Minors Stay ID-Free for Domestic Flights After May 7, 2025

In the 🇺🇸 United States, children under 18 still do not need ID or a REAL ID at TSA checkpoints for domestic flights, even after REAL ID enforcement begins May 7, 2025. Adults 18+ must show a REAL ID–compliant license/ID or another TSA-accepted ID, or use Confirm.ID if they don’t have acceptable ID.

Below are the most common questions families, students, and immigrants ask so you can get through the airport without surprises.

REAL ID basics (what changes for adults, not kids)

• Do children under 18 need a REAL ID to fly within the United States?
  No. If you’re under 18, TSA does not require you to show identification for domestic U.S. flights, even after the enforcement date. This applies whether you fly with a parent, another adult, or alone. What changes is the adult requirement, not the child requirement. Airlines can still ask for documents at check-in for reasons like verifying age.

• What is a REAL ID, and what does it do for domestic flights?
  A REAL ID is a state-issued driver’s license or ID card that meets federal security standards. For domestic flights, it’s an ID TSA accepts at the security checkpoint. Most REAL ID–compliant cards have a star marking near the top. It helps TSA confirm your identity for boarding a commercial flight. It does not replace a passport for international travel.

• Who must show ID at TSA after REAL ID enforcement starts?
  If you are 18 or older, you must present a REAL ID–compliant license/ID or another TSA-accepted ID at the TSA checkpoint for domestic flights. If you are under 18, TSA does not require you to show ID for domestic travel. Your status changes the day you turn 18, so plan ahead if your birthday is close to the trip.

• How can you check whether your license is REAL ID–compliant?
  Look for a star marking on your driver’s license or state ID. If you don’t see a star (or your state’s REAL ID marking), treat your card as noncompliant for boarding after the enforcement date. If you’re unsure, confirm with your state DMV before you travel. Don’t wait until the week of your flight, because appointments and document checks take time.

Important: REAL ID enforcement begins May 7, 2025. Adults turning 18 on travel day must carry an acceptable ID. Plan early.

Minors flying with family (what TSA won’t ask for, and what airlines might)

Why do airlines sometimes ask for documents for children?

TSA controls the security checkpoint and doesn’t require ID from minors on domestic flights. Airlines control ticketing and boarding and can ask for documents to confirm a child’s age or identity.

This commonly occurs with:
– Teens who look 18
– Discounted child fares
– Situations where the airline wants to confirm fare eligibility or program participation

Should you bring anything for a minor anyway?

Yes — for practical reasons. Bringing a document can prevent delays if an agent questions a teen’s age or your child’s name doesn’t match the traveling adult’s name.

Common helpful documents:
– Copy of a birth certificate
– School ID or other basic records

This is about avoiding check-in problems, not meeting a TSA checkpoint rule.

If your child travels with a grandparent or other adult, does TSA require the child’s ID?

No. TSA still does not require ID for travelers under 18 on domestic flights, even when the child is not traveling with a parent. However, airlines may ask for documentation at check-in.

Consider bringing:
– Consent letter from the parent(s)
– Copy of a birth certificate
– Any custody paperwork or documents explaining different last names

These help avoid issues at the counter or gate.

Unaccompanied minors and teens (common pressure points)

• If your minor is flying alone, do they need ID at TSA?
  No. A minor flying alone is still a minor for TSA purposes on a domestic flight, so TSA does not require identification at the checkpoint. The bigger issue is airline policy; review the airline’s unaccompanied minor rules before buying the ticket.

• What should you expect from airline “unaccompanied minor” programs?
  Airlines often set:

  • Age minimums and cutoffs
  • Required adult contact information for pickup/drop-off
  • Fees for the service
  • Paperwork and proof of age (e.g., birth certificate)

  These requirements come from the airline and are separate from REAL ID rules. If you don’t follow the airline’s process, your child can be denied boarding even though TSA would have allowed them through security.

• What if your teen turns 18 right before the trip?
  TSA uses your age on the day of travel. If your traveler is 17 on travel day, they are treated as a minor at the checkpoint. If they are 18, they must show a REAL ID–compliant license/ID or another TSA-accepted ID for domestic flights. If a birthday is near departure, make the ID plan early.

Adults without acceptable ID (REAL ID alternatives and Confirm.ID)

What IDs can adults use if they don’t have a REAL ID?

You can use another TSA-accepted ID instead. Examples include:
– U.S. passport or passport card
– DHS Trusted Traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
– U.S. military ID (including dependent IDs)
– Permanent resident card
– Foreign government-issued passport
– Other documents TSA accepts (check TSA’s current list before travel)

Official reference: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

What is Confirm.ID, and when should you use it?

Confirm.ID is TSA’s paid identity-verification option for adults who arrive without a REAL ID, passport, or other acceptable ID.

Key details:
– Fee: non-refundable $45
– Coverage period: a 10-day travel period
– TSA recommends paying online ahead of time
– Expect up to 30 extra minutes at security when using Confirm.ID

If you don’t have a REAL ID or other accepted ID, can you still fly without Confirm.ID?

TSA has an identity verification process that has existed for years, but it can take time and is not guaranteed to get you to your gate. Confirm.ID gives adults another route when they don’t have acceptable ID in hand.

Best practice:
1. Travel with a REAL ID or another accepted ID when possible.
2. If you won’t have acceptable ID in time and you have a tight itinerary, plan to use Confirm.ID and budget the $45 and extra time.

International travel (where REAL ID doesn’t help)

• Does REAL ID let your child fly internationally without a passport?
  No. For international travel, all ages typically need a valid passport, including infants. REAL ID is for domestic U.S. identification at TSA checkpoints. It does not replace a passport for leaving or entering the United States.

What to do next (most practical steps)

Follow these practical steps now to avoid airport problems for your family:
1. Check IDs for every traveler who will be 18 or older on travel day and make sure you have a REAL ID or another TSA-accepted ID ready.
2. Read your airline’s rules for children, especially if your child will fly alone or with a non-parent adult.
3. Set a document plan for minors, such as bringing a copy of a birth certificate for age questions at check-in.
4. If you’re an adult who won’t have acceptable ID in time, decide now whether you will use Confirm.ID so you can budget the $45 and arrive early.
5. If unsure about your state REAL ID status, contact your state DMV well before travel.

Quick takeaway: For domestic travel after May 7, 2025, adults 18+ must have a REAL ID–compliant ID or other TSA-accepted ID (or use Confirm.ID). Minors under 18 still do not need ID at the TSA checkpoint, but airlines may ask for documentation at check-in.

For more immigration travel guides that focus on real-life family trips, you can also visit VisaVerge.com.