With less than four weeks remaining before a significant policy change takes effect at airport security checkpoints nationwide, travelers without proper identification face an urgent decision. Beginning February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration will implement its new Confirm.ID verification system requiring passengers without REAL ID-compliant identification or other acceptable ID to pay a mandatory $45 fee to complete airport security screening.
This non-refundable charge represents the final phase of the REAL ID Act implementation, which officially began enforcement on May 7, 2025, when non-compliant state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards ceased being accepted at TSA checkpoints. The policy shift places greater responsibility on travelers to either obtain compliant identification or bear the financial and time costs of alternative verification methods. TSA officials emphasize that the burden of verifying insufficient identification should fall on individual travelers rather than taxpayers at large.
What Travelers Need To Know About Acceptable Airport Identification
TSA maintains strict guidelines regarding which forms of identification qualify for airport security screening. According to the Department of Homeland Security, acceptable identification includes REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or state photo identification cards, U.S. passports or passport cards, DHS trusted traveler cards such as Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, U.S. Department of Defense IDs, permanent resident cards, and foreign passports.
Travelers can easily identify REAL ID-compliant licenses by looking for a star symbol in the upper corner of their card, which may appear black, gold, or as an outline, depending on the issuing state. Per NPR, the Department of Homeland Security reports that 94% of passengers already use REAL ID-compliant identification or other acceptable forms of identification when traveling, indicating that most travelers have successfully transitioned to the new requirements.
How The Confirm.ID Process Works For January Travelers
Travelers planning flights in January should understand the verification process that awaits those without proper identification starting next month. The TSA’s Confirm.ID service provides an alternative identity verification pathway at an additional cost.WTNH News reported that Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA, Adam Stahl, explained: “This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer.”
The $45 non-refundable fee covers a 10-day travel period, allowing for round-trip or multiple flights within that timeframe. Travelers will undergo a verification process that includes submitting biographic or biometric information to confirm their identity and ensure they are not on security watch lists.
Pre-Payment Options And Checkpoint Procedures
The TSA strongly recommends that travelers without acceptable ID pre-pay the Confirm.ID fee online before arriving at the airport. Passengers will need to visit TSA.gov and follow the instructions to verify their identity and pay the fee in advance. After completing the online process, travelers will receive an email confirmation to present to TSA officers at the security checkpoint.
For those who arrive at the airport without having paid the fee in advance, information about how to pay will be available at marked locations near security checkpoints at most airports. However, travelers should note that pre-payment does not guarantee passage through security if identity verification fails. Travelers who must undergo the Confirm.ID process should anticipate additional screening time at security checkpoints.
The identity verification process can take more than 10 to 30 minutes on average, with potentially longer waits during peak travel periods. The process involves referral to a separate verification area, answering identity-verification questions about address history and previous residences, possible biometric collection, including fingerprints or facial scans, and database checks against federal systems. TSA officials have acknowledged that implementing this new procedure may initially disrupt normal checkpoint operations, particularly at busier airports.
Immediate Actions For January Travelers
With the February 1 deadline rapidly approaching, travelers should take immediate steps to avoid complications. Those without REAL ID-compliant identification should schedule appointments with their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles as soon as possible to obtain compliant credentials. Alternatively, travelers can ensure they have another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport, before their next flight. For those with imminent travel plans who cannot obtain proper identification in time, understanding the pre-payment process on TSA.gov becomes essential.
The TSA emphasizes that the Confirm.ID processing is a last resort rather than a convenient alternative to obtaining proper identification. Passengers who arrive without acceptable identification and decline to use the Confirm.ID service faces obstacles. TSA guidelines indicate that travelers who choose not to provide acceptable identification, decline to cooperate with the identity verification process, or whose identity cannot be confirmed will not be permitted to enter the security checkpoint, effectively preventing them from boarding their flights.
TSA Deputy Executive Assistant Administrator for Security Operations Steve Lorincz emphasized that “even with the email confirmation, travelers without a Real ID or passport may not be allowed through the checkpoint. 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.”
For the most up-to-date information on identification requirements and the Confirm.ID program, travelers should visit the official TSA website at TSA.gov/real-id or TSA.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.
