What is the difference between a california drivers license and a real id

Real ID vs Enhanced ID – What’s the Difference?

Posted by in Immigrants | Updated on August 30, 2022

People have the chance to get a real ID or an enhanced ID in the United States. But the problem is that not many know what these two are and how they are different. It’s important to understand this before getting one.

Here is all you need to know regarding real ID vs enhanced ID. This way, you can make the right decision on which to get.

• Difference Between Real ID vs Enhanced ID
• Real ID
• Enhanced ID
• Read More
• Final Thoughts

Difference Between Real ID vs Enhanced ID

First things first, we need to establish what real IDs and enhanced IDs are before we can get into the differences between them:

What Is a Real ID?

The real ID was created in 2005 to increase federal security after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Since it meets the minimum security standards of identification, it can be used for domestic flights, as well as entering nuclear power plants and federal facilities.

You can’t, however, enter the U.S. by land or sea with just a real ID.

What Is an Enhanced ID?

An enhanced ID is more secure than a real ID and provides proof of U.S. citizenship, making it easier for owners to travel.

On top of being able to be used as an ID, for domestic flights, and for entering federal facilities, an enhanced ID allows holders to enter the States by sea and land without a passport.

It’s not only a driving license, but it’s also a way for people to travel in a much cheaper way when wanting to enter the U.S. from Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean and enter the U.S.

Basically, the enhanced driver’s license is making the life of U.S. citizens easier when it comes to crossing the border into the U.S. The reason for this is that the document includes a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ), or a barcode that allows the CBP officer to read it electronically.

Of course, this applies only in the case the RFID is not available. An RFID, or a Radio Frequency Identification, is a chip that will signal a secure system to pull up the biometric and biographic data for the officer of the CBP. It can be done when you are approaching the border inspection booth.

What’s the Difference?

The main difference between a Real ID and an Enhanced ID is that an Enhanced ID can be used for entering the US by land and sea without a passport. The Enhanced ID also costs $30 more than a Real ID.

If you’re going to get a real ID, then you might as well get as much information about it as you can, so you know what to expect. Below is some necessary information about the document.

Which States Are Real ID Compliant?

The cool thing regarding a real ID is that it’s compliant in all 50 states of the United States. With that in mind, you don’t have to worry about it not being compliant in your state at all.

Description and Schedule of Enforcement Phases

There are some enforcement phases, and they are all cumulative. In every single phase, the measures will stay in effect through successive phases. Furthermore, each of the phases will start with a 3-month period, where agencies can send notices to people who attempt to use their ID cards or driver’s licenses from noncompliance states, but access is still allowed.

Phases of Enforcement

However, you should keep in mind that when this period ends, no agency is going to accept this identification for entry to any Federal facility. This means the persons will have to follow the alternate procedures of the agency. The agency in question will make these other steps available:

• 1st Phase: Restricted areas (such as areas that aren’t accessible by agency contractors, guests, and even personnel) for DHS’s Nebraska Avenue Complex headquarters.
• 2nd Phase: Restricted areas when it comes to all Federal nuclear power plants and facilities.
• 3rd Phase: Semi-restricted areas (such as areas that are accessible for the general public, but ID-based access control is required) for the majority of Federal facilities. People will still have access to Federal facilities to apply for receiving Federal benefits.
• 4th Phase: Boarding commercial aircraft that are federally regulated.

Limitations

When you don’t have to access a Federal facility, the Act doesn’t require anyone to show any identification. Conversely, it doesn’t stop the agency from accepting other types of identity documents different from non-compliant state documents (like a U.S. passport or passport card).

On top of that, the prohibitions of the Act will not affect the other uses of the ID cards or the driver’s licenses that are unrelated to official purposes as defined in the act. This also included cards and licenses from non-compliant states.

Enhanced ID

Just like with a real ID, there are a few things you should know about the enhanced ID before you get one. In the following paragraphs, you will find the information you need to be aware of:

Alternative to Canadian Passport

There has been a lot of work around this matter. Basically, the Department has worked with multiple Canadian federal and provincial officials, trying their best to make the enhanced driver’s license an alternative to Canadian Passports. As such, this became a reality and now people can use the document to get into the U.S. without a passport as long as they don’t travel by plane.

Four different Canadian provinces are issuing EDLs to eligible Canadian citizens. The provinces in question are Manitoba, British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario. If you enter the U.S. from Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean using a sea or land port of entry, you can show your EDL and forget about your passport.

Privacy Protection

Although there is an RFID chip included, you don’t have to worry about any personally identifiable information being stored on it. This will not happen. Moreover, it cannot be transmitted electronically by card either, meaning that your information is safe. There’s a unique identification number used by the card, which links to information that is contained in a safe and secure Department of Homeland Security database. The number itself contains no personally identifiable information.

Additionally, when you obtain an enhanced driver’s license, you’ll get a shielded sleeve that won’t allow anyone to read your license. You’ll also receive some information on how to carry, use, and protect your license.

Read More

• Real ID Extension: What You Need to Know
• 22 Things That Require a Photo ID

Final Thoughts

Knowing the difference between real ID vs enhanced ID is necessary if you’re going to get one of them. These documents can be helpful in their own way. Whichever is best for you depends on your particular needs, and you must make sure you have the right type for what you’re trying to do. We hope this post will help you make the right decision.

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Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.