New Airport Fee for Not Having REAL ID or Passport Announced

By Billal Rahman

Immigration Reporter

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Travelers who fail to present an acceptable form of identification, such as a REAL ID, passport, or approved mobile or digital ID, may be required to pay a fee from February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced.

The fee, set at $45, will cover operational, technological, and administrative costs associated with verifying a traveler’s identity and will be paid through pay.gov, senior TSA officials told reporters on a press briefing on Monday.

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Why It Matters

Millions of Americans will need a Real ID for domestic air travel and entry to federal facilities. Without one, or an acceptable alternative, travelers face disruptions to their air travel and federal facility access, fueling frustration across the country. As of May 7, 2025, standard driver’s licenses are no longer accepted for boarding domestic flights or accessing federal facilities. Travelers aged 18 and older must use a REAL ID-compliant license or another federally recognized form of identification, such as a passport.

What To Know

TSA officials said that the charge is intended for those without compliant identification and will not be funded by taxpayers.

TSA Confirm ID is a program that allows travelers without acceptable identification to attempt identity verification before entering security checkpoints. Travelers who do not pay the fee or cannot verify their identity may be denied access to the checkpoint and may be unable to board their flight. The process typically takes 10 to 15 minutes but can extend to 30 minutes or more, depending on verification requirements and airport security wait times.

TSA officials encouraged travelers without REAL IDs to schedule appointments with their state Department of Motor Vehicles to update their identification as soon as possible. Travelers who choose to use TSA Confirm ID should pay the fee before arriving at the airport and present the receipt at the checkpoint.

Senior TSA officials said that approximately 94 percent of travelers already use a REAL ID or another approved form of identification.

The agency noted that the fee is designed to incentivize compliance and that discretion may be applied in rare emergency situations. Senior TSA officials said the program is intended to remain in place indefinitely, with periodic reviews based on traveler compliance rates.

Travelers who reach the checkpoint without an acceptable form of identification will be redirected to complete the online verification process before proceeding. TSA said that those with a lost or stolen REAL ID or passport will also be required to pay the fees.

Once verified, the fee grants access through TSA checkpoints for up to 10 days. After that period, travelers without a REAL ID will need to pay the fee again if they travel.

What People Are Saying

Steve Lorincz, TSA's deputy executive assistant administrator for security operations, told ABC News: "The fee was necessary because we needed to modernize the system. We needed to make sure that the system is safe."

What Happens Next

Mobile driver’s licenses and digital IDs, such as those offered by Google and Apple, are also accepted under the program. TSA is working with airlines and other stakeholders to ensure travelers have advance notice and clear guidance on the process. The fees will come into effect next year.

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