New $45 TSA Fee Begins in 2026 for Travelers Without REAL ID

The Transportation Security Administration has introduced a new $45 fee for US air travelers aged over 18 who arrive at airport security without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, passport, or other approved identification.

The fee, which takes effect on February 1, 2026, is higher than the originally proposed $18 and is designed to cover the cost of implementing a modernized identity verification system.

This requirement is connected to the REAL ID Act of 2005, a post-September 11 law intended to make identification more secure in order to prevent terrorism. After nearly 20 years of extensions, the law finally went into full enforcement on May 7, 2025, making compliant identification mandatory for domestic flights.

TSA estimates that millions of travelers each year still lack compliant documents. These travelers need to complete TSA’s Confirm ID process, which may involve a facial scan, a passport database lookup, or a set of knowledge-based questions.

The agency says the charge will pay for technology and administrative upgrades, shifting these expenses from taxpayers to the travelers who need the extra verification.

Meanwhile, international visitors entering the US are also seeing higher costs. The I-94 fee for land entries has increased from $6 to $30, and the ESTA travel authorization for visa-waiver travelers has risen from $21 to $40. In addition, Chinese nationals enrolling in the EVUS system will now pay a $30 fee, where previously there was no charge.

Photo by Patty Zavala on Unsplash