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2w ago

TSA’s $45 ConfirmID Fee for Travelers Without REAL ID Begins Feb. 1

Payment can be made in advance through Pay.gov for a 10-day verification window.

A Real ID signage is displayed as a passenger shows his Real ID in a check point at Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Sample of a Massachusetts Real ID license from the RMV website.
Air travelers go through security after passing by signage informing them that they may be denied access or subject to additional security measures without a REAL ID at Midway Airport on May 7, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • Adults who arrive at airport checkpoints without a REAL ID or other acceptable identification must use TSA ConfirmID for a $45 fee starting Feb. 1.
  • Identity verification occurs at the airport after presenting a digital or printed receipt, typically taking 10–15 minutes and sometimes more than 30, with approval valid for 10 days.
  • Paying the fee does not guarantee successful identity validation or boarding, and those who wait to enroll at the airport may encounter delays that risk missed flights.
  • TSA estimates about 94% of travelers already present compliant identification, with local figures such as 96% in Kentucky, leaving roughly 4–6% potentially affected.
  • States and airports are urging travelers to secure REAL ID or bring acceptable alternatives such as passports, trusted traveler cards, permanent resident cards, or Enhanced Driver’s Licenses to avoid the fee and extra screening.