:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/45dollarfeerealid-df84579b86ec48b6bcbf2216c8c6bb9c.jpg "TSA Will Soon Charge If You Forget Your ID—But Here’s How to Avoid It")
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Key Takeaways
- REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025, requiring travelers to bring a compliant ID or another TSA-approved document.
- TSA’s Confirm.ID program launches Feb. 1, 2026, giving travelers without an acceptable form of ID a $45 identity verification option.
- The fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee clearance through security.
- Bringing a REAL ID, passport, or other approved ID is the simplest way to avoid the fee.
Forgetting your ID at home could soon cost you $45 at the airport. On Feb. 1, 2026, TSA is launching Confirm.ID, a new identity verification option for travelers who arrive at security without a REAL ID, passport, or another acceptable form of identification.
REAL ID requirements are already in effect, so this paid fallback is meant to help travelers who show up unprepared. Here’s what to expect and how to avoid the fee.
What Is This New $45 Fee?
TSA’s Confirm.ID program is a new identity verification option for travelers who arrive at security without acceptable identification. REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025, which means travelers now need a REAL ID–compliant license or another approved ID, such as a passport, to board a domestic flight. Confirm.ID is meant to serve as a backup for people who show up without those documents.
Instead of the older call-center process, TSA will use biographic information at the checkpoint to confirm a traveler’s identity. Using Confirm.ID costs $45, and the fee covers a 10-day window so it can apply to multiple flights within that period.
Note
Travelers who use the service may still face extra screening or delays, and verification does not guarantee access to the secure area of the airport.
Confirm.ID becomes available on Feb. 1, 2026, with a phased rollout at airports across the country.
How to Avoid the Fee
The easiest way to avoid the $45 Confirm.ID fee is to bring acceptable identification when you travel.
REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025, which means travelers now need a REAL ID–compliant license or another TSA-approved form of identification, such as a passport, passport card, or certain digital IDs in participating states.
Confirm.ID is optional and meant only for travelers who arrive without those documents. Checking your ID against the TSA list of acceptable forms of ID before leaving home is the most reliable way to avoid the fee.
If you prefer to use a digital ID, confirm whether your state participates in TSA-approved mobile ID programs before traveling.
The Bottom Line
TSA’s Confirm.ID program provides a backup for travelers who arrive at security without an acceptable ID, but using it will cost you $45. You can avoid the fee by bringing a REAL ID, passport, or another TSA-approved form of identification to the airport. If you do forget your ID, Confirm.ID offers a way to continue your trip, although it comes at a price.
