The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a significant policy change that directly impacts air travel for any passenger not presenting a REAL ID or other acceptable identification.
Beginning February 1, 2026, adult travelers (18 and older) who arrive at airport security checkpoints without a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, U.S. passport, or other authorized document will be required to pay a $45 fee to fly domestically.
Named TSA Confirm.ID., this new measure replaces the previous alternative identity verification process and is being implemented to cover the cost of the modernized verification system,
Understanding the New Confirm.ID System
The REAL ID enforcement deadline was enacted in May 2025, but travelers without the compliant ID were previously allowed to fly after undergoing additional screening. The new policy introduces a charge for this alternative screening, ensuring that the expense is borne by the traveler, not the taxpayer.
Travel advisors must urgently communicate the following critical points to their clients to prevent delays and missed flights:
- The Fee: A non-refundable $45 fee is required to use the TSA Confirm.ID verification system.
- Validity: The payment allows passengers to utilize the Confirm.ID process for a 10-day travel period. This means a round-trip ticket or multiple flights within that window are covered by a single fee. However, if identity cannot be verified, the fee is not refunded, and the traveler may be denied entry to the sterile area.
- The Process: Travelers without an acceptable ID will be referred to the optional TSA Confirm.ID process for identity verification prior to entering the security line. This process uses the traveler’s biographic and/or biometric information.
- Expected Delays: TSA officials explicitly warn that passengers undergoing Confirm.ID verification at the airport should expect delays, potentially taking up to 30 minutes.
- Pre-Payment Urged: To mitigate delays, the TSA strongly recommends that clients who lack proper ID pay the $45 fee online before arriving at the airport. Information for payment will be available on the TSA website, and payment links will be available at marked locations near checkpoints for those paying upon arrival.
Acceptable Forms of Identification
Travelers who present one of the following forms of identification will not be subject to the new $45 fee:
- REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state Department of Motor Vehicles.
A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification. - State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- 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
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Industry Impact and Advisor Action
While the TSA estimates that over 94% of passengers already possess a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative, this new fee structure directly impacts the small percentage of travelers who have delayed obtaining proper documentation, as well as those who lose or forget their valid ID while traveling.
Travel advisors should immediately integrate this new requirement into their client pre-travel communications, emphasizing that a failure to comply will now result in both a monetary cost and significant checkpoint delays. The clearest advice remains: Obtain a REAL ID or carry a valid U.S. Passport to ensure seamless passage through airport security. The new Confirm.ID system is intended as a last-resort option, not a convenient alternative.
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