URGENT UPDATE: Starting February 1, 2026, travelers without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of ID will be hit with a $45 fee to pass through airport security checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has confirmed that passengers unable to present valid identification can use an alternative verification system, known as Confirm ID, but only after paying this new fee.
Officials warn that those who do not pay the fee or cannot be verified may be denied access to security checkpoints, risking their ability to board flights. This change affects anyone who has lost their ID or had it stolen. “Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, as it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies,” stated Adam Stahl, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA.
This new measure revamps the existing REAL ID Act, which has been developing since 2005. Under the Act, travelers aged 18 and older must present a REAL ID or another federally recognized form of identification, such as a passport, for domestic flights. The newly established $45 fee will cover the operational costs associated with the Confirm ID system, ensuring taxpayers are not burdened by the verification process for non-compliant travelers.
Initially, the TSA proposed a less expensive $18 fee in a notice on November 20, but subsequent analyses revealed higher-than-expected operational expenses. “The fee was necessary because we needed to modernize the system,” remarked Steve Lorincz, TSA’s Deputy Executive Assistant Administrator for Security Operations, in an interview with ABC News.
Travelers can conveniently pay the fee online at pay.gov before arriving at the airport or upon check-in. Once the fee is paid and the identity verified, the clearance remains valid for 10 days. If travelers plan to fly again within this period without a valid ID, another fee will be required. The verification process is expected to take between 10 to 15 minutes; however, long wait times could extend this to 30 minutes or more.
Despite these new policies, TSA officials strongly recommend that travelers obtain a REAL ID to avoid the fee and potential delays. Currently, approximately 94 percent of travelers utilize a REAL ID or an approved form of identification, including passports and mobile/digital IDs from providers like Apple and Google.
This development may significantly impact air travel, emphasizing the importance of compliance with identification requirements. Travelers are urged to prepare ahead to avoid disruptions in their travel plans. Stay tuned for more updates as the implementation date approaches.
