Photo from TSA.Gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Beginning February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin charging a $45 fee to domestic airline travelers who arrive at airport security checkpoints without a REAL ID-compliant credential or another TSA-accepted form of identification, according to official agency guidance.
The fee is part of a new TSA identity-verification option known as ConfirmID, which allows travelers lacking compliant identification to attempt to proceed through security after completing additional verification steps. TSA has said the change is intended to recover administrative costs associated with enhanced screening and to place that burden on individual travelers rather than taxpayers.
Who must pay the fee
Under federal rules, travelers 18 years old and above are required to present acceptable identification for domestic air travel. To avoid the fee, passengers must show a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID, or another TSA-approved credential, including a U.S. passport or passport card, permanent resident card, military ID, or certain Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards.
Travelers who arrive without any of these may use the ConfirmID process by paying the $45 fee.
TSA has stressed that payment does not guarantee clearance. If officers are unable to verify a traveler’s identity, the individual may be denied access to the security checkpoint and will not be permitted to board a flight. The fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome.
How ConfirmID works
ConfirmID involves an identity verification process paired with additional security screening. TSA advises travelers who plan to use the option to arrive earlier than usual, as the procedure may take significantly longer than standard screening.
The $45 fee covers a 10-day travel window, allowing multiple domestic flights within that period. Travel beyond the 10 days would require a new payment. TSA has indicated that payment must be completed online through a federal payment system, not at the checkpoint.
REAL ID enforcement background
The fee follows the start of full REAL ID enforcement in May 2025, nearly 20 years after Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005. The law established federal standards for state-issued identification used for official purposes, including domestic air travel.
Before full enforcement, TSA allowed travelers without compliant identification to fly after enhanced screening. The ConfirmID fee formalizes that exception while adding a fixed cost.
Children under 18 are generally not required to present identification for domestic travel and are not subject to the fee when traveling with an adult.
What travelers should do
TSA reports that most passengers already present compliant identification, but urges travelers to confirm their ID status before flying. REAL ID-compliant cards are typically marked with a star, though placement varies by state.
