To meet the continued demand for REAL ID, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will open its 15 REAL ID Centers on Monday, May 19. 

The centers will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. for REAL ID services. This includes the center located at 7200 Peach St. in Erie. 

The centers can process and issue REAL IDs over the counter.

While getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, nearly 3 million Pennsylvanians have chosen to get one, according to PennDOT. 

A REAL ID or another form of federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) is required to:

  • Board domestic commercial flights.
  • Enter a military base.
  • Enter certain federal facilities that require a federally acceptable form of ID.
    • A valid passport is still required for international travel.

More information on REAL IDs can be found here.