The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a significant policy change for domestic air travel.
Starting in 2026, travelers who do not present a REAL ID-compliant credential or another acceptable form of identification will be directed to an optional, fee-based identity verification process called TSA Confirm ID.
This new requirement is designed to ensure a consistently high level of security for all domestic air travel, shifting the cost of extra identity checks away from the general taxpayer and onto the individual traveler who lacks the required document.
When Does the $45 Fee Take Effect?
The new policy begins on February 1, 2026.
- What it is: A non-refundable $45 fee to use the TSA Confirm.ID: identity verification service.
- Who it affects: All air travelers age 18 and older flying domestically who do not have a REAL ID or another approved form of ID (like a Passport) at the security checkpoint.
- The REAL ID Act: This new Fee is the final enforcement step of the REAL ID Act, which requires state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards to meet enhanced security standards for “official purposes” like boarding a domestic flight.
How the fee option for travelers without a REAL ID works
Starting in 2026, travelers age 18 and older flying within the United States will need a REAL ID or another strong form of ID to go through a security checkpoint and board a plane.
For travelers without a valid ID, the TSA also created an optional path. Travelers without an approved ID can pay the non-refundable $45 fee to use TSA Pre-Check.ID for identity verification.
This Fee is intended to cover the cost of additional checks so that taxpayers do not bear it. The fee can be paid online in many cases, and in some Airport locations, it can also be paid at kiosks or staffed points near the security check.
When paying the fee, passengers will pay the non-refundable fee to verify their identity through TSA’s identity verification tools.
The non-refundable fee to verify who they are will apply to a 10-day travel period, meaning the same ID alternative can be used for round-trip and short follow-up trips during that window.
Who needs a REAL ID to fly
The rule targets those age 18 and older flying domestically. Any passenger age 65 or older flying domestically without a strong ID will face new steps at the Airport.
An approved REAL ID or identification card that meets enhanced federal standards will be needed to fly domestically or travel domestically without a REAL ID using standard License or card checks.
A REAL ID is not a separate card in most states. Instead, ID is a federally compliant version of your driver’s license, state-issued license, or identification card that includes additional security checks.
This type of identification, such as a federally compliant state-issued license or identification, must be issued through your state motor vehicle agency, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles or the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
A REAL ID is a card that meets enhanced requirements for verification. It meets enhanced requirements mandated in the aftermath of major security concerns tied to Terrorism.
That is why real ID is a federally approved standard. In simple terms, it means your ID has undergone stricter checks and is accepted across the United States Department of Homeland Security systems.
Put another way, this ID is a federally compliant identity document that can be used to go through a security checkpoint at an Airport, enter certain federal buildings, or access certain government websites.
What happens if your ID is subject to new rules at the checkpoint
Travelers without an acceptable ID, including anyone who brings a non-compliant license, will not be turned around right away. Instead, passengers without the proper card will be directed to the TSA Confirm—ID option for travelers without a valid card.
Once selected, use Confirm.ID, the ID will face more detailed screening. TSA officials may ask questions, check records, or use an identity verification service system. This is designed to keep Terrorism risks and crime away from flights, trains, and other forms of Motor vehicle-connected travel.
Those who need to verify their identity at the checkpoint will come with extra time. People who choose this route should expect longer waits before entering the security line. Lines could move more slowly because extra checks take longer than showing a regular REAL ID or Passport.
How much is the fee, and how long is it good for
The Transportation Security Administration announced that the new $45 fee for travelers will apply, and the fee can be paid online or at the Airport in many cases.
When paid online, the fees are intended to cover the use of TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period. During that span, travelers without a standard REAL ID or Passport can use the same identity verification approval for a return flight or another trip inside that window.
The agency says paying the fee in advance can speed things up for travelers without real proof at the security line. Buying the service in advance means less time dealing with payments at the Airport.
Which documents count as an acceptable form of ID
Most passengers are already compliant, and more than 9 out of 10 present a strong form of ID today. The approved list includes:
- A REAL ID–compliant driver’s license
- A compliant state-issued license or identification that is marked for REAL ID
- A state-issued license or identification card that meets enhanced federal rules
- A state-issued enhanced license or card that meets enhanced requirements
- A U.S. passport or a Passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards under the United States Department of Homeland Security programs, such as Global Entry or NEXUS
- A License or military ID from the U.S. Department of Defense
- A permanent resident card or border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID from a Tribal Nation, including enhanced tribal cards
- A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- A U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- A Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Temporary paper licenses do not count as acceptable ID for the checkpoint.
If you are unsure whether your REAL ID or license qualifies, check the gov website for your state’s motor vehicle agency or Department of Motor Vehicles.
In many states, a real ID sign, such as a star, appears on the card. This real ID sign is displayed on the card’s face to indicate that the ID meets federal requirements.
At many airports, you will also see a real ID sign displayed as travelers walk through the terminal. Those signs are often shown as travelers wait near the checkpoint and explain that travelers 18 and older flying inside the country will need a compliant card. This helps travelers wait before proceeding with the correct ID.
What travelers without an acceptable ID should expect at the Airport?
Starting in February 1, anyone domestically without a real ID or real proof will have to follow extra steps.
At a busy international airport in Chicago, or at any large Airport across the country, the process will look similar. As travelers wait to go through the checkpoint, they will see signs explaining which ID is required to proceed to security.
When they go through the security checkpoint, travelers without valid documents or other travelers without approved cards will be flagged by TSA officials.
If they want to fly, they will be required to pay the $45 fee and use TSA Pre-Check.ID, unless they can present a Passport or another valid identity document on the list.
These travelers without acceptable ID will be selected to undergo an additional process. They will be required to share sensitive information, such as their full name, address, and date of birth, so that officers can verify their records. This is part of a stronger identity verification service that checks multiple databases on secure systems.
