Starting Feb. 1, 2026, air travelers without a REAL ID or acceptable identification can pay a $45 fee to verify their identity through the new TSA ConfirmID system for a 10-day travel period.

Starting on Sunday, anyone flying domestically without a Real ID or passport will have to pay a $45 fee get through TSA.

TSA has officially introduced "ConfirmID," a new alternative identity verification system that will go into effect beginning on Feb. 1, 2026.

Here's what you should do to avoid being turned away at the gate.

The TSA said Confirm.ID procedures will vary by airport. The agency said it is working with companies to offer online payment options so travelers can pay the $45 fee before arriving at the terminal.

TSA will require airline passengers without REAL ID-compliant identification to pay a $45 identity verification fee starting Sunday, February 1.

A strategic partnership enables firms to apply KYC and identity verification within workflow-led onboarding managed

*As digital transformation accelerates across industries, one challenge remains front and center: how to balance customer convenience with strong security. An intuitive identity verification (IDV) process fosters trust and streamlines onboarding.

The tool helps organizations assess not just whether an ID is real, but whether the person can be confidently approved based on identity and risk signals.

You can pay the fee using your phone after arriving at the airport, but you'll have to leave the security queue to do so. "The payment process is not onerous, but take care of it before you get here because you're standing in line,

Beginning February 1, 2026, TSA will allow travelers without a REAL ID to fly using a new $45 identity verification option.