TSA announces new $45 fee option for travelers who fly without REAL ID-compliant identification

TSA $45 fee for no REAL ID

Passengers who want to fly within the United States without a REAL ID-compliant document will soon be able to do so by paying a $45 fee. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that this option is intended for travelers who do not yet have a REAL ID but still need to pass through airport security.

When the fee starts

The new $45 charge is scheduled to take effect on February 1, giving travelers time to prepare. From that date, passengers who arrive at security checkpoints without a REAL ID, passport, or other acceptable identification will be directed to the new fee-based process instead of being turned away.

How the identity verification works

TSA is introducing a modernized identity verification system for travelers who use the paid option. Under this program, passengers confirm their identity through a combination of biographic or biometric checks before being allowed to proceed through the checkpoint. The fee covers the cost of this verification and is designed to support the technology and administrative work required.

Duration and conditions of access

Once a traveler completes the paid identity verification, the approval will typically be valid for up to ten days of travel. If a passenger flies again after that period without a REAL ID, they will need to repeat the process and pay the $45 fee again. TSA emphasizes that this option is meant as a backup and not a permanent substitute for obtaining compliant identification.

TSA position and traveler impact

Officials say the fee helps ensure that the added security and verification measures are funded by the travelers who use them, rather than by taxpayers in general. At the same time, the agency continues to urge people to upgrade to a REAL ID or obtain another acceptable document, warning that relying on the paid process could lead to longer wait times at some airports.

Travelers who arrive at security checkpoints without a REAL ID-compliant document will still have a path to fly, but they will now pay for the additional identity verification instead of receiving it for free.

Author’s summary: TSA is launching a $45 optional identity-check service so people without REAL ID can still fly, but the agency clearly signals this should be a temporary fallback, not a long-term replacement.

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WBAL-TV WBAL-TV — 2025-12-01

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