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- A driver's license is officially no longer enough to fly within the US without paying a fee.
- The TSA is now charging travelers $45 if they show up without a REAL ID, passport, or Green Card.
- The new fee will apply only to domestic travelers.
While a driver's license will still get you on a domestic flight, it will now cost you.
The Transportation Security Administration is now charging $45 at security checkpoints if travelers show up without a REAL ID or other acceptable government-issued ID, such as a passport or permanent resident card, when boarding domestic flights.
The fee covers the cost of verifying your ID using the TSA's new ConfirmID system. The TSA said the fee covers a 10-day travel period.
In a post on X, the US Department of State reminded travelers that they would need to be ready for the new identification system beginning February 1.
Reminder: Starting February 1, if you don’t have a REAL ID or acceptable form of ID (like a passport!) for domestic flights, you may pay a $45 fee to verify your identity through @TSA ConfirmID. A passport card ($30) or passport book are both accepted REAL ID alternatives for… pic.twitter.com/p0ZzrXy51Z
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) January 28, 2026Nationwide, about 94% of passengers already use a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification, the TSA said in a press release. The agency also said it expects wait times to increase for passengers traveling without an approved ID.
The TSA had previously proposed an $18 fee to cover the cost of using ConfirmID, a biometric kiosk system designed to verify travelers' identities more quickly than the current manual process.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005 in response to the 9/11 attacks, but it only began rolling out in 2025. In May, the TSA began requiring travelers to present a REAL ID or another government-approved identification to pass through airport security checkpoints.
Travelers who still do not have a REAL ID can obtain one from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
