The Transportation Security Administration has revealed a substantial fee increase for travelers lacking REAL ID-compliant identification or acceptable alternatives, with the charge set to take effect February 1, 2026.
The fee, originally proposed at $18, will now be set at $45, representing a 150 percent increase from the initial proposal. The charge applies to passengers arriving at airport security checkpoints without proper identification, requiring them to complete an identity verification process before being permitted to fly.
TSA officials characterize the fee as necessary for enhancing aviation security. Revenue from the $45 charge will fund the TSA Confirm ID system, which employs facial recognition technology and other methods to verify passenger identities by accessing publicly available information.
Mike Leavens, a traveler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport waiting for a Chicago flight after visiting Puyallup, expressed gratitude for having already secured his REAL ID. “Ooh, that’s a lot of money. Well, I’m glad I got mine already,” he said.
Teri Canania, a Missouri resident visiting Seattle, described her experience while waiting at the airport. “It takes time to get it done, I just didn’t do it, then I thought, well, I might as well get it done now,” she explained. Canania is currently awaiting her REAL ID’s arrival by mail.
The $45 fee provides coverage for only 10 days of travel, meaning passengers whose return flights fall beyond that window will face an additional $45 charge. “I feel relieved because I hate paying extra money for anything,” Canania commented.
Leavens questioned the necessity of the fee structure. “We already have full IDs, so I don’t know. It seems like a way to grab money, too,” he observed.
Beyond financial costs, travelers should anticipate longer wait times at security checkpoints when undergoing the alternative verification process.
TSA officials warn that passengers whose identities cannot be successfully verified will be denied access to security gates and prevented from boarding aircraft. The agency strongly encourages all travelers without REAL ID-compliant identification to schedule appointments at their local Department of Motor Vehicles offices to update their documents as soon as possible.
“You have to go through the DMV. That’s the worst part,” said Chris Seep, a Seattle resident traveling to St. Louis for the holidays. Seep found obtaining an enhanced driver’s license to be both faster and more economical than pursuing other options. The REAL ID law took effect last May.
TSA leadership emphasizes that the new measures prioritize passenger safety above all other considerations.
“The fee was necessary because we needed to modernize the system. We needed to make sure that the system is safe,” stated Steve Lorincz, Deputy Executive Assistant Administrator for TSA Security Operations. “It’s really all about security. It’s really all about making sure that we have the safest system and making sure that you know we know who’s processing through our airports and getting on board our flights.”
According to TSA data, more than 94 percent of travelers already comply with REAL ID requirements, which became federal law in May. The high compliance rate suggests most passengers have proactively updated their identification to meet the new standards.
Limited alternatives to REAL ID exist for travelers who have not yet obtained compliant state-issued identification. A valid U.S. passport represents the most common alternative acceptable form of identification at TSA checkpoints.
The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. The law was enacted in response to recommendations from the 9/11 Commission, which identified gaps in identification verification as a security vulnerability.
Implementation of REAL ID requirements has been delayed multiple times over the years, with enforcement deadlines pushed back to allow states time to upgrade their systems and give residents opportunities to obtain compliant documents. The February 2026 enforcement date represents the latest timeline for full implementation.
State DMV offices have worked to process millions of REAL ID applications as the deadline approaches. The application process typically requires individuals to provide multiple forms of documentation proving identity, Social Security number, and residency. This documentation requirement, while more rigorous than standard license renewal, helps ensure the integrity of issued identification.
The facial recognition component of the TSA Confirm ID system has generated some privacy concerns among civil liberties advocates. However, TSA maintains that the technology, combined with access to public records, provides necessary tools for verifying identities when standard identification is unavailable.
For travelers without REAL ID or acceptable alternatives, the verification process will add time to their airport experience. TSA recommends arriving at airports earlier than usual to accommodate the additional screening time required.
The $45 fee structure, with its 10-day validity period, could significantly increase travel costs for frequent fliers who have not yet obtained compliant identification. Business travelers and others who fly regularly face strong financial incentives to update their documents before the February deadline.
