Real ID, liquid rule changes and digital nomad visas: a smart travel guide

Travel rules are shifting fast. This smart travel guide walks through three changes travelers care about most right now: REAL ID enforcement that began on May 7, 2025, evolving carry-on liquid rules as screening tech expands, and the growing universe of digital‑nomad visas. The goal is simple: give you practical steps to avoid surprises and make better travel decisions.

Expect variation and phased rollouts. Agencies may use phased, card-based REAL ID enforcement over up to two years, and checkpoint screening rules already vary by airport as new scanners arrive. Read the short sections that follow, then use the checklist to prepare for flights, long stays abroad, and remote-work permits.

REAL ID enforcement: what changed and what it means

The federal REAL ID card‑based enforcement began on May 7, 2025. That means for federally regulated domestic flights and some federal facilities you must present a REAL ID‑compliant state driver’s license/ID or an accepted alternative. Accepted alternatives include a U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, DHS Trusted Traveler cards, tribal IDs, and other TSA‑accepted documents; children under 18 remain exempt when traveling with an adult.

Agencies may adopt a phased approach and have up to two years to implement full card‑based enforcement at every checkpoint, so some airports and carriers will continue gradual change. In practice, TSA and media reported that roughly 80, 81% of current travelers already hold compliant IDs before enforcement, which helps, but pockets of noncompliance persist.

Practical steps: if you lack a REAL ID, bring a passport or other TSA‑accepted ID; apply early at your state DMV because many states experienced appointment backlogs; and allow extra time at checkpoints while enforcement phases settle. Expect some airports to do extra screening or to deny boarding if you present a non‑compliant ID without an alternative.

Airport screening today: liquids, shoes and baseline rules

The long‑standing 3‑1‑1 liquids rule remains the baseline at U.S. checkpoints in 2025: containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in one clear quart bag. Medically necessary liquids and baby formula are exempt from the size limit but will be screened. These baseline requirements are still what most travelers must follow when they pass through security.

In mid‑July 2025 DHS announced an end to the routine removal of shoes at many U.S. checkpoints, citing upgraded screening technology and pilot programs. Despite that change, other items , laptops, liquids, belts , continue to be under review and are handled differently depending on the checkpoint and machines in use.

Because checkpoint rules can differ by airport and by the exact lane equipment, always check your departure and arrival airport guidance before you travel. If you usually rely on a state‑ID, bring your passport as a backup and allow extra time at security until checkpoint practices stabilize.

Why liquids might change , and why not immediately

Officials have signaled a potential shift. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said, ‘The liquids, I’m questioning. So that may be the next big announcement,’ and described a future where passengers might ‘walk in the door with your carry‑on suitcase, you walk through a scanner and go right to your flight.’ Those remarks show the agency is re‑examining the 3‑1‑1 policy as new tech comes online.

The technical path for that change is clear but long. Computed Tomography (CT) 3‑D baggage scanners can screen closed liquid containers, and TSA is deploying them, but nationwide rollout across roughly 2,000 lanes at about 430 airports will take years. Public reporting and agency estimates point to a systemwide capability that could be many years out, with some analysts citing a horizon toward 2040 for full replacement and policy change.

International pilots provide useful lessons: the U.K. and some European airports trialed next‑gen CT scanners and relaxed liquid rules in certain locations, but governments sometimes delayed or reversed relaxations while they harmonized scanner standards and procedures. The takeaway is that technology alone is not enough; policy, training, and harmonized standards matter too.

Digital‑nomad visas: options, scale and notable examples

The digital‑nomad population has grown rapidly. MBO Partners reported about 18.1 million Americans identified as digital nomads in 2024, roughly 11% of U.S. workers, with independent nomads growing fastest. At the same time, more countries rolled out programs: by 2025 roughly 64, 66 jurisdictions offered some form of digital‑nomad visa or remote‑work permit.

Notable examples include Estonia (an early pioneer from 2020), Portugal (D‑type or D8 variants), and Spain, which established teleworking and startup pathways under BOE Law 28/2022. Spain’s law created an initial visa for international teleworkers , generally an initial entry visa up to one year when applying from abroad , and once in Spain certain telework residence permits can be issued for up to three years with renewal and pathways toward long‑term residence.

Program details vary widely: income thresholds, required documentation, family reunification rules, and tax regimes differ from country to country. Spain tied eligibility to roughly 200% of the minimum wage in its framework, while Portugal and other countries require multiple‑times‑minimum‑wage evidence depending on the permit. Always verify the exact counts and thresholds with the consulate or official immigration pages before applying.

Uptake, real‑world outcomes and risks for nomads

Program traction varies. Estonia’s program has issued only a few hundred permits, while countries such as Malaysia and Croatia reported low‑thousands of passes. Many newer programs underperform expectations because strict income rules, tax implications, or local social‑security requirements discourage applicants.

Legal and tax risk is real for digital nomads. Check visa terms for allowed work sources and duration, monitor local tax residency thresholds (the common 183‑day rule can trigger tax residency), verify whether local law treats you as taxable on worldwide income or under a territorial regime, and confirm mandatory social‑security or health‑insurance obligations. Employers should also confirm that cross‑border remote work is permitted and insured.

Failing to verify these areas can lead to double taxation, surprise tax bills, or even allegations of illegal work. Smart nomads plan a: clarify residency triggers, retain diplomatic or legal advice for complex cases, and buy international health insurance that covers both travel and extended stays.

A concise smart travel guide checklist

Carry a passport as backup if your state ID isn’t REAL ID‑compliant, and confirm that your state DMV has stamped your license if you applied for REAL ID. Apply early at the DMV to avoid appointment backlogs and expect phased enforcement across airports for up to two years after May 7, 2025.

Follow the 3‑1‑1 rule for liquids (3.4 oz / 100 ml containers in a quart bag) unless your departure airport explicitly permits otherwise; pack medical liquids and baby formula with documentation or medical letters to expedite screening. Check your airport’s screening equipment: lanes with CT scanners may offer more leniency, but nationwide change is gradual.

If you plan to use a digital‑nomad visa, verify the country’s income thresholds, proof‑of‑work requirements, family reunification rules, and tax implications. Collect documentation before you apply, buy international health insurance, check social‑security obligations, and confirm your employer’s policies on cross‑border remote work to avoid legal or tax exposure.

Use this smart travel guide as a planning tool rather than a substitute for official pages: before you fly or relocate, visit TSA and your destination’s immigration/consulate websites for the most current rules. Rules are evolving as technology and policy catch up, so checking official guidance within days of travel is wise.

Prepared travelers reduce stress. With a passport backup, early DMV/visa planning, accurate proof for screening exceptions, and clarity on tax and insurance, you can navigate REAL ID enforcement, adapting liquids rules, and the digital‑nomad landscape more confidently.