TSA Confirms New $45 Fee That Applies To ALL Passengers From February 1

Airports are already stressful. Shoes off, laptops out, liquids bag half-zipped. Now imagine reaching the front of the TSA line, patting your pockets, and realizing your ID is sitting on the kitchen counter at home. Starting in early 2026, that moment of panic could come with a price tag attached—$45, to be exact.

That’s the buzz rippling through travel circles right now: a proposed TSA “ConfirmID” verification fee that would apply to passengers who show up at airport security without proper identification. Not a tax. Not a fine. More like a convenience penalty for triggering a time-consuming manual identity check. And while the number sounds small in isolation, multiply it across peak travel weekends and forgetful flyers, and suddenly it’s real money.

But here’s where things get complicated—and where travelers need to slow down before panicking.

What the ConfirmID Fee Is Supposed to Do

According to reports circulating in tabloid and travel-news outlets, the Transportation Security Administration plans to begin charging a $45 ConfirmID fee starting February 1, 2026. The charge would apply to travelers—domestic and international—who arrive at TSA checkpoints without an acceptable form of ID.

The idea behind ConfirmID isn’t new. TSA has long had procedures for passengers who forget or lose their identification. Today, those travelers undergo additional questioning, database checks, and enhanced screening. The proposed system would formalize that process using a mix of biographic data and biometric verification, theoretically speeding things up while maintaining security standards.

TSA officials have repeatedly said in past briefings that any such fee would be designed to offset operational costs, not generate profit. Manual identity verification requires extra staff time, access to secure databases, and longer screening procedures. In plain English: it’s expensive.

You can read current TSA identity policies directly on the agency’s official site at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification and broader security modernization efforts via the Department of Homeland Security at https://www.dhs.gov.

Who Would Be Affected—and When

Here’s the key thing travelers need to understand: as of now, TSA has not published a formal rule or press release confirming a $45 ConfirmID fee or a February 1, 2026 start date.

That matters.

Most of the reporting traces back to The U.S. Sun and similar outlets, which cite unnamed sources and internal discussions. TSA has acknowledged testing enhanced identity verification systems, but has stopped short of confirming a specific fee structure or nationwide rollout date.

That said, if implemented as described, the rule would likely apply only when a traveler cannot present any acceptable ID at the checkpoint—not to those whose IDs are scanned normally or digitally.

Acceptable ID: More Options Than You Think

Before anyone starts budgeting for a “forgot my wallet” fee, it’s worth noting how flexible TSA identification rules already are.

The agency maintains a broad list of acceptable IDs, including alternatives many travelers don’t realize count.

Here’s a simplified snapshot:

Accepted Identification Types	Examples
State-issued IDs	REAL ID–compliant driver’s licenses, state ID cards
Federal IDs	Passports, passport cards, military IDs
Trusted traveler cards	Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI
Digital IDs (select locations)	Apple Wallet ID, Google Wallet ID
Recently expired IDs	IDs expired within the last 2 years (temporary allowance)

The full, regularly updated list is available at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.

That two-year grace period on expired IDs alone has saved countless travelers from missing flights—and would likely keep many people out of any ConfirmID process altogether.

Digital IDs and Biometric Lanes Are Expanding Fast

Ironically, just as reports of a new fee are making headlines, TSA is quietly making it easier to get through security without pulling out a physical card at all.

Digital ID pilots are already active at select airports in states that meet REAL ID standards. Travelers can present a mobile driver’s license stored in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet at compatible TSA checkpoints. CLEAR’s biometric identity system also allows enrolled members to verify their identity using facial or iris scans.

TSA has also been expanding its PreCheck Touchless ID program, which uses facial recognition to confirm identity for enrolled travelers. The agency has said this pilot is expected to reach more than 60 airports nationwide over the next year.

Details on biometric screening programs can be found through DHS and CBP channels, including https://www.cbp.gov/travel/biometrics.

In those lanes, there’s no document check—and no scenario where a ConfirmID fee would even come into play.

The REAL ID Deadline Is the Bigger Story

Lost amid the $45 headline is a far more important date that is officially confirmed.

REAL ID enforcement begins May 7, 2025.

After that date, travelers 18 and older will need a REAL ID–compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification (like a passport) to board domestic flights. A standard, non-REAL ID license will no longer work.

The Department of Homeland Security has been clear on this point for years, with repeated delays finally coming to an end. Official guidance is available at https://www.dhs.gov/real-id.

In practice, REAL ID enforcement is likely to push more travelers toward passports, digital IDs, and trusted traveler programs—ironically reducing the number of people who show up with no ID at all.

Why Airlines and Airports Are Nervous

Even if only a small fraction of travelers forget their IDs, the optics are tricky.

Imagine a holiday weekend. Lines backed up. Families stressed. Then a surprise $45 charge per adult because wallets went missing during a hotel checkout scramble. For a family of four over 18, that’s $180 before even reaching the gate.

Industry analysts warn that any fee tied to security checkpoints risks slowing down throughput, increasing conflict with passengers, and creating customer service headaches for airlines that have no control over TSA policy.

That’s one reason many experts believe any ConfirmID fee—if it happens—would be rolled out cautiously, with exemptions, warnings, or limited use during peak travel periods.

Fact Check: Is the $45 TSA ConfirmID Fee Official?

Short answer: not yet.

Longer answer: TSA has confirmed testing enhanced identity verification systems and has publicly discussed the operational costs of manual ID checks. However, as of now, there is no official TSA rule, Federal Register notice, or press release confirming a $45 ConfirmID fee or a February 1, 2026 implementation date.

Travelers should treat current reports as provisional and rely on updates directly from https://www.tsa.gov and https://www.dhs.gov for authoritative information.

What Travelers Should Do Right Now

The practical takeaway isn’t panic—it’s preparation.

Check whether your driver’s license is REAL ID–compliant. Add a passport card to your wallet if you travel frequently. Set up a digital ID if your state supports it. And if you’re a regular flyer, PreCheck or Global Entry may quietly eliminate a lot of future hassle.

Because whether or not a ConfirmID fee becomes reality, airport security is clearly moving toward a more biometric, data-driven future. Forgetting your ID won’t strand you—but it may soon cost you.

And at $45, that’s one travel expense nobody wants to budget for.

FAQs