U.S. air travelers who show up at airport security without a REAL ID or other acceptable identification will now face more than just extra questions.

As of February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun charging a 45 dollar fee to verify the identities of passengers who cannot present compliant ID, formalizing a new cost of noncompliance at checkpoints nationwide.

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New Fee Marks Next Phase of REAL ID Enforcement

The fee, which took effect on Sunday, February 1, applies to domestic travelers age 18 and older who arrive at security without a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or state ID, or another form of acceptable identification such as a passport, military ID, trusted traveler card, or permanent resident card. Those passengers may opt into TSA’s newer ConfirmID system, an alternative identity-verification process that allows them to continue their journey if their identity can be successfully established.

ConfirmID is the latest step in the long rollout of the federal Real ID Act, a post-9/11 security measure passed in 2005 but delayed repeatedly for nearly two decades. Full enforcement finally began on May 7, 2025, when REAL ID or another acceptable credential became mandatory to pass through airport security and access certain federal facilities. For the first several months, officers generally provided warnings and subjected non-compliant travelers to manual screening without charging a fee, but that grace period has now ended.

Under the new policy, travelers who need ConfirmID pay 45 dollars for a 10-day travel window, covering an outbound trip and return or a short series of flights. TSA has emphasized that the fee is nonrefundable and does not guarantee travel; if agents cannot verify a passenger’s identity through the alternative process, that traveler can still be denied access to the secure area and may miss their flight.

Officials say roughly 94 percent of passengers already present REAL ID-compliant or otherwise acceptable documents, but the remaining 6 percent represent millions of annual trips. With enforcement now backed by a financial penalty, TSA and state motor vehicle agencies hope the new fee will convince most of that group to finalize their REAL ID upgrades.

Why TSA Says Travelers Must Now Pay

Federal officials frame the 45 dollar charge as both a cost-recovery measure and a behavioral nudge. ConfirmID relies on additional technology, databases and staffing to vet people whose identity cannot be quickly confirmed by a single compliant ID document. That often includes checking multiple records, asking detailed personal questions and routing the traveler into secondary screening once their identity is provisionally cleared.

TSA initially floated an 18 dollar fee in a regulatory filing, but later increased the amount after reviewing anticipated technology and operational expenses. The agency argues that it should not be the general taxpayer who pays for travelers who have had years of notice to update their identification, particularly when compliant alternatives like passports and REAL ID driver’s licenses are already widely available.

Senior officials have also linked the fee to broader security concerns. They note that the alternative verification process exists to prevent people with fraudulent or insufficient IDs from boarding aircraft or entering sensitive transportation infrastructure. Shifting the cost to the traveler is intended to preserve resources for routine screening while maintaining the option to assist legitimate passengers who, for various reasons, do not yet have the required credentials.

Critics, however, have questioned whether the charge amounts to a penalty on lower-income travelers, those who struggle to obtain documents such as birth certificates or marriage records, or people who fly only occasionally and may not have closely tracked the rule changes. Civil liberties groups have also raised concerns about the increased reliance on biometrics and question-based identity checks built into the new ConfirmID system.

How ConfirmID Works at the Airport

ConfirmID is designed as a modernized identity-proofing system that can combine biometrics, digital verification and enhanced questioning to clear travelers who arrive without proper documentation. TSA says in many locations the process will begin before a passenger even reaches the main security line, with agents or signage directing those without acceptable ID to a separate area or kiosk where they can pay the fee and start the verification process.

Travelers are strongly urged to pay the 45 dollars online in advance, through federal payment portals cited by TSA and some partner communications, and to bring either a printed or digital receipt. Those who arrive at the checkpoint without having paid will typically be pulled from the queue and instructed on how to pay on-site, which can add further delays. In both cases, the traveler must still present some form of government-issued identification, even if it is non-compliant, expired, or lacks the REAL ID star.

Once payment is confirmed, ConfirmID steps can include taking a live photograph, comparing that image against government databases, cross-checking personal information and asking the traveler verification questions drawn from public records or credit data. Depending on airport staffing and how quickly the system can match a traveler’s information, the process is generally estimated to take 10 to 15 minutes, but Officials acknowledge that it can stretch to 30 minutes or longer at busy times.

