Starting February 1, 2026, travelers who show up to airport security checkpoints without an acceptable form of IDâlike a passport or Real IDâwill have to pay a $45 fee to verify their identity. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the new rule after releasing it in the Federal Register. Until now, the fee had been proposed at $18, but after a review, TSA officials said the higher cost was needed to cover technology and operational expenses.
According to senior TSA staff, the fee will apply to passengers who donât bring the required identification and need to complete identity verification online. The verification process will be done through the TSAâs official website and will involve a few steps that include submitting personal details. Once complete, the traveler will get a confirmation email to show a TSA officer at the airport. Without this confirmation, passengers will not be allowed to pass through security or board their flight.
TSA says the process should take about 10 to 15 minutes, but depending on how busy the system isâor if there are technical issuesâit could take 30 minutes or more. For travelers who are already late or cutting it close, this could mean missing their flight. The verification confirmation will be valid for 10 days from the date of travel and is nonrefundable, even if the traveler is not cleared to fly.
Adam Stahl, a senior TSA official, said, âIdentity 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.â Stahl explained that passengers who cannot be verified will not be allowed to fly, no exceptions.
About 94 percent of travelers already bring proper ID, according to the TSA. The remaining six percent, however, could now face longer delays and added expenses if they forget or misplace their documents before heading to the airport.
If someone is already in line at security without an ID, theyâll be pulled from the line and instructed to complete the online process. TSA officers will not be able to allow passengers through until the verification has been completed and confirmed.
The agency says itâs working with airlines to make travelers more aware of the change ahead of time. That means passengers may start seeing reminders about ID requirements and the new fee when booking flights online, through airline apps, or during check-in.
The enforcement is part of a broader push to improve security measures at airports. As technology improves, TSA has been trying to find ways to streamline identity checks while keeping the system safe from people who shouldnât be flying.
One recent update that may help passengers: Apple Wallet now stores digital passports, and more than 250 U.S. airports accept these digital IDs for domestic travel screening. While this doesnât apply to every airline or international flight, TSA says digital identification is becoming a larger part of the process.
Still, travelers should make sure they carry physical identification when heading to the airport. A lost wallet, an expired ID, or simply forgetting it at home could now cost more than just extra timeâitâll cost $45 and potentially a missed flight.