REAL ID signage is displayed at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, VA., on the first day of REAL ID implementation, on May 7, 2025.

Traveling without a REAL ID will soon cost you $45.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on Monday that 94% of airline passengers in the U.S. have a REAL ID. Starting February 1, the remaining 6% will need to follow an alternative process, which includes paying a fee.

Officials said the fee is meant to cover the technology and administrative costs of verifying the identities of travelers who do not have a REAL ID-compliant document.

According to TSA officials, noncompliant travelers who use the new Confirm.ID process should plan to pay the fee and upload their documents through a (coming) TSA web portal, which will go online soon, before they arrive at the airport.

Those travelers should bring a copy of their Confirm.ID receipt to the standard TSA line and should be able to proceed through the security checkpoint normally after presenting their non-compliant documents and proof of completing the Confirm.ID process.

Travelers who do not complete the Confirm.ID process in advance will have the option of completing it at the airport. TSA officials generally expect ID verification to take 10-15 minutes, but said it could take up to 30 minutes depending on the specific case.

Enrolling in Confirm.ID does not guarantee TSA's ability to verify a traveler's identity, so even after paying the fee, travelers could be denied boarding if the government is unable to complete its ID verification.

According to TSA officials, Confirm.ID's alternative compliance method is valid for 10 days per payment, beginning with the first departure of the itinerary.

Currently, travelers without REAL ID may be subject to additional screening, including verifying their name and address, before being allowed through secure checkpoints.

What types of ID are accepted by TSA?

Here are the acceptable forms of ID as of Dec. 1, according to TSA:

  • REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or state photo identity cards issued by the DMV or state's equivalent
  • State-issued Enhanced Driver's License or Enhanced ID
  • U.S. passport or passport card
  • Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards, like Global Entry
  • Permanent resident card
  • Border crossing card
  • Photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
  • U.S. Department of Defense ID, including those issued to dependents
  • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
  • Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
  • HSPD-12 PIV card
  • Foreign government-issued passport card
  • Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

TSA notes that the list of what's accepted may change without notice, so travelers with REAL ID alternatives should check TSA's webpage before traveling.

(This is a developing story.)

Contributing: Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TSA will charge you a $45 fee if you travel without REAL ID

Reporting by Zach Wichter and Eve Chen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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