Key Points
- Starting February 1, travelers without a Real ID or passport must pay a $45 fee to pass TSA checkpoints.
- The fee covers the cost of technology and administration for identity verification, and grants access for up to 10 days.
- This new fee is significantly higher than the previously proposed $18, reflecting the need for system modernization.
Summary
The TSA announced that, beginning February 1, travelers who do not have a Real ID or passport will be required to pay a $45 fee to have their identities verified at airport security checkpoints. The fee, which covers up to 10 days of access, is intended to offset technology and administrative expenses for alternative verification. This amount is much higher than the initially proposed $18 fee and is part of efforts to modernize and secure the TSA’s identity verification system.