A REAL ID is Now Required To Fly

As of May 2025, every air traveler over the age of 18 must have a REAL ID compliant form of identification in order to board commercial aircraft in the United States. As of February 2026, a fine will be imposed on anyone attempting to fly without proper identification.

What is a Compliant REAL ID?

Here are the forms of identification accepted by the TSA for purposes of boarding aircraft in the United States:

• REAL ID compliant driver's license (a temporary driver's license or a regular driver's license that is not a REAL ID is not an acceptable form of identification)

• Other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

• State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)

• U.S. passport

• U.S. passport card

• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents

• Permanent resident card

• Border crossing card

• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)

• HSPD-12 PIV card

• Foreign government-issued passport

• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

See the full TSA list of acceptable forms of identification here.

What Happens If Your ID is Not REAL ID Compliant?

Make sure you have the proper id before traveling! Without a compliant identification, you can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of missing your flight due to the delay or not being permitted to board your flight or even pass into the security checkpoint at all.

In February 2026, the TSA will begin imposing a $45 fine on travelers who show up at the airport trying to board aircraft without the proper identification. If you find yourself in this situation, and you are not denied boarding, you can expect the following:

The Process: Travelers without an acceptable ID will be referred to the optional TSA Confirm.ID process for identity verification prior to entering the security line. This process uses your biographic and/or biometric information to attempt to verify your identity.

The Fee: You will be required to pay a non-refundable $45 fee is to use this alternative screening process as a verification system rather than presenting a REAL ID compliant identification. If your identity cannot be verified, the fee is not refunded and you will likely be denied security screening and boarding.

Validity: The payment will only allows you to utilize the Confirm.ID process for a 10-day travel period. This means a round-trip ticket or multiple flights within that window are covered by a single fee. However, if your trip is longer, you will need to pay the fee and submit to the process again as well as risk not being permitted to board again.

Expected Delays: Passengers undergoing Confirm.ID verification at the airport should expect delays. The process can take up to 30 minutes, so arrive early.

Pre-Payment Urged: To mitigate delays, the TSA strongly recommends that you pay the $45 fee online before arriving at the airport. Information for payment will be available on the TSA website, and payment links will be available at marked locations near checkpoints for those paying upon arrival.

For frequently asked questions and to find out more, visit the TSA website.

—Daria Dimitroff, updated December 2025

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