New TSA REAL ID Verification Program: What Travelers Need to Know
Starting February 1, travelers passing through airport security checkpoints without a REAL ID or passport will be subject to a $45 fee, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This fee is part of the TSA's efforts to implement the REAL ID program, requiring individuals without compliant identification to verify their identity through a biometric or biographic system before proceeding through the checkpoint. The TSA increased the fee from the initially proposed $18 to cover administrative and IT costs associated with the ID verification program, ensuring that travelers, not taxpayers, bear the expense. The agency emphasizes the need to modernize the system for safety and security.
To avoid the fee, individuals can verify their identity online at TSA.gov and pay the necessary fees once the program takes effect next year. Upon completion, they will receive an email confirmation to present to TSA officers before crossing the security checkpoint. The verification process typically takes 10 to 15 minutes, but it could extend to 30 minutes or longer. However, there is no guarantee of clearance if identity verification is unsuccessful, and individuals may be required to complete the process before proceeding through the checkpoint.
Travelers without an acceptable form of ID will be directed to complete the online verification process before rejoining the security checkpoint line. Those with lost or stolen REAL IDs or passports will also be subject to fees for verification. Once verified, the fees grant access through the TSA checkpoint for up to ten days. Subsequent travel without a REAL ID will require payment of fees again. The TSA reports that approximately 94% of travelers already possess a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification.