Real ID latest: TSA adds security fee for those flying without acceptable identification
Sec. Noem holds press conference with TSA agents
On Saturday, DHS Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem held a press conference at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada to honor Transportation Security Administration agents that worked through the federal government shutdown without pay.
The REAL ID deadline is finally in effect, after several more delays during the pandemic. And now the Transportation Security Administration says flyers without a REAL ID must pay a fee to fly.
Here are the details:
TSA fee REAL ID
FILE - Travelers wait in line at the TSA security checkpoint at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) in Dallas, Texas, US, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. Photographer: Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The backstory:
REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005.
The commission recommended the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008. But the implementation was repeatedly delayed until May 2025.
Why you should care:
Flying without an acceptable form of ID adds increased wait times for passengers going through security – and will also now incur a cost.
What they're saying:
The TSA said Dec. 1 that passengers without an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly must pay a fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, called TSA Confirm.ID, after checking in and before entering the security line.
"This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer," said Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA Adam Stahl. "The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights."
By the numbers:
Travelers will be able to pay $45 to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period.
Timeline:
The fee will begin on Feb. 1, 2026.
Dig deeper:
TSA urges all travelers who do not have a REAL ID to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers who arrive at the airport without paying the fee, information about how to pay for the TSA Confirm.ID option will be available at marked locations at or near the checkpoint in most airports.
Travelers who undergo TSA Confirm.ID processing at an airport should expect delays.
RELATED: Tips for what could be the busiest travel season in 15 years
What ID do you need to fly?
Noem: Travelers without Real ID can still fly
Kristi Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday. Nick de Mauro, CEO of Law Enforcement against drugs & violence and former NJ Police Officer & Detective, joins LiveNOW from FOX, along with FOX's Chelsea Torres, to break down the latest information.
Big picture view:
According to the TSA, acceptable form of ID that will not incur the extra security fee include:
- REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
What to look for:
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license has a symbol (in most states, a star) in the top corner of the card.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a TSA press release issued on Dec. 1, 2025. Background information was taken from previous FOX Television Station reporting. This story was reported from Detroit.