Kentucky has added another location to issue Real ID licenses with the opening of a Madisonville office capable of handling widespread licensing requests, state officials said Monday.
The state is ramping up its Real ID program to meet demand for the special licenses.
Starting Oct. 1, the new driver’s licenses that comply with a federal travel law will be needed to board domestic flights or enter U.S. military bases. People without a Real ID after that date will have to show another form of identification, such as a passport.
The new Madisonville office will serve all Kentuckians regardless of where they live, the Transportation Cabinet said.
Kentucky lagged behind in complying with the federal travel law. Gov. Andy Beshear, who took office in December, inherited the challenge of developing the statewide network to issue the licenses before the looming deadline. Beshear said Monday his administration is “working tirelessly” to make Real IDs available as soon as possible.
The state previously opened Real ID offices in Frankfort, Bowling Green, Paducah and Somerset.
The Frankfort office also services applicants from any county, the cabinet said. Offices in Paducah, Bowling Green and Somerset are “best scaled to serve residents in the county they are located in” but will serve the region once workstation capacity expands, it said in a release.
