Washington, D.C. – December 1, 2025 – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dropped a major new rule on Monday that will hit unprepared travelers right in the wallet.
Beginning February 1, 2026, any passenger 18 or older who shows up at a U.S. airport security checkpoint without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of ID (such as a U.S. passport or Global Entry card) will be charged a $45 “identity verification fee” on the spot.
Key points you need to know:
- You can still fly after paying the fee and passing an extra identity check
- The fee is valid for 10 days once paid — good if you have a return flight within that window
- Originally proposed at $18, TSA raised it to $45 to fully cover program costs
- Children under 18 are exempt when traveling with a properly ID’d adult
- Applies only to domestic flights
TSA says about 94% of passengers already use compliant IDs, meaning roughly 6% — or tens of thousands of travelers daily — could face the new charge during busy periods.
“This is not a penalty; it’s a user fee for the additional verification process required when someone arrives without acceptable identification,” a TSA spokesperson explained.
The long-delayed REAL ID requirement was originally set to begin in 2020 but has been postponed multiple times. The federal deadline for full enforcement (when non-compliant IDs will no longer be accepted at all) remains May 7, 2027.
Bottom line: If you still have the old-style driver’s license without the star in the corner, you’ve got two months left to upgrade — or start budgeting an extra $45 every time you fly domestic after February 1.
Check your state’s REAL ID status and renewal options here: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id
Source: 6abcactionnews
