TSA’s ConfirmID Fee Enforcement Begins Nationally on Sunday

Travelers nationwide still without a REAL ID will need to pay extra to fly starting this week.

Starting on Sunday, Feb. 1, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin enforcement of a $45 fee to travelers who arrive at airports without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID such as a passport, trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS), military ID or permanent resident card. The fee was first announced by TSA in December.

Travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID may opt to pay the fee and verify their identity through TSA’s alternative identity verification system, ConfirmID, prior to entering the security screening checkpoint. The fee will allow travelers to be verified in the ConfirmID system for a 10-day period.

To avoid delays, TSA advises travelers without a REAL ID to pre-pay the ConfirmID fee at Pay.gov. Travelers will need to enter their legal name, the start date of their travel and a valid bank account number, credit or debit card, Venmo or PayPal account to pay the $45 fee.

Once the payment is processed, travelers will receive a confirmation email with their receipt. The confirmation email will be needed to present proof of payment to TSA staff before passing through the security screening checkpoint, which can include a screenshot or printed receipt. The confirmation is valid for 10 days from the date of travel listed on the receipt.

All adults 18 or older without an acceptable ID must complete the TSA ConfirmID process separately. If paying for another traveler, the name on the payment card does not have to match the traveler’s name.

Additional payment information for ConfirmID can be found on TSA’s website.

Travelers without REAL ID who refuse to pay the fee could be denied entry at checkpoints. TSA stresses that the process does not guarantee boarding flights, as travelers can still be denied access if their identity cannot be confirmed.

According to TSA, the fee is supposed to ensure that travelers, not taxpayers, fund the advanced verification system. TSA initially proposed an $18 fee in a Federal Register notice published on Nov. 20 but finalized the fee at $45 due to larger-than-expected costs from analysis of operating the ConfirmID system for fliers without REAL ID.

REAL ID went into effect on May 7, 2025, following numerous delays. The federal mandate resulted from stricter identification regulations passed by Congress in 2005 following a 9/11 Commission recommendation to set higher security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. Since the May 2025 deadline went into effect, travelers without a REAL ID or other acceptable identification have still been able to fly but with potential additional security screening.

TSA still urges travelers without a REAL ID to schedule an appointment with their local DMV as soon as possible. The agency reports that over 94 percent of passengers already have a REAL ID or other acceptable forms of identification.

TSA asks that passengers who are unsure if their identification complies with REAL ID to visit its website. Travelers with additional questions on REAL ID are asked to visit TSA’s REAL ID page, text 275-872 (“AskTSA”) or tag @AskTSA on social media with questions.

Touchless ID coming soon to PIT

TSA recently announced that Pittsburgh International Airport is next in line for the agency’s new Touchless ID technology for TSA PreCheck, which is expanding from 20 to 65 airports nationwide beginning this spring.

Touchless ID allows enrolled PreCheck members to use a biometric scan of their face at a designated lane in the security screening checkpoint as opposed to pulling out their driver’s license or passport to show proof of identification. The program’s goal is to use facial recognition technology to enhance the security screening process for secure, faster and more efficient identity verification and provide a more convenient airport experience.

Touchless ID is available to current TSA PreCheck travelers with a valid passport and an active profile with a participating airline. Airlines serving PIT that participate in PreCheck’s Touchless ID program include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

To participate, travelers must update their airline profile by entering their Known Traveler Number, valid passport number and country, and opt in with their participating airline either on their profile or at check-in. Travelers must check their boarding pass for a Touchless ID indicator to enter the dedicated lane and bring a physical REAL ID.

A list of FAQs and additional Touchless ID information can be found at TSA’s website.