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TSA to Charge $45 Fee for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting Feb. 1

December 4, 2025

The Transportation Security Administration will begin charging a $45 non-refundable fee starting February 1st for domestic air travelers aged 18 and older who arrive at airports without REAL ID-compliant identification or other approved government documents. While the REAL ID requirement was implemented in May, passengers previously could pass through security with additional screening and a written warning at no cost. The identification standard originated from security legislation passed after the September 11th terrorist attacks, requiring states to issue licenses meeting federal verification standards, though implementation has been delayed repeatedly since its original 2008 target date.

Who is affected

  • Air travelers aged 18 and older flying domestically without REAL ID-compliant licenses or acceptable alternative identification
  • The remaining 6% of passengers who do not currently use REAL ID-compliant licenses or state IDs
  • Michigan residents with older license designs (being phased out by January 2029)
  • Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
  • Department of Homeland Security

What action is being taken

  • TSA is charging a $45 fee (starting February 1) for identity verification of passengers without REAL ID
  • TSA is using the Confirm.ID system to verify identities of travelers without proper identification
  • More than 250 airports are accepting digital identification through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet

Why it matters

  • The new fee represents a significant enforcement shift in the long-delayed REAL ID implementation, moving from warnings to financial penalties to drive compliance with post-9/11 security standards. The $45 charge creates a tangible incentive for the remaining non-compliant travelers to obtain proper identification while potentially creating access barriers for those who show up unprepared. This closes a major gap in federal identification security requirements that have been delayed for over 15 years, making standardized identity verification at airports a costly reality rather than an optional suggestion.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle

TSA to Charge $45 Fee for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting Feb. 1