Travelers Without REAL ID Will Face a New $45 TSA Fee ✈️

What’s Changing?

The U.S. has been slowly rolling out REAL ID for years. In May 2025, TSA finally started enforcing the rule that all travelers need either a REAL ID–compliant license or another approved ID (like a passport) to fly domestically. Until now, people who showed up without one just got extra screening and a warning.

That grace period is ending. From February 1, 2026, if you’re 18 or older and you try to fly from a U.S. airport without a REAL ID or another accepted ID, you’ll be sent into a new process called TSA Confirm.ID and charged $45 for the privilege.

The good news: TSA says about 94 percent of travelers already use valid IDs, so this will only hit a small slice of people. The bad news: if you’re in that 6 percent, this is going to be annoying and not cheap.

What is TSA Confirm.ID?

Confirm.ID is TSA’s new “backup plan” for people who don’t have the right ID when they travel.

Here’s how it works:

• You pay $45, ideally online before you get to the airport via a government payment portal.

• The fee covers a 10-day travel window starting with your first flight, so a round-trip within those 10 days is still just one fee, not two.

• At the airport, you go through a separate identity-verification process before entering security. At many airports this will involve kiosks that use biometrics (like a photo) to verify you against TSA systems.

• If you haven’t paid in advance, you can pay on site, but TSA says the process could take 10–30 minutes and may mean longer waits and the risk of missing your flight. 


Important:
Paying the $45 does not guarantee you’ll be cleared to fly. If TSA still can’t verify your identity, you can be denied boarding and the fee is nonrefundable.

Who Has To Pay the $45 Fee (and Who Doesn’t)?

You’ll face the fee if:

• You’re 18 or older

• You’re flying from a U.S. airport starting February 1, 2026

• You do not have:
  - a REAL ID–compliant driver’s license or state ID, and
  - no other acceptable ID (like a valid passport) on you

You do not have to worry about the fee if:

• You’re under 18 (children still don’t need ID when traveling with an adult in the U.S.)

• You’re traveling with any TSA-accepted ID, such as:
  - REAL ID–compliant driver’s license or state ID
  - U.S. passport or passport card
  - State Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL)
  - DHS Trusted Traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  - U.S. military ID or Department of Defense ID
  - Permanent resident card
  - Some tribal IDs and other federal credentials

TSA also accepts digital IDs in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet at more than 250 airports, as long as they’re based on a REAL ID–compliant license or other accepted ID.

Quick Refresher: What Is REAL ID?

REAL ID is a set of federal standards for state-issued licenses and IDs, created after a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission and written into law in 2005.

To get one, you have to bring extra proof of identity and residency (think birth certificate or passport, Social Security proof, and multiple proofs of address) to your state DMV. Once approved, your card will show a special star symbol in the upper corner in most states, indicating it meets federal REAL ID requirements.

As of May 2025, you need either a REAL ID or another accepted ID to:

• Board a domestic U.S. flight

• Enter certain federal buildings and secure facilities

What This Means for Travelers

For most people, nothing changes: if you already have a REAL ID, passport, or other accepted ID, you’ll keep moving through security like normal.

But if you’ve been putting off that DMV appointment or tend to misplace your wallet on big travel days, the stakes just went up. Starting February 2026, showing up unprepared won’t just mean extra screening — it could mean $45, a longer wait, and still no guarantee you’ll fly.

So treat this like an early boarding call:
Get your REAL ID sorted now and save that $45 for something better, like airport snacks, a checked bag, or your next cheap flight.

FAQ: The New $45 TSA Fee for Travelers Without REAL ID

Do I really have to pay $45 just to fly without a REAL ID?

Yes. Starting February 1, 2026. If you’re 18 or older and show up at security without a REAL ID or another TSA-approved ID, you’ll be routed into the Confirm.ID process and charged a nonrefundable $45 fee.

Is this fee optional if I agree to extra screening?

No. Extra screening is no longer the fallback. The Confirm.ID process replaces it, and the $45 fee is mandatory if you don’t have acceptable ID.

Does paying $45 guarantee I’ll be allowed to fly?

Unfortunately, no.
If TSA still can’t verify your identity after the Confirm.ID process, you can be denied boarding, and the fee won’t be refunded.

How long does the $45 identity verification last?

Your payment covers a 10-day travel window starting with your first flight.
If you’re taking a round-trip within those 10 days, you only pay once.

Can I pay at the airport?

Yes, but TSA strongly advises paying online in advance.
If you pay onsite, the process may take 10–30 minutes, and you risk missing your flight due to longer wait times.

What exactly is TSA Confirm.ID?

It’s TSA’s new identity-verification system for people who don’t have proper ID at the airport.
It uses kiosks, biometrics, and background checks to confirm who you are, but it costs $45 and takes extra time.

Why is this happening now?

REAL ID has been delayed for nearly two decades, but enforcement began in May 2025.
The grace period is ending, and TSA wants a consistent process for ID-less travelers rather than ad-hoc screening.

What if I already have a passport?

You’re good! Passports and passport cards are fully acceptable REAL ID alternatives.
No fees, no kiosk, no problem.

What should travelers do now?

Book your REAL ID appointment well ahead of 2026.
It’s cheaper and much less stressful than paying $45 at the airport and hoping TSA can verify your identity.