 identity-verification option — a last resort, not a substitute for carrying valid ID.
- Can You Use a Military ID to Fly?
- The REAL ID Act and What Changed in 2025
- Which Military and Veteran IDs TSA Accepts
- What to Do If Your ID Gets Rejected at the Checkpoint
- INDEF-Dated Cards and Getting a Replacement
- TSA ConfirmID: The New Backup Option
- Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If you hold a valid Department of Defense or VA-issued identification card, you can use it to board a domestic flight instead of a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license. This has been true since the REAL ID Act’s enforcement date, and it applies the same way whether you are active duty, a retiree, a dependent, or a 100% disabled veteran.
This article is for veterans and military family members who travel by air and want to know exactly which card to bring to the checkpoint.
Can You Use a Military ID to Fly?
Yes, for domestic flights. Your DoD or VA-issued ID works the same way a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license does at a TSA checkpoint. It does not work for international travel — you still need a passport for that.
The REAL ID Act and What Changed in 2025
The REAL ID Act’s final enforcement deadline was May 7, 2025. After that date, a standard, non-compliant state driver’s license is no longer accepted at a TSA checkpoint on its own — you need either a REAL ID-compliant license, marked with a star, or one of several federally issued alternatives. DoD and VA identification cards are on that alternative list, and TSA has confirmed the cards remain acceptable regardless of REAL ID enforcement.
Which Military and Veteran IDs TSA Accepts
TSA accepts several forms of military and veteran identification:
- Common Access Card (CAC) — active duty, Selected Reserve, DoD civilians, and eligible contractors
- Uniformed Services ID (USID), including the Next Generation USID — retirees and dependents
- Older legacy cards still within their validity — DD Form 2 (Retired), DD Form 1173/1173-1, DD Form 2765
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) — issued by the VA to veterans enrolled in VA health care
One distinction worth knowing: the separate Veteran ID Card (VIC), the VA’s digital photo ID used mainly for discount verification, is not on TSA’s accepted list. If your DD214 is the only document showing your service, Understanding Your DD214 Form covers how to request a copy — it is not itself a form of ID at the checkpoint, but it is often what you need to apply for one of the cards above.
What to Do If Your ID Gets Rejected at the Checkpoint
TSA officers are trained to accept these cards. If one is turned away, ask to speak with a supervisor — TSA has stated that DoD IDs remain acceptable even without a specific expiration date, which covers the INDEF cases below. Build in extra time if you are using an older card, since screening equipment occasionally flags it for a manual check rather than an actual rejection.
INDEF-Dated Cards and Getting a Replacement
Some older Uniformed Services ID cards, including many issued to retirees and dependents, are printed with an INDEF (indefinite) expiration date instead of a specific one. TSA has confirmed these cards remain valid even without a specific expiration date. Some travelers have still reported delays tied to scanner limitations rather than an actual eligibility problem, so build in extra time if this describes your card. If it is genuinely lost or damaged, or you are not sure which version you hold, Get a New Veteran ID Card walks through replacement. A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license with your state’s veteran designation is worth having as a backup too — the veteran marking alone does not make a non-compliant license acceptable, so Veteran Designation Drivers License is worth a look if you do not already have one.
TSA ConfirmID: The New Backup Option
Since February 1, 2026, travelers who show up with no acceptable ID at all have a backup: TSA ConfirmID, an online identity-verification process with a non-refundable $45 fee. It is not a substitute for carrying a valid card, and it does not guarantee you will clear the checkpoint — treat it as a last resort, not a travel plan. DoD personnel on official travel and recruits headed to basic training are exempt from the fee. Once you are through security with valid ID in hand, Military Discount Flight Tickets covers where to find fare discounts for the trip itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. DoD-issued IDs (CAC, Uniformed Services ID, and older legacy cards within their validity) and VA-issued VHICs are on TSA’s accepted list, regardless of REAL ID enforcement.
No. The VIC is a separate, VA-issued digital photo ID used mainly to verify discount eligibility. It is not on TSA’s accepted list — use a DoD ID, VHIC, or REAL ID-compliant license instead.
Yes. TSA has confirmed DoD IDs remain acceptable even without a specific expiration date. Some INDEF cards are intentionally permanent, issued to retirees, 100% disabled veterans, and their dependents.
Ask to speak with a supervisor. TSA officers are trained to accept these cards, and a front-line rejection is usually resolved by escalating at the checkpoint.
A $45 identity-verification option, available since February 1, 2026, for travelers with no acceptable ID at all. It is a last resort, not a substitute for carrying valid identification.
Adult dependents do. Dependents typically carry their own Uniformed Services ID card, which TSA accepts the same way it accepts a service member’s or retiree’s card. Children under 18 do not need ID when traveling with an adult on a domestic flight.
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I’m 82 year old retired Marine served from 1960-64 serial number 1923898
The next generation USID cards for retirees and 100% disabled veterans and their dependents still say INDEF and will NOT be reissued. There is a panel working with TSA on getting them to recognize these across the board.