TRIBAL ID OR REAL ID? WHICH ONE DO I NEED FOR AIR TRAVEL?
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
Do you have summer vacation plans that include air travel within the United States? Some Mille Lacs Band members have experienced delays at airports going through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints when using their Tribal ID. Keep reading to find out what you need to know when traveling by air.
As of May 7, 2025, Minnesotans 18 years of age or older can no longer use their standard driver's license or identification card to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities. Instead, they will need one of three options:
1. Minnesota REAL ID driver's license or identification card.
2. Minnesota Enhanced driver's license or identification card.
3. Another federally approved form of identification includes:
• U.S. passport or passport card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Tribal members may continue to present identification issued by tribal nations to fly domestically and to gain access to federal buildings. Tribal IDs can be used for travel in place of a Real ID as long as it’s a photo ID issued by a federally recognized tribal nation, according to the TSA website. Travelers can also present Enhanced Tribal ID cards to TSA at travel checkpoints.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe is listed on the Federal Register under the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe as one of the six component reservations.
“Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Six component reservations: Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake); Fond du Lac Band; Grand Portage Band; Leech Lake Band; Mille Lacs Band; White Earth Band) according to federalregister.gov/documents.
One key point to remember: a tribal ID cannot be used as a Real ID for international flights. While tribal IDs are accepted by the TSA for domestic air travel, they are not accepted for international travel. For international flights, a valid passport is required.
Real ID is a domestic identification standard, primarily for domestic flights and access to federal facilities. Passports are international travel documents required for entering and exiting foreign countries. Travelers can also present their passports when boarding flights.