REAL ID in Washington: documents, fee and how to apply

What Washington REAL ID costs

Washington DOL: a first EID costs a $17 per year issuance fee plus a $1 technology fee, $103 for 6 years or $137 for 8 years. Upgrading a current Washington ID to an EID is $7 per year for the time remaining, between $7 and $56. This page did not read a published EDL fee, so check the DOL before you go.

How to apply in Washington

Collect your documents with the DOL document tool, then make an appointment at a driver licensing office. Allow time for a document review and an in-person interview; applications are accepted up to 60 minutes before closing. You get a temporary EID before you leave but it cannot be used at border crossings.

The DOL says an EDL arrives within 2 to 3 weeks after approval and an EID takes about 2 weeks by mail. You must be a Washington resident and prove U.S. citizenship; a green card or work visa does not qualify. The DOL calls the EDL/EID Washington's REAL ID-compliant form of identification, equally acceptable for domestic air travel as a starred card elsewhere.

Is your current card already a REAL ID?

In Washington, a compliant card shows a U.S. flag marking for an enhanced card (Washington does not use a star; a standard card says "Federal limits apply"). Check the front of your card before booking anything.

If your name changed

This page did not read a Washington-specific name-change list. The DOL says to use its enhanced document checklist to see what to bring; if the name on your citizenship or identity document differs from your current name, expect to need certified proof of the change and confirm the exact documents in that tool.

Worked example

Hypothetical: you hold a Washington ID with 3 years left and want an EID. The DOL upgrade rate of $7 per year for the time remaining gives about $21, inside its published $7 to $56 range.

Useful details

• Alternatives the DOL lists for flying: U.S. passport or passport card, foreign passport, military ID, permanent resident card, I-766, tribal photo ID, border crossing card.
• The EDL/EID is valid for re-entering the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, but not for international air travel.

If you do not have a REAL ID

Federal enforcement began May 7, 2025. Adults need a REAL ID-compliant card or another acceptable ID, such as a U.S. passport, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. TSA ConfirmID lets a traveler without an acceptable ID pay a $45 fee, valid for 10 days from the travel start date you enter; TSA then attempts to verify identity, with no guarantee it can. Using it is optional, and you pay only through Pay.gov. Each adult must complete it separately.

Who this is for and what it leaves out

Residents of Washington deciding what to bring to the licensing office. It does not read any agency system, cannot confirm that a particular document will be accepted, and is not legal advice. Agencies change fees and document lists; confirm on the official page before you go.

Sources

• Washington DOL: REAL ID — What counts, EDL/EID flag marking, standard card rules.
• Washington DOL: Get an enhanced ID card (EID) — EID fees, appointment, mailing time.
• Washington DOL: Guide to enhanced driver licenses — Eligibility, EDL delivery time, border use.
• TSA: REAL ID — Enforcement date, acceptable alternatives.
• TSA: ConfirmID — The $45 fee, how to pay, 10-day validity.

Retrieved November 1, 2026. Fees and processes can change; confirm on the agency page.