Even when identity is successfully verified, travelers routed through ConfirmID can expect additional physical screening, such as enhanced bag checks or pat-downs. TSA stresses that paying the fee does not provide any kind of “fast track” through security; in fact, using ConfirmID almost always means a longer experience at the checkpoint than presenting a REAL ID-compliant document or passport.

What Counts as Acceptable ID, and What Does Not

The REAL ID requirement applies primarily to state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. To be compliant, these must meet federal security standards and are typically marked with a star or similar symbol on the front: a black or gold star in many states, or specific designs such as a white star in a yellow circle. States have spent years redesigning and reissuing credentials to incorporate those standards, including more secure issuance processes and physical card features.

However, a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license is not the only way to fly without incurring the new fee. Passengers can still clear TSA with a valid U.S. passport or passport card, a trusted traveler program card such as Global Entry or NEXUS, a U.S. military ID, a permanent resident card, border crossing card, certain federally recognized tribal IDs and several other specialized credentials recognized by the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, TSA now accepts certain digital IDs stored in mobile wallets at many airports, as long as the underlying credential is REAL ID-compliant or otherwise approved.

Temporary paper licenses, receipts from the DMV, and many student or workplace IDs are not accepted as primary identification for boarding flights. Travelers relying on those documents alone are likely to be directed into the ConfirmID process and required to pay the fee if they still wish to travel. Likewise, foreign visitors without a U.S. REAL ID may use their foreign passport as acceptable ID and therefore avoid the new charge, as long as that passport is valid and presented at the checkpoint.

Because rules can vary slightly by airport and TSA continues to test technology such as facial recognition cameras and digital identity apps, travelers are encouraged to confirm that their chosen ID is on TSA’s official acceptable list before heading to the airport. That list includes both traditional physical documents and participating mobile driver’s license and digital ID pilots.

Impact on Travelers and Airport Operations

In the first days of enforcement, the new fee has prompted a flurry of public information campaigns from state motor vehicle agencies, airports and passenger advocacy groups, all seeking to minimize surprises at security. Some large hubs have added signage near ticketing and check-in areas reminding passengers to check their IDs for the REAL ID star, while airlines are sending targeted emails and app notifications to customers whose home states have only recently ramped up compliant credential issuance.

Travel experts warn that the biggest practical impact may be on travelers who cut arrival times close. A 20 to 30 minute delay for ConfirmID processing can easily cause missed flights during peak periods, especially if security lines are already long or if a passenger must rebook and clear security a second time. Families traveling together may face difficult decisions if only one adult lacks appropriate ID and must decide whether to proceed with or without that person while verification is underway.

Airport officials anticipate that the share of passengers resorting to ConfirmID will decrease over the coming year as more people obtain REAL IDs, but they are still bracing for some disruption in the near term. Some airports are working with TSA to staff dedicated ConfirmID lanes or kiosks during morning and evening peaks, while smaller facilities may rely on roving officers who can assist affected travelers on an ad hoc basis.

Industry observers note that the new fee coincides with a broader move toward biometric verification in travel, from face-scanning boarding gates to digital entry gates at international terminals. While many of these tools are marketed as conveniences for frequent travelers, ConfirmID represents the inverse: a biometric safety net that comes with a time and financial penalty for those who are not yet fully integrated into the REAL ID ecosystem.

How States and Advocacy Groups Are Responding

The rollout of the 45 dollar fee has renewed scrutiny of how effectively states have communicated REAL ID requirements to their residents. In some jurisdictions, DMVs have created walk-in “supercenter” locations specifically for REAL ID upgrades, extended service hours into evenings and weekends, or launched hotlines to help residents assemble the birth certificates, Social Security documentation and residency proofs needed to qualify.

State officials say the new TSA fee has spurred a noticeable uptick in appointment requests, particularly in urban areas where airport access is a daily concern. However, that surge also risks creating backlogs at motor vehicle offices, potentially leaving some travelers caught between long wait times for an appointment and a looming trip date that could force them into paying ConfirmID charges.

