Travelers who show up at U.S. airport checkpoints without a compliant identification could soon face a new cost to reach their gate, as the Transportation Security Administration moves ahead with a proposal to charge an $18 fee for people who lack a REAL ID, passport, or other approved document and instead use a new identity check at security. The plan, detailed in a rule published on November 20, 2025, would create a modern, fee‑based backup for the small share of passengers who still do not carry federally accepted ID after full REAL ID enforcement began in May 2025. While the proposal does not yet have a start date, it signals a firmer stance from TSA on long‑delayed identification rules.
How the proposed backup process would work
Under the draft rule, travelers who arrive at security without a compliant REAL ID license, U.S. passport, permanent resident card, or other accepted form of identification would be offered an alternative screening process built around biometric kiosks.
- The kiosks are designed to take a live photo of the passenger and check it against government databases and other records.
- This system would replace today’s time‑consuming manual interviews, where officers ask detailed questions and often send people for extra screening.
- To use this modern system, passengers would pay an $18 fee, which TSA says would help cover the cost of building and running the new verification program, including:
- data infrastructure
- software development
- program management
- compliance work to keep the system secure
Limits, risks, and conditions
TSA stresses that this backup option would remain voluntary, but it carries clear stakes.
- A traveler with no acceptable ID who chooses not to pay the $18 fee could be denied access to the secure area and miss their flight.
- Even if a passenger pays, entry is not guaranteed:
- If the biometric kiosks cannot confirm identity to the required standard, the individual may be turned away or subjected to more intense checks.
- The fee would not be refunded in that case.
The proposed rule explains that the payment buys only the chance to use the system, not a promise of boarding. Civil liberties groups are likely to watch this point closely as the plan moves forward.
Fee validity and data retention rationale
To soften the impact on frequent travelers, TSA proposes that each payment would cover a 10‑day window.
- A person who pays $18 for one trip could use the biometric verification again during that 10‑day period without paying again, provided they still lack a compliant REAL ID or passport.
- TSA says the short validity period:
- balances convenience with the security need to keep identity records current
- limits how long TSA must retain and manage the personal data collected through the biometric kiosks
Privacy and retention are notable concerns as more agencies turn to face‑matching tools and automated systems.
Background: REAL ID enforcement and current compliance
The proposal follows years of delay enforcing the federal REAL ID law, passed by Congress in 2005 to set tougher standards for state‑issued driver’s licenses and ID cards used for boarding flights and entering certain federal buildings.
- Full enforcement at airport checkpoints began in May 2025, under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, after several extensions.
- TSA estimates about 94% of travelers now carry compliant ID, leaving a relatively small minority without compliant documentation.
- For that group, the new system would offer a quicker, technology‑driven alternative to today’s slower manual identity verification.
Concerns raised by advocates and travel groups
Civil rights advocates and travel groups are already parsing the draft, which was released for public comment in the Federal Register.
Key issues likely to be raised:
- Whether charging an $18 fee at the checkpoint could unfairly impact low‑income passengers, including immigrants and mixed‑status families who may not yet have upgraded to a REAL ID license or secured a passport.
- How TSA will handle sensitive biometric data collected at the kiosks:
- How long images will be stored
- Which other agencies, if any, will have access
- Similar concerns were raised when facial recognition was introduced for international arrivals and departures, according to analysis by VisaVerge.com.
Unanswered practical questions
The rule leaves several operational details unspecified:
- TSA has not announced a start date for the biometric program.
- It is unclear how travelers will register and pay the $18 fee.
- TSA says public guidance will follow in the coming days, potentially addressing:
- whether people can pre‑enroll online
- whether payment can be made through airline apps
- whether all handling must occur at the airport
- Deployment breadth is uncertain:
- Will smaller regional airports have the same kiosk access as major hubs?
- This matters for rural communities, seasonal workers, and passengers who depend on air travel for jobs, family events, or urgent trips.
Practical advice and TSA guidance
For now, TSA continues to urge travelers to upgrade their documents rather than rely on a last‑minute payment. Officials point to the agency’s TSA REAL ID page, which explains how to check whether a state license meets federal standards and what documents people must bring to their motor vehicle office.
If you lack compliant ID, remember the biometric option is voluntary and often only valid for a 10‑day window. Start the process early and monitor TSA guidance for registration and payment steps.
- A compliant REAL ID card or a passport allows passage through security without extra questions, special lanes, or an $18 fee at the checkpoint.
- Travel planners emphasize this is especially important for families:
- Each adult will need an approved ID.
- Older teenagers may soon need one as well.
While the new biometric kiosks may help in emergencies, passengers relying on them should be aware of potential downsides: longer lines, extra stress, and the chance of being turned away if the system cannot confirm identity.
Be aware the $18 fee does not guarantee boarding. Even with payment, biometric verification may fail or be denied, and you could face extra screening or denied entry to the secure area.
As the rule moves through the comment process, air travelers will watch to see whether the backup program changes and how quickly it becomes part of the airport routine. Details remain unsettled.
TSA’s proposed rule would let travelers without a REAL ID, passport, or other compliant ID pay an $18 fee to use biometric kiosks for identity verification. The kiosks take live photos and check them against government records, replacing manual interviews. Fees would fund infrastructure and be valid for 10 days. Use is voluntary but unpaid travelers risk denial; privacy, data retention, and equity concerns are drawing public comment.
