Air travelers in the United States who arrive at airport security without a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or another federally accepted form of identification will now face new fees as part of federal rules designed to tighten identification standards at airports.
According to a news release, effective Sunday, the Transportation Security Administration will require passengers 18 and older who cannot present an acceptable ID to pay a $45 identity verification fee through a new program called TSA ConfirmID if they still want to proceed through airport security.
The fee marks the next phase of implementation of the Real ID Act, a law passed by Congress after the 9/11 attacks that sets federal standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.
“Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems,” acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl said.
Enforcement has been delayed for years, but airport checkpoints began requiring compliant identification in May 2025 and now are imposing the fee on travelers who show up without it.
Under the TSA ConfirmID process, travelers without an acceptable ID will pay the $45 fee, which is intended to cover the administrative costs of confirming a traveler’s identity.
Once paid, the ConfirmID receipt is valid for a 10-day period, meaning it can be used for return travel within that window without paying again.
However, paying the fee does not guarantee that a traveler will be cleared for boarding. TSA officers still need to successfully verify the traveler’s identity before allowing them through security.
Transportation officials said the fee shifts the cost of additional identity verification from taxpayers to travelers who have not complied with the long-standing requirement.
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Other acceptable forms of identification include:
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
Travelers can get a Real ID at a local Department of Motor Vehicles office, driver’s license office, or a Motor Vehicles Administration office. Be sure to bring the required documents that show legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal residence, and lawful status.
