REAL ID Emergency Issuance Program

Program Overview

The total time to get a Driver License or Non-Driver ID includes processing and mailing times. No Driver License or Non-Driver ID is printed on site and requires expedited shipping.  As such, a minimum of three business days is required for the processing of an expedited service.  We offer two types of Emergency Service appointments:
Life-or-Death Emergency Service is for customers who are traveling in the next 14 days for a life-or-death emergency.
Urgent Travel Service: You may only request an emergency appointment if you are within 14 days of your travel date.  
For both Services:
  • All appointments will be at Trenton Regional Center, Trenton, NJ.
  • We cannot guarantee an appointment will be available. 
  • An $80.00 expedited shipping fee will be assessed.
  • You cannot walk in without an appointment. 
  • We do not charge a fee to make an appointment.
  • You cannot transfer your appointment to another customer.
  • If you have a passport (up to 1 year expired from travel date) or other Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint you will not qualify for an appointment.

 

Life-or-Death Emergencies Requirements

You may qualify for an appointment if you need to travel domestically in the next fourteen days because you have a life-threatening illness or injury.
You may qualify for an appointment if you need to travel domestically in the next fourteen days because your immediate family member:
  • Has died, or
  • Is dying (hospice care), or
  • Has a life-threatening illness or injury.

You may qualify for an appointment if you need to travel domestically in the next fourteen days because a life-threatening illness requires emergent medical service.

Who is an immediate family member?

  • Parent or legal guardian
  • Child
  • Spouse
  • Sibling
  • Grandparent

We do not consider aunts, uncles, cousins, or other relatives to be immediate family members.

Steps to request an Emergency Appointment for Life-or-Death Emergency:

1 . Confirm you do not have a passport (up to 1 year expired from travel date) or other Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint.

2. Get documentation of the family emergency:

    • Death certificate
    • Statement from a mortuary
    • Letter from the hospital. The letter must be on the hospital letterhead, signed by a doctor, and explaining the life-threatening medical condition.
    • If the above document is not in English, it should be translated by a professional translator.  

3. You agree to pay the additional $80.00 expedited shipping fee. 

4. Get proof that you are traveling to another state in the next fourteen days:

    • Airline Ticket
    • Travel Itinerary with proof of payment
    • Invoice with travel dates and proof of payment

5. Confirm you have all the necessary hard copy documentation to meet the Federal Real ID requirements 2 + 1 + 6 = REAL ID:

    • 2 documents as proof of your address
    • 1 valid Social Security Number
    • Identity documents that add up to 6 REAL ID* points.  You can use this document selector tool

*Digital/Electronic Copies not acceptable for Real ID.

6. If you meet all the above requirements enter the Real ID Emergency Issuance Request Portal by clicking here.  

You may qualify for an appointment if you are within 14 days of your travel date.
Steps to request an Emergency Appointment for Urgent Travel:

1. Confirm you do not have a passport (up to 1 year expired from travel date) or other Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint.

2. Get documentation of the proof of travel within 14 days:

    1. Airline Ticket
    2. Travel Itinerary with proof of payment
    3. Invoice with travel dates and proof of payment

3. You agree to pay the additional $80.00 expedited shipping fee. 

4. You do not already have an appointment; duplicate appointments may result in all your appointments being cancelled.

5. Confirm you have all the necessary hard copy documentation to meet the Federal Real ID requirements 2 + 1 + 6 = REAL ID:

    • 2 documents as proof of your address
    • 1 valid Social Security Number
    • Identity documents that add up to 6 REAL ID* points.  You can use this document selector tool

*Digital/Electronic Copies not acceptable for Real ID.

6. If you meet all the above requirements enter the Real ID Emergency Issuance Request Portal by clicking here.