The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a noteworthy change to its identity-verification program for travelers who arrive at airport security without an acceptable form of identification. Beginning on February 1, 2026, passengers who do not present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other approved ID (such as a passport) will be directed to a new paid option called TSA Confirm.ID, which carries a $45 fee for a 10-day travel window.
The announcement marks a revision to the identity-verification approach TSA outlined in late November 2025, when the agency published a Federal Register notice describing an $18 fee tied to a modernized process for confirming travelers’ identities at checkpoints. The TSA now says the $45 Confirm.ID option will become its primary paid pathway for travelers who still want to fly without acceptable identification.
Under the updated program, any traveler who arrives at an airport security checkpoint with a non-REAL ID license, an expired document, or no ID at all will be referred to Confirm.ID. The $45 fee will allow TSA to verify their identity using biographic or biometric data, matching the traveler to their Secure Flight prescreening profile. TSA emphasized that the service is optional and does not guarantee access to the secure area of an airport if the traveler’s identity cannot be verified.
The agency said the new fee reflects the cost of providing real-time identity verification, including technology development, IT infrastructure, system integration, and program administration. Once processed, travelers may still face additional screening, and TSA warned that repeat users who habitually show up without proper ID may face limits on how often they can use the service.
The REAL ID mandate, which came into effect on May 7, 2025, requires travelers to present a compliant driver’s license or alternate federally accepted ID at airport checkpoints. The TSA noted that more than 94% of passengers already present a REAL ID or other acceptable document, but the agency expects delays for those who rely on Confirm.ID, particularly during peak travel periods.
Travelers may pay the $45 fee online before arriving at the airport or onsite at designated locations near the checkpoint. TSA said it is working with private industry partners to expand online payment options and streamline the process. A temporary driver’s license is not considered acceptable identification for bypassing the Confirm.ID requirement, the TSA said.
The move replaces the TSA’s previous manual identity-verification procedure, which relied on personnel at the National Transportation Vetting Center and was slower and more resource-intensive. The agency said the Confirm.ID upgrade will improve capacity and reduce strain on officers while ensuring that identity verification costs are borne by the traveler rather than the taxpayer.
