TSA to Begin Charging Travelers $45 for Not Having a REAL ID Starting in 2026

Air travelers who show up to airport security without a REAL ID or another TSA-approved form of identification will soon face a new fee. Beginning February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will charge passengers $45 to complete an alternative identity-verification process called Confirm.ID.

The fee applies to travelers 18 and older who attempt to fly domestically without a REAL ID-compliant license, U.S. passport, or other accepted identification. Instead of being turned away, passengers may choose to pay the $45 charge and undergo additional screening and verification to confirm their identity before being allowed to proceed to their flight.

Confirm.ID replaces TSA’s current, no-cost “identity verification” procedure and is designed to reduce disruptions at security checkpoints. According to federal officials, the new system involves advanced identity-matching technology and a documented validation process that provides a 10-day travel window once completed. TSA notes, however, that identity verification is not guaranteed; if a passenger’s identity cannot be verified, they may still be denied entry.

The new fee comes as the REAL ID enforcement deadline approaches on May 7, 2025. On that date, standard driver’s licenses without the gold star cannot be used to board domestic flights. The fee will not begin until early 2026, but TSA hopes the policy will encourage travelers to obtain REAL ID-compliant credentials ahead of time.

South Carolina residents traveling through Greenville-Spartanburg International (GSP), Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), or Charleston International Airport (CHS) are encouraged to review their identification now. A REAL ID driver’s license shows a gold star in the upper right corner. While REAL ID is optional in South Carolina, it will be required for airport security starting in 2025 unless another approved form of ID is presented.

State DMV officials continue to advise residents not to wait until the last minute, as REAL ID demand typically increases leading up to federal enforcement dates.

A full list of acceptable TSA identification and REAL ID application details can be found at scdmvonline.com/REALID and tsa.gov.