The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it will refer passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID to a $45 fee-based identity verification system starting Feb. 1, 2026.
Travelers will pay $45 to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period. The agency urged travelers without a Real ID to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their identification as soon as possible.
Acceptable forms of ID include Real ID-compliant driver's licenses, state-issued enhanced driver's licenses, U.S. passports and passport cards, DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, Nexus, SENTRI, FAST), Department of Defense IDs, permanent resident cards and foreign government-issued passports, among others. A full list is available here.
All travelers without acceptable identification, including those with non-Real ID-compliant state driver's licenses, will be referred to the optional TSA Confirm.ID process upon check-in and before entering the security line. The process will differ by airport, and TSA is working with private industry to offer online payment options before arrival.
More than 94% of passengers already use Real IDs or other acceptable forms of identification, according to TSA. The agency expects increased wait times for passengers who do not provide acceptable identification.
The Real ID law was signed more than 20 years ago and was implemented and enforced on May 7.
TSA urged travelers to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers who arrive without paying, information about payment will be available at marked locations at or near checkpoints in most airports. Travelers who undergo TSA Confirm.ID processing at airports should expect delays.
Editor's Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by the Transportation Security Administration. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
