New Hampshire driver’s licenses will have a new look starting this week as part of a redesign that officials say has improved security and is compliant with federal Real ID, which becomes mandatory in May for flying and entering some federally run sites.

State driver’s licenses and non-driver ID cards were last redesigned in 2017.

“The updated cards have multiple counterfeit-resistant features and materials, as well as overt and covert security measures,” the Department of Transportation announced.

Importantly, the new cards are also compliant with Real ID, which is a federal identification system that has been optional for years but on May 7, 2025, it  will become required for anyone 18 or older to board an airplane for domestic flights or enter a secure federal facility. Federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, will be prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses and identification cards that do not meet federal standards.

Older New Hampshire licenses can still be used to meet Real ID standards after May 7 if the owner has submitted the necessary extra paperwork. Those licenses are marked with a small gold star.

Getting a redesigned license does not automatically meet Real ID requirements, however. Applicants must provide documentation such as birth certificate, Social Security card and evidence of New Hampshire residence to meet the standard. Without that, the license will be marked “Not for federal identification” and other ID, such as a passport, will be needed to board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal facility.

Existing licenses and IDs remain valid until they expire, and current cardholders will receive the updated design upon renewal.

Although Real ID is needed for many federal buildings, it contains an exception for access to court proceedings.  It will not be required to enter the U.S. District Courthouse in Concord or other federal courthouses.

The new design includes new representations of the state flower, the purple lilac, as well as the Old Man of the Mountain.

In fiscal year 2024, the New Hampshire DMV produced and mailed approximately 350,000 driver credentials and non-driver credentials. All driver’s licenses and non-driver ID cards are printed by DMV employees at the division’s headquarters in Concord.

For more information, check the DMVwebsite.