Monday, December 1, 2025 8:06AM
Starting February 1, travelers going through airport security without a REAL ID or passport will face a $45 fee, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday.
The fee is part of TSA’s next phase of the REAL ID rollout. Passengers who lack a compliant form of identification will need to verify their identity through a biometric or biographic system before passing through security checkpoints.
The announcement comes after a proposed rule appeared in the Federal Register last month, with the fee increased from the initially proposed $18.
“The fee was necessary because we needed to modernize the system. We needed to make sure that the system is safe,” Steve Lorincz, TSA’s deputy executive assistant administrator for security operations, told ABC News.
TSA says the fee will cover administrative and IT costs for the ID verification program, ensuring that travelers, not taxpayers, bear the expense.
Travelers without a REAL ID can go online at TSA.gov to verify their identity and pay the fee once the new rule takes effect. After completing the process, they will receive an email confirmation to show TSA officers at the checkpoint. The verification typically takes 10 to 15 minutes, though it can sometimes take up to 30 minutes or longer.
However, TSA warns that completing the online process does not guarantee access through security.
“We still need to go through the process to make sure that we verify who you are. And for whatever reason, if we can’t do that, then you can’t go through the process,” Lorincz said.
Passengers who arrive at checkpoints without an acceptable ID will be redirected to complete the online verification before proceeding. Travelers with lost or stolen REAL IDs or passports will also be required to pay the fee.
Once verified, the fee grants access through TSA checkpoints for up to ten days. After that, anyone traveling without a REAL ID will need to pay again.
TSA notes that approximately 94% of travelers already use a REAL ID or other acceptable identification.