The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has said it will impose a new fee on travellers in US who intend to board their flights without any real ID or any of the recognised forms of identification.
Even as regulations were initially established for domestic air travellers in May 2025, until now, individuals without a real ID were allowed to pass through airport security, although they faced additional screening.
Who needs to pay the fee?
The $45 fee to use a ‘TSAConfirmID’ will be imposed on individuals aged 18 or older and will come into effect from February 1. If passengers don’t abide by the rules or refuse to pay the fee, they will not be permitted to proceed through TSA screening to board their flight.
According to the TSA, over 94% of passengers already use their real ID or other acceptable forms of identification at airports. However, if one hasn’t updated their licence or does not carry a passport when flying to Orlando or San Antonio, they may have to pay the fee.
What constitutes a real ID?
A real ID could be a standard driver’s licence, a person’s passport or a government-issued ID like military ID, trusted-traveller card, permanent resident card, enhanced driver’s licence. A temporary driver’s licence, however, is not considered an acceptable form of identification.
Other forms of acceptable IDs are –
A photo ID issued by a federally recognised Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, which includes Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs), Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
US Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766).
HSPD-12 PIV card.
Foreign government-issued passport.
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST).
Border crossing card.
Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card.
US Merchant Mariner Credential.
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC).
What happens if you don’t pay this fee in advance?
Passengers arriving at the TSA checkpoint without a real ID or another valid form of identification, and who have not paid the TSA ConfirmID fee in advance, will face further delays that could lead to a missed flight.
Travellers must hence prepare in advance to prevent these additional delays.