WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is set to charge a new $45 fee for air travelers without a REAL ID-compliant identification starting next month, offering a temporary workaround for those caught unprepared by long-delayed federal requirements.
The $45 fee, effective Feb. 1, allows passengers 18 and older to pay for an alternative identity verification process called TSA ConfirmID. This system uses advanced technology to confirm identities at airport checkpoints without traditional documents like a driver’s license or passport. Officials say the fee covers the costs of the program and ensures non-compliant travelers bear the expense rather than taxpayers.
“Impacted travelers will have the option to pay $45 and use the TSA ConfirmID process,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. “This fee ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs.”
The fee applies to a 10-day travel period, giving users flexibility for round-trip flights or short trips. Travelers can pay in advance through an online portal on Pay.gov before arriving at the airport.
The move comes amid ongoing delays in the REAL ID enforcement, originally mandated by Congress in 2005 following the Sept. 11 attacks to standardize state-issued IDs for domestic air travel. Full enforcement was postponed multiple times, but TSA is rolling out this interim measure to handle non-compliant passengers.
Critics have blasted the fee as a money grab. “It’s all about the money!” one social media user posted, echoing widespread frustration. Initially proposed at $18 last November, the amount was hiked to $45, drawing further ire.
TSA encourages Americans to obtain REAL ID-compliant licenses from their state DMVs or use alternatives like passports. Children under 18 are exempt from the ID requirement for domestic flights.
The agency estimates millions of travelers may still lack compliant IDs by the deadline, prompting the fee-based option to avoid widespread disruptions at airports.
