No REAL ID yet? You can still fly, but it may cost $45 without another form of accepted ID

The small star on your U.S. driver’s license is about to become significantly more valuable for air travelers. Starting this Sunday, passengers without a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification will face a new $45 fee when attempting to board domestic flights.

This fee isn’t being implemented as a punishment but rather to fund the Transportation Security Administration’s new alternative identity verification system called ConfirmID. However, travelers should note that paying this fee doesn’t guarantee they’ll make their flight, as the verification process could add up to 30 minutes to their security screening time.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the majority of U.S. travelers already possess compliant identification. The new fee structure is designed to encourage the remaining travelers to obtain proper identification, though it may catch some passengers unprepared.

REAL IDs are federally compliant state-issued licenses or identification cards that meet enhanced security requirements established following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. These IDs can be recognized by a white star inside a yellow circle in most states and require more documentation to obtain than standard licenses.

The REAL ID program was initially slated for implementation in 2008 but faced multiple delays. While the requirement officially took effect in May, until now, travelers without proper identification could still pass through security with additional screening and a warning. That grace period ends Sunday.

The new fee applies to all domestic air travelers aged 18 and older who arrive at airport security without acceptable identification. The $45 payment covers a 10-day travel period, but TSA officials emphasize that payment doesn’t guarantee access to air travel. Passengers whose identities cannot be verified may still be denied boarding.

“This fee ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs,” explained Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator.

To use the ConfirmID service, travelers must pay the fee online at tsa.gov/ConfirmID before their travel date. The system requires entering the traveler’s legal name and travel start date. Payment can be made via debit card, credit card, Venmo, or PayPal. While someone else can pay on behalf of a traveler, the traveler’s information must be entered correctly.

After payment, travelers receive an emailed receipt from pay.gov. At the airport checkpoint, they must present both a government-issued ID (even if non-compliant) and either a digital or printed copy of this receipt to begin the verification process.

TSA strongly recommends completing this payment before arriving at the airport, as the subsequent identity verification process alone can take up to half an hour, potentially causing missed flights for unprepared travelers.

For frequent travelers, obtaining a REAL ID or maintaining alternative acceptable identification is clearly the more efficient and economical option. The TSA accepts numerous alternatives to REAL IDs, including U.S. passports or passport cards, permanent resident cards, trusted traveler cards like Global Entry or NEXUS, military IDs, and photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations.

Additionally, the TSA has expanded its acceptance of digital IDs through platforms like Apple Wallet and Google Wallet at more than 250 airport checkpoints across the country, reflecting the agency’s gradual adaptation to evolving identification technologies.

The implementation of this fee marks a significant transition in the long-delayed REAL ID program, effectively ending the lenient enforcement period and creating a tangible incentive for travelers to obtain compliant identification.