Shortlysts - Beginning February 1st, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration will charge air travelers a $45 fee if they arrive at airport security without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable government ID. This will apply to adults 18 and older. Minors are exempt as long as they are traveling with an adult who has proper identification.
The fee covers a ten-day period. Once a traveler pays it, they can fly during that window without an additional charge, but the payment is non-refundable. The TSA says the system replaces the earlier fallback method that relied on enhanced screening and additional questioning. Those earlier steps were time-consuming, inconsistent across airports, and cost more to run than the agency expected...
For most flyers, the change is simple: make sure your driver’s license has the REAL ID star or bring a passport. Anyone who shows up without accepted identification will have to pay $45 to continue their trip. That cost is per traveler, not per family, and it applies even if the lack of ID is accidental. The ten-day window is helpful only if the traveler has multiple flights within that span.
People who rarely fly should check their ID well before any upcoming travel, as a standard driver’s license without the required security features will not be accepted after the rule takes effect. DMVs are expected to see heavier demand as the deadline approaches and wait times may grow.
For airlines and airports, the fee is intended to reduce delays and provide TSA with a predictable way to handle noncompliant passengers. If travelers prepare ahead, airports should see fewer last-minute workarounds and shorter security slowdowns.
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