Starting on February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will allow travelers who arrive at screening without a REAL ID, passport, or other acceptable ID to pay a $45 nonrefundable fee to attempt alternative identity verification through its Confirm.ID process. This individual payment covers a 10-day travel window.

However, this payment can be handled online before one gets to the airport, but it could still result in additional time spent waiting at security. The fee itself is higher than an earlier $18 proposal, and the TSA says around 94% of flyers already show compliant ID, while children under 18 are mostly exempt. If verification fails, passengers may still be turned away at the airport checkpoint.

A Shift In Policy

The TSA has indicated in official

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