Airports will soon charge you $45 if you don’t have this ID — Here’s what to know
Under the Trump administration, U.S. airports will soon begin charging a new $45 fee to certain travelers on domestic flights.
The measure was announced Monday by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which will be responsible for collecting the fee at airports nationwide, where it will offer an “alternative system” of identification.
“Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems such as rail,” said Adam Stahl, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA, according to the agency’s press release.
An option for travelers without a REAL ID
Travelers who do not present valid documentation that meets REAL ID requirements for domestic flights will have the option to pay the new $45 fee to TSA to avoid potential delays at airports.
The fee will take effect on February 1, 2026, when TSA will require all passengers without a REAL ID — or any of the other documents acceptable under the regulation — to pay the fee to “use a modernized alternative identity verification system” called TSA Confirm.ID.
At security checkpoints, this system will allow travelers to verify their identity for a 10-day travel period. TSA also urges those who do not yet have a REAL ID–compliant document to obtain one as soon as possible by making an appointment at their local DMV.
“The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are. Beginning February 1, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID at our security checkpoints and still want to fly can pay a $45 fee and undergo the TSA Confirm.ID process,” said Stahl, according to the agency.
“This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer,” Stahl added, emphasizing that having a REAL ID helps prevent delays and reduces the risk of missing flights.
The optional TSA Confirm.ID process, which may vary from airport to airport, will allow TSA officers to verify a traveler’s identity at check-in, before entering the security line.
TSA also reported that it is working with the private sector to proactively offer online payment options ahead of the traveler’s arrival at the airport.
Documents valid under the REAL ID law
Although the REAL ID Act was signed more than 20 years ago, the Trump Administration decided to implement it and officially begin enforcement on May 7, 2025.
Florida driver’s licenses are among the documents that meet REAL ID requirements, identifiable by the star inside the circle located in the upper right corner.
According to TSA, more than 94% of passengers already use their REAL ID or other forms of identification accepted by the agency.
Those who do not present one of these may face longer wait times at airports and are advised to arrive at least three hours before their flight.
To date, under the REAL ID law, TSA continues to accept several documents in addition to driver’s licenses or state identification cards at security checkpoints for domestic flights. The official list includes:
- U.S. Passports
- U.S. Passport Cards
- Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler Program Cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- Permanent Resident Card or green card
- Foreign government–issued passports
- USCIS Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
