The Transportation Security Administration announced on Dec. 1 that travelers without a REAL ID or other acceptable forms of identification will be required to pay a $45 fee.
This policy will begin February 2026. The fee would allow travelers to use TSA Confirm.ID and would only cover a 10-day travel period.
Travelers are encouraged to pay the fee online prior to their arrival at the airport to make the process faster.
The fee is being imposed to encourage more citizens to get a REAL ID and make the process smoother and more secure for everyone passing TSA.
While the originally proposed charge was set at only $18, the TSA decided to raise the fee to $45, claiming that the alternative identification program they chose to implement alongside it would cost more than they had originally anticipated.
The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 by Congress in an attempt to put more security standards in place when it comes to driver’s licenses and identification cards.
The act is a direct result of the Sept. 11 attacks as the hijackers were able to access restricted areas and board the planes using fraudulent state IDs.
Initially, these regulations were only implemented for those wishing to enter federal facilities.
This is just one of many different security measures that have been implemented since the attacks, including the creation of the TSA.
After years of delaying REAL ID implementation due to opposition and the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. citizens can no longer fly domestically with just a standard state-issued ID or driver’s license as of May 7.
Before this new fee was introduced, most passengers without the proper form of identification were brought somewhere to undergo extra screening or turned away.
Currently, New York State has a two-week turnaround for issuing REAL IDs after the application is processed.
There is no extra charge for obtaining a REAL ID, however, getting an Enhanced ID, which allows for border-crossing to Mexico and Canada, costs an additional $30 to upgrade. Neither are eligible for international travel.
Some other forms of identification that are acceptable for domestic travel across the country include passports, global entry cards, Enhanced IDs, Tribal Cards and green cards.