Consumer advocates have urged TSA and state agencies to improve outreach to older adults, rural residents and lower-income communities, where paperwork barriers can be higher and digital access more limited. Organizations representing seniors, for example, have called for clearer language about what documents are needed at DMVs, along with mobile clinics or pop-up events that help residents secure required records from county clerks and vital records offices.

There is also ongoing debate over whether the 45 dollar fee should be reduced or waived for certain groups, such as active-duty military on emergency travel, survivors evacuating from natural disasters, or people who can demonstrate financial hardship. At present, TSA has not announced any formal exemptions, but observers expect the policy to draw continued attention from lawmakers and oversight bodies as data accumulates on how many travelers are affected and who they are.

FAQ

Q1. What exactly changed on February 1, 2026?
On February 1, 2026, TSA began charging a 45 dollar fee to travelers 18 and older who arrive at airport security without a REAL ID-compliant license or other acceptable ID and still wish to fly. Those travelers are routed into the ConfirmID identity-verification process and cannot proceed unless they pay the fee and TSA can confirm their identity.

Q2. If I pay the 45 dollars, am I guaranteed to fly?
No. The fee pays for the ConfirmID process but does not guarantee that TSA will be able to verify your identity. If agents cannot confirm who you are, they can deny you access to the secure area, and you may miss or forfeit your flight even though you paid the fee.

Q3. How long is the ConfirmID fee valid?
The 45 dollar payment generally covers a 10 day travel period. That window is designed to include your outbound trip and return, or a brief series of flights, without requiring a new payment for each segment as long as all travel occurs within those 10 days.

Q4. Can I avoid the fee if I have a passport or another federal ID, even without a REAL ID license?
Yes. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, trusted traveler program card, certain military and federal IDs, permanent resident cards and some tribal IDs are all considered acceptable alternatives. If you present one of these at security, you do not need a REAL ID license and will not be charged the 45 dollar fee.

Q5. How do I pay the ConfirmID fee?
TSA encourages travelers without a REAL ID to pay online before their trip through the federal payment site referenced in agency materials, then bring a printed or digital receipt to the airport. At many airports, passengers can also pay online on-site if they arrive without having pre-paid, but they will typically be pulled from the main security line and may face additional waiting time.

Q6. What happens if I show up with no ID at all?
If you have no acceptable ID of any kind, TSA may still attempt to verify your identity using ConfirmID, but you will first need to pay the 45 dollar fee. You can expect extended questioning and possibly additional checks, and if agents cannot confidently establish who you are, you may not be allowed through security.

Q7. Does the fee apply to children and teens?
No. TSA’s REAL ID requirement and the associated ConfirmID fee apply to travelers age 18 and older. Minors traveling with an adult generally are not required to present ID for domestic flights, though airlines may ask for proof of age in some cases, such as for lap infants.

Q8. Will I have to pay the fee every time I fly if I never get a REAL ID?
If you do not obtain a REAL ID or other acceptable identification, you will likely need to pay the ConfirmID fee each time you travel outside the 10 day validity window, and each time you want TSA to attempt to verify your identity. Over time, that could far exceed the cost and effort involved in upgrading to a compliant license or obtaining a passport.

Q9. Do digital IDs on my phone count, or will I still be charged?
In many airports, TSA accepts certain digital IDs stored in mobile wallets, but only if they are linked to a REAL ID-compliant or otherwise approved credential. If your digital ID meets TSA’s criteria and is successfully read at the checkpoint, you should not be routed into ConfirmID or charged the 45 dollar fee. If it fails or is not recognized, you may need to use a physical document or pay for ConfirmID.

Q10. How can I check whether my license is a REAL ID?
In most states, a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card will display a star symbol on the front, often black, gold or set inside a circle. Some states highlight the word “REAL ID” or include specific branding. If you are unsure, you can contact your state’s motor vehicle agency or check their official guidance to confirm whether your current card meets federal REAL ID standards.