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3w ago

TSA Proposes $18 Fee and Biometric ID Check for Travelers Without REAL ID

The Federal Register filing starts public comment, with fee collection slated to begin only after TSA opens online registration.

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Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas, US, on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. Airlines across the US have canceled flights scheduled for the coming days, as the longest government shutdown in history snarls up air travel and forces thousands of passengers to change their travel plans. Photographer: Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Overview

  • The proposal would create a “modernized alternative identity verification program” that uses biometric and biographic matching via kiosks for travelers lacking a REAL ID or passport.
  • The $18 payment would be non-refundable, valid for a 10-day window, and use of the program would not guarantee entry to the secure area of the airport.
  • TSA says participants may face additional screening or delays and may be limited from repeated use if they continually arrive without acceptable identification.
  • The agency describes the fee as cost recovery for technology, data infrastructure, and staffing, and it may allow authorized third parties to collect payment at registration.
  • No implementation date is set; TSA plans further guidance as it works with stakeholders following nationwide REAL ID enforcement that began in May 2025.