- TSA ConfirmID began February 1, 2026, costing $45 per adult who needs an identity check for a domestic flight.
- Payment is nonrefundable and valid for 10 days from the travel start date entered at checkout.
- Verification usually takes 10 to 15 minutes, but does not guarantee clearance through airport security.
TSA began offering TSA ConfirmID on February 1, 2026, giving adults who arrive without acceptable identification an option that costs $45 per person. The process applies to domestic flights.
Adults without a REAL ID-compliant license, passport or other approved document can pay for an identity check. It is not a boarding charge. The agency still has to verify the traveler.
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If the check fails, the passenger may be turned away from the secure area and miss the flight. Paying is no guarantee of clearance.
TSA says the process is optional. The agency warns that travelers who lack acceptable identification and decline the check may not get through security.
The fee pays for screening, not a place on the plane
The charge is nonrefundable, and each adult traveler without acceptable ID must complete a separate verification. Payment covers one traveler’s check, not an entire family’s.
The payment remains valid for 10 days from the travel start date entered during checkout. Travelers pay through the federal Pay.gov system, using a bank account, debit or credit card, Venmo or PayPal.
| Step | What travelers need to know |
|---|---|
| Payment | $45, nonrefundable, for each adult who needs verification |
| Validity | 10 days from the travel start date entered during payment |
| Proof | Show the electronic or printed confirmation at the checkpoint |
| Processing | Usually 10–15 minutes; it can take up to 30 minutes |
Travelers can complete payment before arriving or at the airport. TSA recommends paying in advance because doing it at the checkpoint can add delays. A long wait can put a tight departure at risk.
The identity check typically takes 10–15 minutes, but may stretch to 30 minutes. That time is for verification, not a promise that TSA will approve the traveler.
A passport is only one of several accepted alternatives
A passport is not required if a traveler carries another credential TSA accepts. Those include a U.S. passport card, a foreign passport issued by a government, a permanent resident card, a border-crossing card or an Enhanced Driver’s License.
The agency also accepts Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler cards, including Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST. U.S. Department of Defense identification and certain federally recognized tribal identification cards are accepted as well.
Some airports accept approved mobile driver’s licenses. The acceptance is limited to participating airports, so travelers should check whether their mobile credential qualifies at their departure point.
A standard state license without the required marking no longer works by itself for adults flying domestically. Enforcement of the identification rule began May 7, 2025. Having an unmarked license does not trigger the fee if the traveler also brings another accepted document.
Check the license before relying on checkpoint verification
Look for the star marking on the upper portion of a state license. If it is absent, travelers can bring a passport or another approved credential instead of relying on the paid identity check.
A temporary paper license may not be enough. Neither may expired identification or a Medicare card alone. Those documents do not replace an acceptable credential at the checkpoint.
Children under 18 generally do not need to show identification for domestic flights. Airlines may set separate requirements when a minor travels without an accompanying adult.
The fee is for adults who arrive without both a compliant license and another approved form of identification. It is not a penalty for carrying an ordinary state license when the traveler has a passport or another acceptable credential in hand.
DHS says most passengers already meet the identification rule
The Department of Homeland Security says 94% of passengers already comply with the identification requirement. The fee is partly intended to encourage travelers to obtain compliant licenses or carry another approved document.
TSA first proposed an $18 charge. The agency raised it after determining that the alternative verification program would cost more than anticipated. The resulting fee applies only when a traveler needs the additional check.
That distinction can affect families traveling together. Each adult who lacks acceptable identification must pay separately and complete an individual verification. A companion’s valid ID does not cover another adult.
Payment does not erase the risk of a missed flight. Travelers who can use an accepted document avoid the extra check, its processing time and the possibility that TSA cannot verify their identity.
TSA also warned that misuse of the system can carry federal consequences:
“Fraud or other criminal activity related to this process will be prosecuted under federal penalties.”
