Sky Schaudt/KJZZ

A sign for a Travel ID at the Arizona MVD office in Phoenix. The deadline to obtain a REAL ID or travel ID has been pushed back to May 3, 2023.

As the calendar rolls into May, the deadline for Arizonans to replace their state-issued ID with an approved travel ID is one year away.

State Motor Vehicle Division spokesperson Bill Lamoreaux says it’s best not to wait.

“The MVD is really busy. The busiest time of the year for us at MVD is March and April, so right before the deadline next year. So, I’d encourage people to get out and do it now,” said Lamoreaux.

Lamoreaux says it’s best to make an appointment with the MVD, and that the process requires a birth certificate or passport, Social Security number, and two items with proof of Arizona residency, like a credit card bill or a utilities bill.

He says more than 1.5 million Arizonans already have their travel ID, as the deadline shifted multiple times during the pandemic.