Travelers who do not yet have Real ID may face new charge of $45 starting February 1, when the Transportation Security Administration will begin imposing the additional fee on passengers without enhanced identification to help offset the cost of extra screening.
Rather than turning travelers away at airport checkpoints, the TSA plans to subject passengers without compliant identification — such as Real ID or a passport — to additional identity screening. The program, called ConfirmID, asks passengers without Real IDs to answer a series of questions about themselves to verify their identity.
A Real ID is a federally compliant state driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver ID card, identified by a black or gold star in the upper right corner. Earlier this month, the TSA said passengers who don’t have Real IDs should plan ahead to avoid delays at airports starting Sunday, when the agency rolls out its new ConfirmID program.
“TSA ConfirmID will be an option for travelers who do not bring Real ID or another acceptable form of ID to the TSA checkpoint and still want to fly,” said senior TSA acting deputy administrator Adam Stahl in a Jan. 15 statement.
The TSA still encourages all fliers to get Real IDs, describing the fee as a backup option. “To avoid delays or missed flights, all travelers should obtain Real ID or another acceptable form of identification before heading to the airport,” Stahl said.
Experts note that the ConfirmID program could reduce the screening process for everyone, although it will help travelers without Real IDs get through security.
Here’s what you need to know more about the $45 Real ID fee, and how to avoid paying it.
Who has to pay the fee?
Anyone without a Real ID, or a form of identification that complies with Real ID — such as a passport or DHS trusted traveler card — could be on the hook for the extra charge at airport security screening checkpoints across the United States.
The TSA announced the new fee in December, saying at the time that it would apply to “all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of identification and still want to fly.”
The fee-based system validates the passenger’s identity for 10 days, according to the TSA.
The ConfirmID process varies from airport to airport, the TSA noted. The TSA has long relied on alternative methods of verifying flyers’ identities, which allow customers who, for example, lose their IDs to fly.
“It’s a policy that’s been around for a long time. What’s changed here is that now they’re charging for it,” said Julian Kheel, CEO and founder of Points Path, a travel information provider.
When do I pay the fee?
The TSA encouraged travelers to pay the fee online before arriving at the airport. The agency said it is working with third-party providers in the private sector to facilitate payment options.
If you don’t have an acceptable form of ID, visit tsa.gov/ConfirmID before you head out the door before your trip. You will receive a receipt by email, which must be presented to a TSA officer at airport security. The ConfirmID site accepts the following types of payments:
Bank account (ACH) PayPal account Venmo account Debit or credit card
Travelers who do not pay in advance may encounter delays at the airport, increasing the risk of missing their flights. Travel insurance holders should not expect their policies to cover these types of incidents, according to Kheel.
The TSA says passengers can expect the entire process to take an extra 30 minutes, and should plan accordingly.
Am I Real ID compliant?
About 94% of travelers are Real ID compliant, according to the TSA. This means they have either a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification, including a passport from any country. Kheel notes that many travelers may not be aware that they are compliant, even if they have not yet obtained Real ID.
“You may already have a Real ID replacement in your wallet and not even know it,” he said.
You can check the TSA’s full list of acceptable forms of ID to see if you may need to pay the fee.
The $45 fee is not expected to be a large revenue generator for the TSA, given the high rate of compliance with the policy. However, it ensures that the cost of identity verification is covered by the traveler, not the taxpayer, according to the TSA.
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