US EditionFlying Next Week? This Mistake Could Cost You $45 Under a New TSA Policy
- On Feb. 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration will begin charging U.S. travelers 18 and older a $45 fee at airport security if they lack a REAL ID or approved ID, using the ConfirmID system.
- Federal officials say the fee was designed to recover costs tied to additional screening and to push holdouts toward REAL ID compliance after years of delays under the REAL ID Act.
- Passengers can pay online at pay.gov or at the airport, and the process can take 10 to 30 minutes; approval grants a ConfirmID receipt valid for 10 days but does not guarantee TSA officers will allow entry.
- The policy immediately raises costs for the roughly 6% of Americans without compliant IDs, adding a $45 ConfirmID fee and TSA warns screening can take 10 to 30 minutes.
- Full enforcement since May 7, 2025 places this fee in the larger REAL ID Act rollout, and TSA is testing Apple Digital ID and Google Wallet at more than 250 U.S. airports.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Real ID enforcement in effect with $45 fines
Air travelers in the United States who arrive at airport security without a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or another federally accepted form of identification will now face new fees as part of federal rules designed to tighten identification standards at airports. According to a news release, effective Feb. 1, the Transportation Security Administration will require passengers 18 and older who cannot present an acceptable ID to pay a $45 id…
TSA will soon charge $45 if you don't have Real ID. How to get one
What to know about TSA's new fee for people who fly without a REAL ID starting Sunday
A new TSA policy that goes into effect soon could impact your next trip if you don't have a REAL ID yet.Starting this Sunday, Feb. 1, you'll have to pay a $45 fee to use an alternative identity verification system that's called TSA Confirm ID. But paying the fee does not guarantee you'll be cleared.See the full story in the video below What to know about TSA's new fee for people who fly without a REAL IDNot everyone has had the chance to update …
NBC Bay Area
Still don't have a Real ID or passport? Starting Feb. 1, it's going to cost you
Starting Feb. 1, 2026, travelers without a Real ID or passport will face a $45 fee to fly domestically.
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