The Transportation Security Administration will begin charging a $45 fee on Feb. 1 to airline passengers who arrive at security checkpoints without an acceptable form of identification, officials said. The charge supports ConfirmID, TSA’s backup process to verify a traveler’s identity when no REAL ID-compliant license, passport or other approved credential is presented.
The change formalizes a paid alternative for the small share of passengers who show up without ID but still want to fly. TSA says ConfirmID covers a defined travel window and is meant to recover costs for manual verification rather than replace standard ID checks. The policy follows the full enforcement phase of federal REAL ID standards and arrives ahead of spring travel, when lost wallets and expired cards can complicate checkpoint lines. Airports and airlines say they are preparing for some added processing time as the new step comes online.
Under the policy, a passenger who cannot present acceptable ID will be routed to ConfirmID, where officers use secure databases and available documents to establish identity before allowing the traveler to proceed to physical screening. TSA describes the $45 as an administrative fee tied to that verification; the authorization is temporary and linked to the traveler’s itinerary within a limited window. The agency says acceptable IDs at checkpoints continue to include REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards, U.S. passports and passport cards, U.S. military IDs, permanent resident cards, border crossing cards and certain enhanced state-issued licenses. Digital or mobile IDs remain accepted only at participating locations designated by TSA.
Officials said the fee reflects the cost of staff time and systems needed to confirm identity when standard credentials are not provided. The agency noted that identity verification is a prerequisite to screening and that access is not guaranteed if officers cannot confidently establish who a passenger is. Travelers may complete an online payment step in advance, based on local procedures, or handle payment at the airport before verification. TSA said the fee is per person and nonrefundable. Airports will continue to post signs listing acceptable IDs and explaining that ConfirmID is a contingency option, not a routine substitute for credentials.
The new charge arrives after years of staggered REAL ID rollouts and technology pilots at checkpoints. Federal officials say most travelers already carry valid identification and that the number requiring manual verification is small. Even so, large hub airports expect uneven impacts, with potential slowdowns during peak periods or weather disruptions when lost-ID incidents rise. Smaller airports with fewer lanes may feel the effect more acutely if multiple travelers need ConfirmID at once. Security managers said they will monitor processing times during the rollout and adjust staffing if bottlenecks form.
For travelers who do not use ConfirmID or cannot establish identity, boarding may be denied. TSA emphasizes that ConfirmID authorization permits entry to screening only; standard screening rules still apply afterward. The agency has not published a nationwide estimate for daily ConfirmID usage or target verification times. It also has not provided detailed numbers on how many locations will support advance online payment on day one, saying local implementation can vary as systems come online. Privacy statements posted by the agency say identity records are handled under existing federal rules and retention schedules for security-related transactions.
Airport operators have been updating lane signage and staff training ahead of the effective date. Some locations plan to direct passengers without ID to a designated desk before the checkpoint to reduce lane interruptions. Others will process cases at the document-check podium, which can add several minutes per traveler. Industry groups said they plan to collect feedback during the first weeks of the program and share best practices for minimizing delays. Airlines are not involved in identity decisions at checkpoints, and carrier check-in procedures do not change because of the fee.
The policy takes effect nationwide on Sat., Feb. 1. Officials expect early data on processing times and usage rates shortly afterward. TSA has said it will evaluate results and provide clarifications if procedures shift during the first month of use. No broader changes to what qualifies as acceptable identification were announced alongside the fee, and the list of approved credentials remains the same as before.
As of this weekend, the rollout remained on schedule, with federal notices and airport advisories pointing to the Feb. 1 start date. TSA said further updates, including any expansion of digital ID pilots or adjustments to payment procedures, will be posted as implementation continues.
Author note: Last updated January 18, 2026.