Some people are uneasy when asked to share sensitive information, but the FFees intended to keep the cost of that security work on the traveler, not the broader public. The process takes longer than a simple REAL ID scan.
What is REAL ID, and why does it matter
A REAL ID is a federal standard for Identity document design and background checks. The Real ID Act created these requirements after serious threats related to Terrorism. The goal was to make it harder for someone with a fake ID to travel by air, visit secure places, or move domestically with evil intent.
In many states, your REAL ID will show a small mark or star. This indicates the card has passed checks at your motor vehicle agency.
Behind the scenes, the state may have checked your birth records, immigration status, Social Security number, and other items before stating that this ID is a federally compliant card.
If you still carry an older license that is not a REAL ID, you may need to visit your motor vehicle agency and bring extra documents. Obtaining the ID might require a birth certificate, Social Security card, address records, or immigration papers. Many states list the documents on a gov website so people can plan before they visit.
For many travelers without updated cards, getting a REAL ID is easier if you start months before your next trip.
The TSA initially proposed this fee to close a gap between security and convenience. Many passengers still want to fly, but not everyone has a REAL ID or a strong ID ready at the checkpoint.
By adding this fee option, the agency can maintain strict Identity verification while giving travelers without real ID cards another path to travel. The new Fee avoids shifting all those costs onto taxpayers who already carry a REAL ID or a Passport.
The fees are intended to cover staff time, secure systems, and additional checks that provide the same level of screening as traditional documents, like a Passport.
What does TSA’s introduction of a new system mean for wait times?
The Transportation Security Administration expects ID checks to take longer for anyone who relies on TSA Confirm.ID. When a traveler shows a REAL ID or a Passport, the process is quick. For travelers without those cards, verifyingtheir identity requires additional steps.
At peak hours at a large Airport, like an international airport in Chicago, TSA officials may need several extra minutes to go through questions and system checks with each person. Those minutes add up when lines are complete.
People who want to avoid those delays should bring a REAL ID, a Passport, or another identity document from the approved list. The agency prefers this approach and encourages real ID to pay off by giving faster entry to the security line.
How to pay the $45 fee for TSA Confirm.ID
The fee can be paid in different ways, and in many locations, you can pay online before you even reach the Airport. This helps keep the security check moving.
Travelers can visit TSA.gov or the linked government website pages to learn about payment options. Once they finish with tsa.gov, they can travel knowing they have reserved the identity verification service for those 10 days.
At some checkpoints, kiosks, or staffed counters will guide travelers without an acceptable ID through the payment process. Staff will explain how to pay the non-refundable fee and complete the required identity verification steps.
Why this matters for security and safety
The Transportation Security Administration and the United States Department of Homeland Security use REAL ID rules to maintain strong airport security. Stronger ID means fewer chances for criminals or people tied to Terrorism to slip through.
When people use a REAL ID, a Passport, or an equivalent identity document, the system can confirm their identity through TSA Confirm.ID, the identity verification service, tries to achieve the same goal using records rather than a standard card.
The fees are intended to keep this extra work funded when travelers without a compliant card show up at the Airport. It balances security, convenience, and fairness for passengers and is already compliant with the Real ID Act rules.
Key steps to get ready for 2025 and 2026 flights
If you plan to fly in 2026, take a moment today to check your wallet. Look at your license for a real ID sign or star that proves your ID qualifies.
If you do not see that mark, visit your motor vehicle agency or check its gov website. Many people started this update in 2008, but the implementation across states took time. Now that rules are in full force, being prepared matters more than ever.
To stay clear of delays and extra Fee costs:
- Upgrade to a REAL ID or get a Passport
- Confirm that your ID is a federally compliant state-issued license
- Bookmark the gov website pages for TSA.gov/travel/security-screening/identification and TSA.gov/real-id
- Keep your documents in a safe place so you do not forget them on the way to the Airport
If you still choose to fly domestically without a real ID, remember you will likely be required to pay the $45 fee and use Confirm.ID.
Final thoughts
The shift to REAL ID rules affects nearly every adult who flies in the United States. People with a REAL ID or similar card will pass the security check faster. Travelers without those cards can still travel, but they will face extra steps, higher costs, and longer waits.
If you want to avoid the new fee and extra checks, the best move is simple. Get a REAL ID, or carry a Passport, so you can walk up to the checkpoint, show your ID, and move on to your gate with less stress.
Can I still fly without a REAL ID starting February 1, 2026?
Yes, you can still fly, but it will cost you and take significantly longer. Starting February 1, 2026, travelers without a REAL ID or another acceptable ID (like a U.S. Passport) must pay the non-refundable $45 fee to use the TSA Confirm.ID identity verification system. You will also be subject to additional screening and potential delays.
How long does the TSA Confirm ID fee cover?
The non-refundable $45 TSA Confirm.ID fee covers a single 10-day travel period. This means you can use the verification approval for a round-trip flight or multiple short flights within that 10-day window without paying the fee again. After 10 days, you would have to pay the fee again for a new trip.
What documents count as REAL ID acceptable to fly?
The primary acceptable documents are a REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license (marked with a star or symbol) or a valid U.S. Passport/Passport Card. Other acceptable forms include DHS Trusted Traveler Cards (Global Entry, NEXUS), U.S. Military IDs, Permanent Resident Cards, and State-issued Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL).
Is the $45 TSA Confirm.ID fee refundable if I miss my flight?
No, the $45 fee is non-refundable. The fee covers the attempt to verify your identity via the Confirm.ID system, regardless of whether you successfully pass the screening process, whether you miss your flight due to delays, or whether your identity ultimately cannot be confirmed.
