TSA To Introduce $45 Id Verification Possibility For Vacationers With out REAL ID Subsequent Month

Information Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 1, 2026: The Transportation Safety Administration, (TSA), has introduced a brand new fee-based identification verification choice for airline passengers who arrive at airport safety checkpoints with out a suitable type of identification, together with a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license.

Starting February 1, 2026, vacationers with out legitimate ID who nonetheless want to fly will have the ability to pay a $45 charge to make use of TSA ConfirmID, a modernized various identification verification system designed to substantiate a passenger’s identification previous to getting into the safety screening course of.

The $45 cost will cowl a 10-day journey window, permitting passengers to make use of the ConfirmID choice for a number of flights throughout that interval. TSA officers say this system is meant as a last-resort choice and strongly encourage vacationers to acquire a REAL ID or different acceptable identification prematurely.

How TSA ConfirmID Works

Beneath the brand new coverage, passengers who don’t current a suitable type of ID at airport checkpoints can be referred to TSA ConfirmID throughout check-in. The identification verification course of will differ by airport and should contain extra screening steps and delays.

TSA is working with non-public business companions to supply on-line cost choices forward of journey, although vacationers who arrive at airports with out prepaying will nonetheless have the ability to entry cost info close to safety checkpoints.

Officers warning that vacationers utilizing TSA ConfirmID ought to anticipate longer wait instances, significantly throughout peak journey intervals.

Acceptable Types of Identification

TSA continues to simply accept a variety of identification paperwork, together with:

• REAL ID–compliant driver’s licenses or state IDs
• U.S. passports and passport playing cards
• Everlasting resident playing cards
• DHS Trusted Traveler playing cards (International Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Division of Protection IDs
• Overseas government-issued passports
• Employment Authorization Playing cards (I-766)
• Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL/EID)
• Federally acknowledged tribal IDs

Short-term driver’s licenses aren’t accepted.

At present, TSA reviews that greater than 94% of passengers already current REAL ID–compliant identification or different acceptable paperwork when flying domestically.

REAL ID Enforcement and Coverage Context

The REAL ID Act was signed into regulation greater than 20 years in the past however confronted repeated implementation delays below earlier administrations. In accordance with TSA, full enforcement started on Might 7, 2025, below the Trump administration and Division of Homeland Safety management.

TSA officers say the ConfirmID charge ensures that the price of extra identification verification is borne by the traveler, not taxpayers.

“Id verification is crucial to traveler security,” stated TSA Senior Official Adam Stahl. “Starting February 1, vacationers who don’t current acceptable identification and nonetheless need to fly pays a $45 charge and endure the TSA ConfirmID course of.”

What Vacationers Ought to Know

TSA urges vacationers—significantly immigrants, twin nationals, and frequent vacationers—to:

• Affirm whether or not their present ID is REAL ID–compliant
• Schedule DMV appointments as quickly as attainable if upgrades are wanted
• Carry various acceptable paperwork, akin to passports or everlasting resident playing cards
• Plan for added time at airports if counting on ConfirmID

Extra details about REAL ID and acceptable identification is out there at TSA.gov/real-id or by contacting @AskTSA.

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