Travelers with life-or-death emergencies and those who have urgent travel plans within 14 days can schedule a Real ID appointment starting on Thursday, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission announced.

The Real ID emergency issuance program comes as the May 7 enforcement deadline for Real ID approaches and many are still struggling to make an appointment. Those in New Jersey will need a Real ID if they use their license as a form of identification for air travel airports.

A limited number of people who meet all of the qualifications listed by the MVC will be allowed into the program. Those who have an acceptable form of identification to clear Transportation Security Administration checkpoints will not be permitted to make an appointment.

It is required that you confirm you do not have a passport (up to one year expired from travel date) or any other acceptable form of identification when applying for the Real ID emergency program.

All appointments will be held at the MVC Regional Center in Trenton. The emergency program will not be found on the regular scheduling platform. The program portal will open on Thursday, April 24.

An $80 shipping fee must be paid. The shipping fee “will be assessed to expedite the delivery of a REAL ID within a few business days,” the commission said.

The necessary combination of documents, known as 2 + 1 + 6 = Real ID, must be brought to the emergency appointment. Required documents include two proofs of residential address, one verifiable Social Security number and documents that add up to six Real ID points.

Those with a life-threatening illness or injury, and those who have an immediate family member who has died, is dying in hospice care or has a life-threatening illness or injury, can qualify for the emergency program if they need to travel domestically within 14 days from Thursday.

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A parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, sibling or grandparent would qualify as an immediate family member. The MVC said aunts, uncles, cousins or other relatives are not included.

Travelers must also submit documentation attesting to their personal situation and will need to bring those documents to their appointment.

The required documentation for a family emergency can include:

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

The travelers must also confirm how they are flying to another state within the next 14 days, which can include:

• Airline ticket.
• Travel itinerary with proof of payment.
• Invoice with travel dates and proof of payment.

If a traveler is applying for the emergency appointment under urgent travel, the same proof of travel is also required.

The issuing of Real ID started in September 2019, but numerous delays from the COVID-19 pandemic onward pushed the deadline back until May of this year.

No one is required to get a Real ID, and a standard driver’s license or non-driver identification card can still be used to drive in New Jersey.