STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Real ID requirements for federal purposes, including domestic flights within the U.S., took effect Wednesday, but the documents won’t always be needed.

People with valid U.S. passports, which are Real ID compliant, will be able to use those documents for federal purposes, including domestic flights.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) , people without a Real ID may still be allowed to board flights. However, they can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into a security checkpoint.

An “Enhanced ID” is also available to New Yorkers. It costs $30 and meets Real ID standards while allowing holders to reenter the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean without a U.S. passport.

The REAL ID Act passed Congress in 2005 enacting the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation for the federal government to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards,” according to the Department of Homeland Security .

The law and subsequent regulations established minimum security standards for licenses and other ID cards while prohibiting federal agencies from accepting noncompliant cards for certain official purposes, including the boarding of commercial aircraft.

Compliant state IDs can be obtained at any New York Department of Motor Vehicles location, but people hoping to update their documentation will need to collect some paperwork first.

For more information on obtaining a Real ID or Enhanced ID, visit the DMV website.