Get REAL or Pay The Price!
U.S. air travelers who show up to airport security without a REAL ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification will soon face a $45 fee, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The REAL ID requirement officially began in May 2025, but TSA has allowed non-compliant travelers to continue flying after extra screening and a warning. That grace period is ending.
Starting February 1, 2026, any adult traveler without a REAL ID, passport, or other approved ID will be directed to TSA’s Confirm.ID process and must pay the $45 charge to complete identity verification. The fee provides a 10-day clearance window, allowing the traveler to fly domestically during that period once verified.
TSA says the fee helps cover the cost of additional identity checks and encourages travelers to update their IDs. Most passengers already carry compliant identification, but the agency warns that paying the fee does not guarantee boarding if identity cannot be confirmed.
Travelers can avoid the charge by using a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a passport, or other approved federal identification. For those who don’t have one, TSA recommends updating documents well before traveling to prevent delays and avoid the new $45 cost.
