Air travelers without a REAL ID-compliant form of identification will soon have to pay a $45 fee before they can pass through security in U.S. airports.
Beginning on Feb. 1, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will charge passengers the new fee to use an alternative identity verification system called TSA Confirm.ID if they do not have an “acceptable form of identification,” the agency announced on Monday. The fee will cover up to a 10-day travel period. The TSA urges travelers to pay it online before they arrive at the airport, or expect delays.
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The TSA began requiring people to use REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other identity documents in order to fly on May 7, though people without such documents have still been permitted to fly after undergoing additional screening.
Currently, more than 94% of passengers use their REAL ID, or other acceptable forms of identification, such as a passport, according to the agency. “But,” Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA Adam Stahl said on Monday, “we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are.”
“This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer,” Stahl said in a statement accompanying the agency’s announcement. “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.”
Here’s what you need to know about the REAL ID requirements and how to make sure you can still fly fee-free next year.
What is a REAL ID, and how do I know if I have one?
A REAL ID is a driver’s license or other identity card issued by a state’s Department of Motor Vehicles in compliance with the federal REAL ID Act.
REAL IDs are designated with a symbol in the upper right corner of the driver’s license or state identification, usually with a circled white star.
The TSA advises that people check with their states’ DMV if they’re not sure if their form of identification is compliant.
The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, placed new regulations on the type of identification required to board domestic flights or enter some federal buildings. The law was drafted following a report from the 9/11 Commission that detailed recommendations for the federal government to prevent terrorist attacks moving forward. After years of delays and extensions, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirements were fully implemented earlier this year.
REAL IDs cannot be used for border crossing into Canada or Mexico, or for any other international travel.
What other forms of identification are “acceptable”?
Other acceptable forms of identification to avoid the fee include the following, according to the TSA
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-trusted traveler card, such as a Global Entry card
- U.S. Defense Department ID, including those issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- “Acceptable photo ID” issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
The TSA noted that temporary drivers’ licenses are not an acceptable form of identification.
How can I get a REAL ID?
If you don’t already have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification, visit your DMV’s website to find state-specific information about how to apply and what documentation you’ll need.
At a minimum, the TSA states that applicants must provide documentation showing a full legal name, date of birth, social security number, two proofs of address, and lawful status. Some states may impose additional requirements.
Applicants will generally be asked for a primary document, such as a valid U.S. passport, birth certificate, or Permanent Residence Card.
The cost of getting a REAL ID varies by state. Some states, such as New York, don’t charge any additional fee to get the REAL ID compared to a new or replacement driver’s license. But in others, like New Jersey, REAL IDs are more expensive to obtain than standard IDs.
Children need not worry about how to get one—people under the age of 18 aren’t required to provide identification when traveling within the United States, so they don’t need REAL IDs to fly domestically.
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