TSA's $45 Confirm.ID Fee: What It Is and Who Actually Pays It

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Starting February 1, 2026, travelers who show up at a TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID-compliant license, a passport, or another accepted form of ID won’t be turned away — but they will be routed into TSA’s Confirm.ID identity-verification process, which carries a non-refundable $45 fee.

Most travelers won’t ever see this fee. TSA’s own data suggests the large majority of flyers already carry a REAL ID or passport. This guide covers exactly who the fee applies to, what it covers, and how to avoid it entirely.

For a broader look at what’s changed at TSA checkpoints this year, see our New TSA Rules 2026 overview.

Table of Contents

Quick Summary

Fee: $45, non-refundable
Effective date: February 1, 2026
Who it applies to: Domestic air travelers age 18+ who arrive at the checkpoint without a REAL ID-compliant license, passport, or other TSA-accepted ID
What you get: Access to TSA’s Confirm.ID identity-verification process instead of being denied at the checkpoint
Coverage window: One verification is valid for a 10-day travel period, covering round trips or short follow-up flights within that window
How to avoid it entirely: Carry a REAL ID-compliant license or a valid passport

What Confirm.ID Actually Is

Confirm.ID is TSA’s fallback identity-verification service for travelers who don’t have an accepted photo ID at the checkpoint.

It is a separate program from TSA PreCheck — PreCheck is an advance-application expedited-screening membership you enroll in before you travel, while Confirm.ID is a one-time, at-the-checkpoint verification process for travelers without an accepted ID on the day of their flight.

The two aren’t interchangeable, and having PreCheck doesn’t exempt you from Confirm.ID if you show up without valid ID.

If you’re flagged for Confirm.ID, TSA will verify your identity using other means — typically by asking you to confirm identifying information and cross-checking it electronically. This takes longer than a standard ID check, so budget extra time if you know in advance you’ll need it.

Who Needs a REAL ID to Fly

Any domestic traveler age 18 or older needs one of the following at the checkpoint:

A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID (look for the star marking, usually in the upper right corner)
A valid U.S. passport or passport card
A DHS trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI)
A U.S. military ID
A permanent resident card
Select other federally issued photo IDs (see the full list on TSA.gov)

A REAL ID isn’t a separate card in most states — it’s a standard driver’s license or state ID that has gone through additional verification (proof of identity, residency, and legal status) at your state’s motor vehicle agency, marked with a compliance star.

Temporary paper licenses are not accepted at the checkpoint, REAL ID-compliant or not.

How the $45 Fee Works

The fee applies only if you arrive at the checkpoint without any of the accepted ID types above. If that happens:

You’ll be directed to Confirm.ID instead of being denied boarding outright
You pay the $45 non-refundable fee, either in advance online through TSA.gov or at the airport
TSA verifies your identity through the Confirm.ID process, which takes longer than a standard ID check
That verification covers a 10-day window, so a same-traveler return flight or a short follow-up trip within those 10 days doesn’t require paying again

The fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome — whether you miss your flight, whether the verification succeeds, or whether you end up not flying at all.

How to Avoid the Fee

The straightforward way to skip this entirely is to travel with a REAL ID-compliant license or a valid passport. If you’re not sure whether your current license qualifies:

Check for the compliance star, usually in the upper right corner of the card
If you don’t see it, visit your state’s motor vehicle agency website to confirm your state’s REAL ID requirements and start the upgrade process — most states require proof of identity, Social Security number, and two proofs of residency
A U.S. passport or passport card works for domestic flights too, and doesn’t require a REAL ID upgrade at all if you’d rather go that route

Renewal and upgrade timelines vary by state and by DMV wait times, so it’s worth starting the process well before your next trip rather than the week before you fly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still fly without a REAL ID after February 1, 2026?

Yes. You’ll be directed to TSA’s Confirm.ID process, pay the $45 non-refundable fee, and go through additional identity verification, which takes longer than a standard ID check.

Is Confirm.ID the same as TSA PreCheck?

No. PreCheck is an advance-enrollment membership for expedited screening. Confirm.ID is a separate, one-time identity-verification process for travelers who arrive at the checkpoint without an accepted photo ID. Having PreCheck doesn’t exempt you from needing valid ID or from the Confirm.ID fee if you don’t have one.

How long does the $45 fee cover?

One Confirm.ID verification covers a 10-day travel period, so a round trip or short follow-up flight within that window doesn’t require paying again.

Is the fee refundable if I miss my flight?

No. The $45 fee is non-refundable regardless of whether you make your flight or whether the verification is successful.

What documents count as acceptable ID besides a REAL ID?

A valid U.S. passport or passport card, DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI), a U.S. military ID, and a permanent resident card are all accepted. See the full list on TSA.gov for less common categories.