The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin charging passengers $45 if they show up at airport checkpoints without an acceptable form of identification, such as a passport or Real ID.

The policy will be implemented starting Feb. 1, 2026, following a proposed rule published in the Federal Register that noted a previous amount of $18.

After careful review, it was determined that the expenses for the new technology and operational costs were higher than originally projected, leading to an increase in the final fee, according to senior TSA officials.

TSA will begin charging passengers $45 if they do not have either a passport or Real ID with them. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

Travelers who do not have an acceptable form of identification will be able to go

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