• The fee shifts costs from taxpayers to specific users Senior TSA official Adam Stahl stated that the $45 charge ensures the expense of secondary processing is borne by the traveler using the service rather than the general taxpayer. The revenue generated is intended to specifically offset the operational costs of the ConfirmID verification program.
• The vast majority of travelers will be unaffected The agency estimates that approximately 94% of current travelers already possess a Real ID or another form of acceptable identification. As a result, only a small percentage of passengers will need to utilize the ConfirmID program and pay the associated fee.
• Advance payment options help mitigate delays Officials encourage passengers to pay the fee online prior to arriving at the airport to streamline the process. While the alternative screening involves personal questions to verify identity, the program provides a pathway for those without standard documentation to travel.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader: Domestic flyers without a Real ID or passport starting Feb. 1 will face a $45 fee per verification window to cover the costs of alternative identity screening processes.
Travelers needing alternative screening should arrive earlier, as the process adds approximately 30 minutes to wait times, though paying online in advance may help mitigate delays.
Since the identity verification is valid for only a 10-day window, passengers on trips lasting longer than this duration will incur a second $45 charge for their return flight.
Families and lower-income individuals lacking compliant identification may face increased travel costs, contributing to an estimated $476 million in program revenue over the next five years.
The vast majority of travelers already possess compliant identification and will remain unaffected, while the fee structure ensures taxpayers do not fund the secondary processing for those without it.