If you head to the airport without an approved alternative like a REAL ID or passport, you’ll quickly be facing higher fees than expected – that is, if you want to fly.
The Transportation Security Administration announced Monday that it will begin charging travelers a $45 fee for passing through checkpoints without a valid ID.
The fee is scheduled to be implemented on February 1, 2026.
The fee is a significant increase from the $18 fee first proposed by the TSA last month.
These additional fees will apply to passengers who arrive at the security checkpoint without a REAL ID driver’s license or one of the many other IDs accepted by the agency, such as a passport, Global Entry card or military identification card.
The TSA estimates that 94% of passengers already have an acceptable form of identification, so this will impact a small portion of the traveling public.
However, if a traveler forgets their ID at home (or loses it before traveling), they will also have to pay a $45 flight fee.
Double down on real identity requirements
The move by the Department of Homeland Security comes months after the Transportation Security Administration began implementing long-planned REAL ID requirements at airports nationwide.
The agency said it needs more time and technology to verify the identities of travelers without acceptable identification. Therefore, it is launching a new program called “Confirm Identity” to verify the identity of these passengers. The agency said the new $45 fee will cover the cost of the program.
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How TSA “Confirm Identity” works
Travelers without acceptable ID can prepay through the federal government’s Pay.gov website before heading to the airport. TSA also plans to provide a link to the portal on its own website, TSA.gov.
After payment, passengers will take their receipt to the airport and go through airport security like other passengers.
Passengers who have not prepaid and do not have valid ID must exit the queue to check in and pay the security verification fee. TSA estimates this process may take up to 30 minutes.
Related: 8 Ways to Get Free or Discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and Clear
Passengers who pay the $45 fee essentially “buy” themselves 10 days of TSA checkpoint access, so if you’re taking a short round trip or a weeklong vacation, you don’t have to pay twice in a short period of time.
The TSA notes that registering a confirmation ID does not guarantee a successful security check; if the agency is unable to verify your identity for some reason, you may not be allowed to fly.
$45 will be non-refundable.
bottom line
The vast majority of travelers will not be affected by TSA’s new fees.
As the TSA points out, more than 9 out of 10 passengers have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or one of the many acceptable alternative IDs accepted by the agency (especially a passport).
If you’re a frequent traveler, these new $45 fees will most likely affect you if you lose your ID while traveling or forget it at home before heading to the airport.
For passengers who pay a fee, though, it’s another additional cost associated with traveling to the airport – on top of the myriad additional fees airlines charge passengers.
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