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4d ago

TSA Launches $45 ConfirmID on Feb. 1 for Flyers Without REAL ID

TSA says the charge shifts identity‑verification costs to the small share of adults still arriving without acceptable ID.

A passenger enters a security checkpoint where travelers who are not compliant with Real ID changes for air travel are directed at O’Hare International Airport on May 7, 2025, in Chicago.
Travelers wait in line to have their identification checked at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint during the first day of Real ID requirements for those flying within the United States, at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., on May 7, 2025.
FILE - Travelers walk past a Real ID sign posted inside terminal 3 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Air travelers without a Real ID are given a red tag before secondary screening as they go though security at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., on May 7, 2025.

Overview

  • Starting Sunday, travelers 18 and older who reach security without a REAL ID or other accepted ID can pay $45 to use TSA’s ConfirmID identity‑verification option.
  • TSA directs travelers to prepay online at tsa.gov/ConfirmID or pay.gov using a card, ACH, Venmo or PayPal and present the emailed receipt, which is valid for a 10‑day travel window.
  • ConfirmID uses automated biographic and biometric checks and typically takes 10–15 minutes to process, though it can take about 30 minutes in some cases.
  • Payment does not guarantee clearance, and passengers whose identities cannot be verified may be denied access to the secure area even after paying.
  • TSA urges travelers to bring a REAL ID or acceptable alternatives such as a passport, passport card or DHS trusted‑traveler card to avoid the fee and potential delays.