Starting February 1st, the TSA will charge a $45 non-refundable fee to domestic air travelers aged 18 and older who lack a REAL ID or another accepted form of identification for identity verification.
Beginning February 1st, air travelers in the U.S. aged 18 and older flying domestically without a REAL ID or another accepted form of identification, such as a passport or military ID, will be charged a $45 non-refundable fee by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This fee is for using TSA's alternative 'Confirm.ID' system to verify their identity. While the REAL ID has been required since May, passengers without it have previously been allowed through security with additional screening and a warning. The Department of Homeland Security reports that 94% of passengers are already compliant, and the new fee is intended to encourage travelers to obtain the federally compliant state-issued identification card, which is mandated in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and is typically indicated by a white star in a yellow circle. TSA officials emphasize that paying the fee does not guarantee verification, and travelers whose identities cannot be verified may still be turned away. If approved, the verification covers a 10-day travel period. The fee, which was initially proposed at $18 but raised due to higher-than-anticipated program costs, can be paid online before arriving at the airport or at the airport before entering the security line, though the latter may take up to 30 minutes. Other accepted forms of ID include permanent resident cards, photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations, and digital IDs through platforms like Apple Wallet and Google Wallet at over 250 U.S. airports.
