Starting next year, skipping a Real ID at the airport could hit your wallet. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) just announced a new $45 fee for travellers who don’t have one. Most people already have a Real ID or a passport, but for the few who don’t, the new rules could be a bit of a shock, especially for families who don’t travel often. Here’s everything to know about the new travel fee.
US imposes new fee for travellers without real ID
According to the new law, starting February 1, 2026, anyone flying from a US airport without a Real ID will have to pay a $45 fee. The fee will cover a 10-day period, which means if you travel again within those ten days, you won’t have to pay twice. TSA says passengers will be allowed to pay this fee before reaching the airport, but the exact details remain scarce.
As of now, there’s no clarity on how online payment will work or what extra checks passengers will have to go through under this new process, called TSA Confirm.ID. In a notice filed in the Federal Register, TSA wrote that the updated identity-check system requires money to run, and the $45 fee will help recover these costs, the NYT reported.
.@TSA recently announced that starting February 1, 2026, air travelers without a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID will be charged a $45 fee to use an alternative identity verification system (TSA Confirm ID) to establish identity at security checkpoints. If you don’t have a… pic.twitter.com/ODyD9nOOFf
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) December 8, 2025
Passport card and passport book
According to an update from the State Department, if you have a passport card or a passport book, you don’t have to pay the $45 fee because these are also accepted IDs for domestic flights. But a passport card (which costs about $30) cannot be used for international flights. For flying outside the US, you need a passport book.
A passport card is a small, wallet-sized plastic card. It proves your citizenship and identity. It’s cheaper but cannot be used for international air travel. It can only be used when travelling by land or sea to places like Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean countries. Check how to apply.
What is a real ID, and why does it matter?
Back in May, after years of delays, the US government finally started enforcing Real ID rules. A Real ID is basically a state-issued driver’s license, learner’s permit, or ID card that meets federal standards. Officials say the purpose is to improve airport security and make sure all states follow the same guidelines.
Even though Real IDs became mandatory, the government didn’t punish people who didn’t have one. Travellers without Real ID–ID-compliant documents could still fly, but they had to go through extra checks. According to TSA, this old process took a lot of time and resources, and they couldn’t handle large numbers of people this way. That is one big reason for adding the new fee.
The agency also hinted that some travellers may end up paying more than once, depending on how often they fly. Interestingly, TSA had earlier considered charging only $18, but the final number was raised to $45. At the moment, TSA says more than 94% of travellers already use a Real ID or another valid ID like a passport.