URGENT UPDATE: Starting February 1, 2026, travelers without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification will be required to pay a hefty $45 fee at airport security checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed this new measure today, creating a significant change for millions of air travelers across the United States.
Passengers unable to present valid identification will be able to use an alternative identity verification system called Confirm ID for a fee. Those who do not pay the fee or cannot be verified risk being denied access to security checkpoints, putting their flights in jeopardy. This policy also applies to individuals who have lost or had their ID stolen.
Adam Stahl, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA, emphasized the importance of identity verification for maintaining safety in air travel. “Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies,” he stated.
The $45 fee is designed to cover the operational, technological, and administrative costs associated with the Confirm ID system. Initially, the TSA considered a lower fee of $18 but revised it after a detailed analysis revealed greater-than-expected expenses. Steve Lorincz, TSA’s deputy executive assistant administrator for security operations, explained, “The fee was necessary because we needed to modernize the system.”
Travelers can pay the fee online through the official U.S. Federal Government payment portal, pay.gov, either before arriving at the airport or upon arrival. Once the fee is paid and identity is verified, clearance will be valid for 10 days. However, after this period, another fee will be required for subsequent travel without a valid ID.
The verification process is expected to take between 10 to 15 minutes, but the TSA warns that it could extend to 30 minutes or more depending on wait times and the complexity of individual verifications.
Despite these changes, TSA officials strongly encourage travelers to obtain a REAL ID to avoid the fee and potential travel delays, as currently, about 94 percent of travelers already possess an acceptable form of identification, such as REAL IDs or passports.
As this policy takes effect, travelers must prepare for heightened scrutiny and possible fees. Stay tuned for further updates as the TSA continues to roll out this significant change in airport security protocols.
