Real ID latest: TSA adds security fee for those flying without acceptable identification

Real ID latest: TSA adds security fee

A rumored Transportation Security Administration fee for passengers flying without a REAL ID-compliant document has now been officially confirmed. The agency is moving forward with a plan to charge travelers who arrive at airport security without acceptable identification.

What the new TSA fee means

Passengers who show up at a U.S. airport checkpoint without a REAL ID-compliant license or another approved ID, such as a valid passport, may now be required to pay a fixed fee to verify their identity. The fee is non-refundable and is designed to cover the cost of new systems used to confirm a traveler’s identity at security.

This payment allows travelers to continue their journey using an alternative identity verification process instead of being turned away at the checkpoint. However, those who use this backup procedure might face additional screening or delays while their identity is confirmed.

Why REAL ID matters now

A REAL ID is a state-issued driver’s license or ID card that meets federal security standards adopted after the September 11 attacks. These requirements were created under the REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005 to tighten the rules for identification used in federal settings, including airport checkpoints.

After years of postponements, REAL ID rules for domestic air travel finally took effect in May 2025. From that point, travelers flying within the United States must present either a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable document, such as a valid passport, to move through TSA security.

Alternative identity verification process

For those without acceptable identification, TSA has developed a modernized alternative identity verification program that relies on biometric and biographic data. At dedicated kiosks or similar equipment, passengers provide information and, in some cases, biometric data so the system can confirm their identity and link it to secure flight records and watch list checks.

This digital process is intended to replace older manual procedures that were time-consuming and required more staff resources. Funding from the new fee helps support and maintain these more advanced verification systems.

How long the fee coverage lasts

Once a traveler pays the required fee and successfully completes alternative identity verification, they are allowed to proceed through security and fly. In some descriptions of the program, this clearance can apply for a limited window of time, during which passengers may travel without paying the fee again, as long as they continue to use the alternative verification method.

Despite this option, TSA still highlights that most people passing through checkpoints already carry REAL ID-compliant or equivalent documents. The agency’s goal is to keep the backup process available for exceptional situations, rather than as a regular substitute for valid identification.

What counts as acceptable identification

REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards remain central to the rules for domestic flights. However, travelers can also use other approved documents, such as valid U.S. passports, to satisfy identification requirements at TSA checkpoints.

Licenses that do not meet REAL ID standards are still valid for driving and for many day-to-day identification needs outside federal security settings. They simply cannot be used alone at airport security checkpoints once the REAL ID enforcement date has passed, unless the traveler goes through the fee-based alternative identity verification process.

TSA’s position and next steps

TSA officials describe the fee and the alternative verification program as the next phase of long-planned REAL ID enforcement. The agency states that these changes are meant to improve both security and efficiency, balancing stronger identity checks with the need to keep airport lines moving.

More detailed implementation guidance is expected for airports and airlines, including how the fee is collected and how the process will work at different checkpoints. Until those details are fully rolled out nationwide, travelers are encouraged to obtain a REAL ID or carry another acceptable document to avoid paying the fee and undergoing extra screening.

“This notice serves as a next step in the REAL ID compliance process, which was signed into law more than 20 years ago and finally implemented as of May 2025. TSA is working with stakeholders and partners to ensure both security and efficiency at our checkpoints. Additional guidance will be announced in the coming days.”

Author’s summary

A long-delayed REAL ID rule is now fully active, and TSA’s new fee-backed identity check system pushes travelers to carry compliant IDs, turning the backup process into a costly last resort.

FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth — 2025-12-01