Forgot your REAL ID? This $45 alternative can still let you pass TSA

ConfirmID costs $45 per trip

TSA launched a new program called ConfirmID on Feb. 1, 2026. The system lets travelers without a Real ID pay $45 to verify their identity at airport security.

Without the fee or acceptable ID, you could be turned away and miss your flight. TSA recommends paying online before you get to the airport. You can use a credit card, debit card, Venmo, or PayPal.

Fee covers a 10-day window

The $45 fee covers a 10-day travel period from your selected start date. So a round trip under 10 days only requires one payment.

Longer trips may mean paying twice. Once you pay, you receive a confirmation email to show at the TSA checkpoint.

Someone else can pay the fee for you, but they need to enter the traveler’s name correctly when they do.

Paying does not guarantee boarding

Here’s the catch: paying the fee does not mean you will definitely fly. TSA will attempt to verify your identity, but there’s no guarantee they can.

If agents cannot confirm who you are, you may be turned away at security even after paying. TSA also warns that fraud or criminal activity related to the ConfirmID process carries federal penalties.

Expect longer lines at security

The verification process takes 10 to 15 minutes on average, but some travelers may wait 30 minutes or longer. TSA recommends arriving at the airport earlier than usual if you plan to use ConfirmID.

Travelers who have not paid in advance may lose their place in line while sorting out payment. Those delays could mean missing your flight entirely.

TSA collects biometric data to verify

At the checkpoint, TSA collects biographic and biometric information to verify your identity. Your name is checked against the Secure Flight watchlist.

The process varies by airport. Even if your ID is not Real ID-compliant, you still need to show a government-issued ID along with your payment receipt. You cannot go through ConfirmID with no identification at all.

Most travelers already have proper ID

About 94 percent of travelers already show up with Real ID or another acceptable form of identification. That means only about 6 percent of travelers are affected by the new fee.

TSA estimates roughly 150,000 travelers per day may lack compliant ID. The agency expects the fee to generate about $476 million over five years.

What counts as acceptable ID

You have several options beyond a Real ID. A U.S. passport or passport card works. So do DHS trusted traveler cards like Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST. U.S. military IDs, including those issued to dependents, are accepted.

Permanent resident cards, photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations, and foreign passports also qualify. Look for the star on your state driver’s license to confirm it is Real ID-compliant.

Children under 18 do not need ID

Travelers under 18 are not required to show identification for domestic flights. The catch is that the adult traveling with them must have acceptable ID.

If your child is flying alone, contact your airline for specific requirements. Airlines have different policies for unaccompanied minors.

Enforcement began last May

Real ID enforcement started May 7, 2025, under DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. For several months, travelers without Real ID received warnings and extra screening but were still allowed to fly.

The $45 fee marks the next phase of enforcement. TSA says the fee ensures non-compliant travelers pay verification costs rather than taxpayers.

Real ID Act passed in 2005

The Real ID Act has been a long time coming. Congress passed the law in 2005, following recommendations from the 9/11 Commission for stronger identification standards.

Implementation was delayed multiple times over nearly 20 years. The law sets minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards.

How to get a Real ID

Visit your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Bring proof of identity, such as a birth certificate. Bring your Social Security number. Bring two documents proving your address, like a utility bill.

Requirements vary by state, so check your local DMV website before you go. Processing times vary as well, so do not wait until right before a trip.

Check your ID before your next trip

Look at your driver’s license now. If it has a star in the upper corner, you have a Real ID and do not need to worry.

If you do not have Real ID, a passport or passport card also works at TSA checkpoints. Plan ahead to avoid the $45 fee and potential delays.

If you must use ConfirmID, pay online before you travel and arrive at the airport earlier than usual.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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• The TSA’s new $18 fee is here, and millions of Americans aren’t ready
• TSA’s Real ID Fee Went From $18 to $45 in Less Than Two Weeks
• Your REAL ID Will Never Get You on an International Flight