Beginning next month, U.S. air travellers who arrive at airport security checkpoints without proper identification will face a new fee. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it will introduce a $45 charge for passengers requiring on-site identity verification before boarding.
New TSA Rule Aims To Shift Cost Burden From Taxpayers To Travellers
The TSA confirmed through a statement that, from February 1, passengers who fail to present acceptable identification, such as a REAL ID or a valid passport, will be charged a $45 fee to complete the verification process at security checkpoints.
Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA, Adam Stahl, said:
“Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems such as rail. The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are.”
According to Stahl, the new ConfirmID process will ensure that costs associated with verifying insufficient identification are covered directly by the traveller rather than by public funds.
“Beginning February 1, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID at our security checkpoints and still want to fly can pay a $45 fee and undergo the TSA ConfirmID process. This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer,” he said.
The TSA emphasised that security remains the agency’s top priority, urging all passengers to check their documentation before travelling. As Stahl added:
“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.”
What Travellers Need To Know About The ConfirmID Process
The ConfirmID procedure will be available at airport security checkpoints for passengers unable to present proper identification. During this process, TSA agents will verify a traveller’s identity through a combination of personal data checks, questioning, and available records before allowing them to proceed to their flight.
The agency explained that this measure is part of its broader effort to enhance security accountability while reducing administrative costs. While most U.S. passengers already travel with REAL ID-compliant identification, TSA data indicates a small but consistent percentage still arrive at airports with expired, damaged, or non-compliant IDs.
According to reports, the REAL ID requirement, which standardises identification formats across U.S. states, will officially take full effect in May 2025, at which point all travellers must have compliant identification to fly domestically.
