Beginning February 1, 2026, travelers age 18 and older who arrive at a TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification have a new option for attempting to verify their identity.
The program is called TSA ConfirmID, and it costs $45 per traveler. The payment covers a 10-day travel period, but paying the fee does not guarantee that TSA will be able to verify your identity or allow you through the security checkpoint.
For most travelers, the easiest way to avoid the fee and additional screening is simple: make sure you have an acceptable form of identification before leaving for the airport.
What Is TSA ConfirmID?
TSA ConfirmID is an alternative identity-verification process for travelers who do not have an acceptable form of identification to present at the airport security checkpoint.
The program does not replace REAL ID or other accepted identification. Instead, it provides another process TSA can use to attempt to establish a traveler’s identity.
Travelers who use ConfirmID pay a $45 fee. According to the federal payment portal, the payment is valid for 10 days beginning with the travel start date entered during the payment process.
If your travel extends beyond that 10-day period and you still do not have acceptable identification, another payment may be required.
Who May Need to Use TSA ConfirmID?
The program applies to travelers age 18 and older who arrive without a REAL ID or another form of identification accepted by TSA and still want to proceed with air travel.
You do not need to pay the $45 fee simply because you don’t have a REAL ID driver’s license.
If you have another acceptable form of identification, you can use that instead.
Examples of identification TSA accepts include:
- REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state-issued identification card
- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- DHS Trusted Traveler cards, including Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST
- U.S. Department of Defense identification
- Permanent resident card
- Other forms of identification currently accepted by TSA
Because TSA’s complete list of acceptable identification can change, travelers should verify the current requirements directly with TSA before departure.
How the $45 TSA ConfirmID Process Works
Travelers who know they will need TSA ConfirmID can complete the payment through the federal Pay.gov system.
The process requires information including the traveler’s legal name and travel start date. The $45 fee can be paid using an accepted payment method through Pay.gov.
After payment, keep the confirmation receipt. TSA instructs travelers to bring either a printed or electronic copy of that receipt to the checkpoint when traveling without acceptable identification during the 10-day period.
Each traveler age 18 or older who needs ConfirmID must complete the process separately.
Paying the Fee Does Not Guarantee You Can Fly
This is one of the most important parts of the policy to understand.
The $45 payment gives TSA the opportunity to attempt to verify your identity. It does not guarantee successful verification.
If TSA cannot establish your identity, you may not be permitted through the security checkpoint and could miss your flight.
The fee is also nonrefundable, including when TSA is unable to verify a traveler’s identity.
ConfirmID should therefore be treated as an alternative verification process, not as a substitute for arriving at the airport with proper identification.
How REAL ID Fits Into the Rule
Federal REAL ID enforcement for air travel began in May 2025. A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state identification card meets the federal identification requirement for domestic air travel.
But REAL ID is not the only acceptable option.
A valid passport and several other federally accepted forms of identification can also be used at TSA checkpoints.
That distinction is important because travelers sometimes assume they cannot fly without a REAL ID driver’s license. What matters is whether you have a form of identification TSA currently accepts.
Why Identification Should Be Checked Before Travel Day
Discovering an identification problem at the airport can create more than a $45 expense.
The ConfirmID process requires additional identity verification, which can take longer than standard screening. TSA advises travelers using the program to allow additional time.
That delay becomes particularly important when the flight is connected to another time-sensitive part of the trip, such as:
- A cruise departure
- An international connection
- A scheduled tour
- A prepaid transfer
- An event or other fixed-time reservation
Checking identification well before departure gives you time to address a problem before it becomes an airport problem.
What Travelers Should Check Before Going to the Airport
- Confirm that you have a REAL ID or another identification document currently accepted by TSA
- Check the expiration date on the identification you plan to use
- Verify TSA requirements before departure rather than relying on an old travel checklist
- If you know you will need ConfirmID, complete the required process before arriving when possible
- Keep the ConfirmID payment receipt available electronically or in print
- Allow additional airport time if alternative identity verification will be required
For travelers who fly infrequently, checking identification should become part of the same pre-trip routine as confirming flights, checking baggage rules, and reviewing departure times.
The Bottom Line for Air Travelers
TSA ConfirmID provides an option for travelers who arrive without acceptable identification, but it comes with an additional fee, additional verification, and no guarantee that TSA will be able to establish identity successfully.
The simplest approach is still to arrive with identification TSA already accepts.
Before your next flight, check the ID you plan to carry—not just whether you have it, but whether TSA will accept it.
Verify the Current TSA Requirements
Identification requirements and TSA procedures can change. Before traveling, verify the current requirements directly with TSA.
