Flying Without a REAL ID Will Soon Cost You Dearly.
If you don’t yet have a REAL ID, you can continue to fly, but it will cost you. Beginning February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin charging a $45 fee to passengers who use non-compliant identification documents at airport security checkpoints.
The agency previously proposed an $18 fee to cover administrative and IT costs for identity verification for those traveling without a REAL ID or passport, but in an announcement earlier this month, it increased the total to $45.
REAL ID requirements
The REAL ID Act of 2005 mandated the standardization of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. After numerous delays beginning in 2008, the Department of Homeland Security finally began requiring all individuals over 18 years of age to have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license to clear airport security or enter certain federal buildings earlier this year.
Travelers can also comply with the regulations using a U.S. passport, U.S. Passport Card, DHS Trusted Traveler card, or an enhanced driver’s license issued by a state (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington). Enhanced tribal cards, permanent resident cards, border crossing cards, Department of Defense identification cards, and foreign passports are also accepted .
You can still travel without a REAL ID.
The vast majority of Americans—94 percent—already have a REAL ID or other recognized identification document. Those who don’t have one will have to complete an online verification process and pay a $45 fee before being allowed through airport security. Travelers are advised to do this in advance: if you arrive without authorization, you will be removed from the line for the process (which can take up to 30 minutes) before being allowed to proceed.
A $45 fee covers security access for up to 10 days, after which you will need to repeat the process and pay the fee. Travelers whose REAL ID or passport has been lost or stolen are also required to pay the fee.