TSA Launches $45 Confirm.ID Option for Travellers Without REAL ID Starting February 2026
The TSA introduced a new $45 identity-verification option for travellers who arrive at airports without acceptable identification.
The agency launched the Confirm.ID system to help passengers verify their identity when they do not present a REAL ID or other approved document at security checkpoints.
New $45 Fee Starts on February 1, 2026
TSA began enforcing its updated identity-verification rules on February 1, 2026. Travellers without acceptable identification could pay $45 to use TSA Confirm.ID.
The fee covered a 10-day travel window for passengers who needed additional identity checks. TSA encouraged travellers without REAL ID-compliant documents to update their identification before traveling.
How TSA Confirm.ID Worked
TSA used Confirm.ID to verify identities for passengers lacking acceptable ID. This system required travellers to complete identity checks away from the main screening line.
Airports used different procedures, and processing times varied by location. Travellers who paid online gained faster entry to the verification queue. Passengers paid the fee before travel or at designated airport kiosks.
REAL ID Remained the Preferred Option
TSA reported that more than 94 percent of passengers used acceptable ID at checkpoints. Officials warned that passengers without proper documents should expect longer waits.
TSA emphasised that REAL ID improved national security and supported safer aviation systems.
Acceptable Forms of ID
TSA accepted a range of documents for identity verification. These included
- REAL ID licenses,
- U.S. passports,
- Trusted traveller cards, and
- Tribal IDs.
- TSA also accepted foreign passports,
- Military IDs,
- Permanent resident cards, and
- TWIC credentials.
Temporary driver’s licenses were not considered acceptable identification.
Why TSA Increased the Fee
TSA originally estimated a lower fee for Confirm.ID processing. Updated analysis revealed higher technology and staffing costs for identity verification. TSA raised the fee to ensure taxpayers did not subsidise the extra workload.
What Travelers Needed to Know
Travellers without accepted identification faced delays at most airports. They completed Confirm.ID checks before returning to the screening line.
TSA urged travellers to update their ID early to avoid missed flights and long queues