The TSA charges a $45 fee for passengers without a valid ID
Starting in February, travelers arriving at the airport without a valid ID can be forced to forfeit $45 to fly under a new enforcement policy at the Security Administration, or TSA.
Authorities say the rules aim to ensure that all passengers travel with their own, valid identification. In a statement announcing the rule Monday, Adam Stahl, TSA’s acting Deputy Administrator, said stricter verification keeps “terrorists, criminals and illegal aliens out of the skies.”
Starting in a few months, passengers lacking satisfactory identification will pay a fee of $45 to use one of today’s verification systems called TSA Verify.Id. Verify.Id is designed to help travelers without a real ID to face security. It is expected to take an average of 10 to 15 minutes to verify identity with Qustomer.id, although the TSA admits that the process can take up to 30 minutes.
What is the new TSA’s $45 real ID fee?
The Real ID Act of 2005 created an additional layer of identity verification for domestic travelers. However, long delays have been transferred back to the airport for many years. At one point, the TSA was supposed to start requiring real IDs in 2018, but that timeline was abandoned.
The deadline to have real ID at TSA checkpoints finally arrived last week. Until now, passengers without real IDs could still board flights; They were recently advised to budget for extra time for security.
The new fee takes effect February 1. On that day, the agency says that passengers without a real ID or another valid method will begin to pay the fee and use a verification system that is analyzed at airport checkpoints. Confirm. Id
Authorities say 94% of passengers currently use real ID or other forms of identification, such as passports. But that still leaves hundreds of thousands of commuters each week traveling without real ID — and they could soon face new fees if they don’t act quickly.
All state motor vehicle departments issue driver’s licenses with real ID or other means of age compliance. Showing a driver’s license will continue to be the easiest way for many passengers to prove their identity, while US passports and foreign passports remain acceptable forms of domestic flights.
TSA will continue to accept these types of identification:
- State-issued driver’s license (EDL) or enhanced ID (Eid)
- DHS cards are reliable
- Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent Residence Card
- Border crossing card
- Photo ID issued by a Federally Tribal Nation / Indian Tribe, including enhanced tribal cards (etc.)
- HSPD-12 PV Card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian Drivelian Drivelial Driver’s License or card for India and North Amess Affication Canada
- Transportation Worker Identification
- US PASSENGERSHIP AND US CITATIONSHIP AND IMITATION CARD CARD (I-766)
- US Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran’s Health Identification Card (Vhic)
Can you still fly without real ID?
The TSA encourages travelers without real ID to make appointments to get one through their local car door. Upgrading to a real ID often requires additional documentation and an appointment.
Passengers without real ID who choose to pay the new $45 fee will use the $45 system, which can lead to longer security wait times, according to the TSA.
“This process will vary from airport to airport, and TSA is working with the private sector to provide online payment options before arriving at the airport,” the TSA announcement said.
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