KEY POINTS
- Starting Feb. 1, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will charge a $45 fee for flyers without a REAL ID.
- The fee covers use of the new TSA ConfirmID identity verification process.
- Travelers are urged to get REAL ID or use another accepted ID to avoid delays or charges.
Domestic air travelers in the United States now face a new fee if they don’t have federally compliant identification.
Beginning Feb. 1, anyone flying without a REAL ID or another TSA-accepted ID must pay $45 for identity verification.
The charge applies at security checkpoints for passengers lacking REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses.
It also affects those without other acceptable documents like passports or trusted traveler cards.
The fee pays for the TSA ConfirmID process, a modernized method to verify identity before boarding.
This alternative system replaces slower manual verification previously used for non-compliant IDs.
Confirmed identity through the TSA ConfirmID option covers a 10-day travel period once the fee is paid.
Passengers can pay online in advance to help reduce wait times at the airport.
TSA officials stressed that the fee shifts the cost of processing non-compliant travelers from taxpayers to individual users.
The program aims to balance efficiency and federal security requirements at checkpoints.
According to government data, about 94% of passengers already use REAL ID or another acceptable ID.
Only a small minority of travelers are expected to require the ConfirmID option.
REAL ID compliance stems from the Real ID Act, passed in 2005 after the Sept. 11 attacks to strengthen airport security.
Full enforcement of the requirement began in 2025 and expanded with this fee rollout.
Travelers without REAL ID are advised to consider options like passports or Department of Homeland Security cards as alternatives.
These forms also meet TSA identification standards and avoid the extra cost.
TSA warns that paying the fee and using ConfirmID does not guarantee successful verification or access through security.
In some cases, additional security screening or delays could occur.
Air travel advocates caution passengers to check their IDs before arriving at airports.
Delays of up to 30 minutes at checkpoints are possible for those using the alternative confirmation process.
Some states’ motor vehicle agencies have seen increased REAL ID applications ahead of the enforcement deadline.
Officials say early preparation can help travelers avoid last-minute issues.
Children under 18 do not need ID when traveling domestically, but adults must present proper documentation or pay the fee.
TSA continues to provide updated lists of acceptable IDs on its official website.
The introduction of the fee represents an ongoing shift in how U.S. airport security manages identity verification.
It signals stricter adherence to federal standards decades after the original REAL ID law was enacted.
