Mon Dec 01 17:40:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Travelers Without REAL ID Face $45 Fee at Airport Security Starting February

Washington D.C. – Starting February 1st, travelers without a REAL ID or passport will be required to pay a $45 fee to pass through airport security checkpoints, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Monday. This new fee is part of the TSA’s next phase of REAL ID implementation and aims to cover the administrative and IT costs associated with verifying the identity of travelers who lack compliant identification.

The fee, a significant increase from the previously proposed $18, was deemed necessary to modernize and ensure the safety of the system, according to Steve Lorincz, TSA’s deputy executive assistant administrator for security operations. “The fee was necessary because we needed to modernize the system. We needed to make sure that the system is safe,” Lorincz told ABC News. The TSA emphasizes that the fee will be borne by travelers, not taxpayers.

Travelers without a REAL ID can visit TSA.gov to begin the online verification process and pay the fee. Once complete, travelers will receive an email confirmation to present to TSA officers at the checkpoint. The agency estimates the process will take between 10 and 15 minutes, but could potentially extend to 30 minutes or longer.

However, the TSA cautions that completing the online verification and paying the fee does not guarantee passage through security. “We still need to go through the process to make sure that we verify who you are. And for whatever reason, if we can’t do that, then you can’t go through the process,” Lorincz explained. Travelers who arrive at the checkpoint without acceptable ID will be directed to complete the online verification process before rejoining the line. The fee also applies to those with lost or stolen REAL IDs or passports.

Once verified and the fee paid, travelers gain access through TSA checkpoints for a period of ten days. Subsequent travel without a REAL ID will require another fee payment.

The TSA reports that approximately 94% of travelers already utilize a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification. This new policy is expected to impact the remaining 6% and aims to ensure consistent and secure identity verification for all air travelers.

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