TSA to Impose $45 Fee on Travelers without REAL ID Starting February 2026

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has confirmed that beginning February 1, 2026, domestic air travelers who arrive at airport checkpoints without a REAL ID–compliant license or another acceptable federal ID will be required to pay a non-refundable $45 fee. The charge funds TSA Confirm.ID, a new identity-verification system created to modernize the process previously offered at no cost to passengers.

Under the updated rule, travelers who lack a REAL ID, passport, or other approved document must undergo the Confirm.ID protocol, which uses biometric data, biographic information, and knowledge-based questions to verify identity against government databases. The $45 payment covers a 10-day travel window, after which passengers must pay again if still traveling without compliant documentation. TSA officials stressed that the fee does not guarantee clearance—if identity cannot be verified, the traveler will be denied access to the secure area, with no refund issued.

The change follows the May 2025 enforcement of the REAL ID Act, which requires enhanced security features for state-issued IDs used for federal purposes. Previously, non-compliant passengers could complete additional screening without charge. TSA now argues that shifting the cost from taxpayers to non-compliant travelers is both fair and necessary to maintain the upgraded system. Critics note that the finalized fee is significantly higher than the originally proposed $18, raising concerns about disproportionate impacts on low-income travelers or those who lose identification unexpectedly.

Travelers can avoid the fee by presenting any federally accepted ID, including a REAL ID-marked license, U.S. passport, passport card, Trusted Traveler cards (such as Global Entry or NEXUS), a Permanent Resident Card, Department of Defense ID, or a foreign passport. TSA strongly encourages passengers who must use Confirm.ID to pre-pay online, warning that those who arrive unprepared will be pulled from the security line to complete the process—potentially adding 30 minutes or more to their wait.

The TSA reports that over 94% of travelers are already compliant with REAL ID requirements, leaving a relatively small—but still significant—segment affected by the new fee. Officials expect that the rollout of Confirm.ID will reduce checkpoint delays, streamline screening, and reinforce long-term national security goals tied to the REAL ID Act of 2005, which mandates uniform standards for identity verification across all U.S. states and territories.

As the deadline approaches, federal authorities and state DMVs are urging travelers to upgrade their identification ahead of time. For millions preparing to fly in 2026, the message is clear: bring a REAL ID-compliant document, or be ready to pay—and potentially wait—for verification.