No REAL ID? TSA's New $45 Fee to Fly Begins February 1st

WASHINGTON, DC – January 15, 2026 – Starting February 1, air travelers arriving at airport security checkpoints without a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification will have a new, albeit costly, option to catch their flight. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is rolling out TSA ConfirmID, a modernized identity verification system that allows passengers to fly for a $45 fee, a move that is reshaping the landscape of domestic air travel.

The optional program is the agency's answer to the long-anticipated full enforcement of the REAL ID Act, which began on May 7, 2025. While the TSA reports that over 93% of passengers are now compliant, this new system is aimed at the remaining minority and anyone who simply forgets their ID at home.

"TSA ConfirmID will be an option for travelers that do not bring a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID to the TSA checkpoint and still want to fly," said Adam Stahl, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA. "This fee ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs. To avoid delays or missed flights, all travelers should obtain a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification before heading to the airport."

The Price of Admission

For travelers who find themselves without proper identification, the process requires proactive steps. The TSA is urging passengers to pay the $45 fee online at tsa.gov/ConfirmID before arriving at the airport. After payment, travelers will receive a receipt from pay.gov, which they must present to a TSA officer, either printed or as a screenshot.

However, paying the fee is not a golden ticket past security. The agency explicitly warns that all travelers using ConfirmID will be subject to additional, enhanced identity verification and screening measures. This process, which can involve database cross-checks and answering personal biographic questions, is estimated to add 15 to 30 minutes to the security screening experience. Those who arrive at the checkpoint without an acceptable ID and have not prepaid the fee face even longer delays, significantly increasing the risk of a missed flight.

Once a traveler successfully completes the verification, the clearance is valid for a 10-day travel window, accommodating round trips or multi-city itineraries. But the agency stresses that clearance is not guaranteed; if a traveler's identity cannot be verified through the system, they will be denied entry to the secure area of the airport.

A Two-Tiered System?

The introduction of a fee-based solution has ignited a debate about equity and the creation of a potential two-tiered security system. While the TSA frames the $45 charge as a user fee to cover costs, some public reaction has labeled it a "penalty" or a "convenience tax" for the unprepared. The fee itself has been a source of contention, having reportedly been increased from an initially proposed $18 to the final $45, with the agency citing higher-than-expected technology costs.

This system is designed for a small but significant slice of the traveling public. With an estimated 6-7% of travelers still non-compliant with REAL ID standards, ConfirmID targets a user base that could number in the millions annually. Civil liberties advocates and travel experts are watching closely to see if the program disproportionately affects lower-income individuals or those who face systemic barriers to obtaining government-issued identification.

The core question being raised is whether the ability to travel domestically should have a price tag attached for those who fail to meet a specific documentation standard. While the TSA's stated goal is to shift the financial burden of alternative screening away from the general taxpayer, critics argue it creates a scenario where those with the means can pay to circumvent a federal security mandate, while those without may be grounded.

Technology, Costs, and Privacy Concerns

Beneath the surface of the new program lie complex questions about its legal justification, cost structure, and privacy implications. The TSA is authorized by Congress to levy fees for "registered traveler programs," and it appears ConfirmID is being categorized as such. However, some online discussions have questioned whether a program designed for travelers who have failed to properly register their identity with a compliant ID should fall under this classification.

Further scrutiny has been directed at the breakdown of the $45 fee. Reports from public analysis suggest that a significant portion—perhaps over half—of the fee is allocated to general "Checkpoint" costs, including the deployment of new Computed Tomography (CT) baggage scanners. Critics argue that these are broad infrastructure upgrades that benefit all travelers, and bundling their cost into a fee for non-compliant passengers may violate the directive that such fees should not exceed the specific costs of the program itself.

Privacy is another key concern. The ConfirmID process requires the collection of personal biographic and potentially biometric data to cross-reference against government watchlists and databases. While the TSA asserts this is a necessary step to ensure security, the creation of another government data collection point, particularly one tied to a fee-based service, raises questions about data storage, security, and the potential for misuse. It marks a significant step in the evolution of digital identity verification, moving beyond a simple visual check of a physical card to a more data-intensive, backend process.

A New Era in Domestic Travel

The launch of TSA ConfirmID positions the United States with a unique approach to domestic travel identity verification compared to international norms. Globally, the trend is toward enhancing the security and interoperability of official documents, as seen in the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) standards for biometric passports and the exploration of Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs). Many countries, and even some U.S. states with mobile driver's licenses, are moving toward secure digital versions of existing IDs.

ConfirmID, however, operates as a fallback—a paid alternative for when the primary system of compliant physical IDs fails. It acknowledges the reality that after years of extensions and public awareness campaigns, a segment of the population remains without a REAL ID or a valid passport. As the program launches, its impact will be measured not only in revenue collected or passengers processed but in its effect on checkpoint wait times, traveler stress, and the fundamental principles of access and equity in air travel. As of February 1, travelers will navigate a new reality where having the right ID is the cheapest way to fly, and not having it comes with a clearly defined price.