TSA announces it will charge Americans $45 to fly without Real ID, passport next year

The Transportation Security Administration announced Monday that it will start charging American travelers $45 next year if they try to fly without a valid passport, Real ID, or other approved forms of identification.

The Real ID requirement for domestic air travel went into effect in May, after years of delay, and is either a state driver's license, learner's permit or nondriver ID card, identified by a black or gold star in the upper right corner.

The new rule, which will go into effect on Feb. 1, will allow fliers to have their identities confirmed through a fee-based verification system called TSA Confirm.ID, if they forget their RealID or other federally approved forms of identification. 

“Identity 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,” Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA Adam Stahl said in a statement. 

“The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are," he continued. "The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights.”

The process for proving identification at the airport will vary based on the airport, but those without proper forms of identification will need to prove their ID before getting into the security line. 

The fee will verify the flier's identification for 10 days. A full list of acceptable forms of identification for travel purposes can be found here.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.