A New $45 TSA Fee Is Coming Soon: What to Know
Don't have a REAL ID yet? You might get hit with a fee to go through security at the airport.
The TSA has made a few overhauls this year that travelers love. You can keep your shoes on. The new TSA family lanes speeds up security for families and individuals alike. But the latest airport rule change is more annoying than exciting.
Today, the agency announced a new $45 fee for passengers going through security without a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative.
Taking effect on February 1, the fee applies to anyone using the agency's new "alternative identity verification program" designed specifically for passengers without a compliant form of identification. Here's what you need to know ahead of your next flight.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
TSA to charge $45 fee to travelers with no REAL ID
After repeated delays, the TSA officially began enforcing the use of the REAL ID to get through airport security in May. While many states had already switched over by then, Americans who hadn't renewed their driver's license since the switch or who lived in states that hadn't made the change yet scrambled to get the compliant form of identification.
Now that travelers have had a few months to get their driver's license updated to the new format, the TSA has announced plans to start charging a fee to travelers who still haven't done so.
"This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer. The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights,” the agency said in a press release on Monday.
If you're going through security without a REAL ID or one of the government-approved REAL ID alternatives, you'll see a $45 fee for doing so starting in February. The price is based on the estimated cost of operating the TSA Confirm.ID process, an alternative identity verification program created to screen passengers who don't have a compliant form of ID.
Kiplinger Best Travel Cards
Travel cards help you rack up the points or miles fast, leading to sizable discounts on future trips. Explore our top options, powered by Bankrate. Advertising disclosure.
REAL ID alternatives to avoid the TSA fee
If you want to avoid the new TSA fee but can't make time to go to the DMV before February, you may already have an acceptable alternative. According to the TSA, 94% of passengers are already using either a REAL ID or a valid alternative.
Acceptable REAL ID alternatives include:
- A U.S. passport or passport card
- Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or other trusted traveler card issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
- A permanent resident card
- A border crossing card
- A Veteran Health Identification card
- A photo ID issued by a federally recognized tribal nation, including Enhanced Tribal Cards
- A USCIS Employment Authorization card
If you don't have any of those alternatives, you'll have to go through an additional screening process. In addition to the extra $45 fee, expect the process to take longer than it would normally. That means showing up earlier than usual to make sure the additional screening doesn't cause you to miss your flight.
Get more insurance tips and other personal finance insights straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our daily newsletter, A Step Ahead.
Related content
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Rachael Green is a personal finance eCommerce writer specializing in insurance, travel, and credit cards. Before joining Kiplinger in 2025, she wrote blogs and whitepapers for financial advisors and reported on everything from the latest business news and investing trends to the best shopping deals. Her bylines have appeared in Benzinga, CBS News, Travel + Leisure, Bustle, and numerous other publications. A former digital nomad, Rachael lived in Lund, Vienna, and New York before settling down in Atlanta. She’s eager to share her tips for finding the best travel deals and navigating the logistics of managing money while living abroad. When she’s not researching the latest insurance trends or sharing the best credit card reward hacks, Rachael can be found traveling or working in her garden.
-
Ask the Editor: IRAs, 401(k)s and RMDsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, Joy Taylor answers questions on IRAs, 401(k)s and required minimum distributions
-
Got $100 to Gamble? These Penny Stocks Could Be Worth the RideVolatile penny stocks are high-risk plays with potentially high rewards. If you have $100 you can afford to lose, these three names are worth a look.
-
Being an Executor is a Thankless Job: Do It Well AnywayYou can be a "good" executor of an estate, even though carrying out someone's final wishes can be challenging.
-
I'm an Insurance Pro: Going Without Life Insurance Is Like Driving Without a Seat Belt Because You Don't Plan to CrashLife insurance is that boring-but-crucial thing you really need to get now so that your family doesn't have to launch a GoFundMe when you're gone.
-
The Top 22 Gifts for Grandkids from Walmart in 2025From PlayStation to Labubu, you'll find the hottest gifts of 2025 for your grandkids at Walmart this year. Some of them are up to 78% off.
-
What Not to Do in an Airport LoungeBefore you settle into that cushy lounge chair, skip the rookie moves that annoy other travelers and can even get you kicked out.
-
CD vs. Money Market: Where to Put Your Year-End Bonus NowFalling interest rates have savers wondering where to park cash. Here's how much $10,000 earns in today's best CDs versus leading money market accounts.
-
Meet the World's Unluckiest — Not to Mention Entitled — Porch PirateThis teen swiped a booby-trapped package that showered him with glitter, and then he hurt his wrist while fleeing. This is why no lawyer will represent him.
-
Smart Business: How Community Engagement Can Help Fuel GrowthAs a financial professional, you can strengthen your brand while making a difference in your community. See how these pros turned community spirit into growth.
-
Smart Money Moves Savers Should Make in 2026These steps will get you on the road to achieving your 2026 savings goals.
-
How Much Would a $50,000 HELOC Cost Per Month?Thinking about tapping your home’s equity? Here’s what a $50,000 HELOC might cost you each month based on current rates.
