A new TSA policy has been implemented. With this new policy comes some new fees. That's right, folks, the new TSA policy charges passengers traveling without a REAL ID. If you haven't hopped on the REAL ID bandwagon yet or don't have another form of acceptable ID, get ready to spend some cash.
New TSA Policy Charges Passengers Without REAL ID
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It appears that the Transportation Security Administration is fed up with people no longer having acceptable forms of identification. The NY Post shares that the new TSA policy will begin charging passengers without a REAL ID. The fee will be $45 if they show up at airport checkpoints without a REAL ID or another form of acceptable identification. Another form of acceptable identification is a passport or passport card.
Previously, the amount was $18 for this fee; however, the price has now rapidly increased. The outlet shares that this new policy is going into effect starting February 1, 2026. What caused this rise in prices? Apparently, the cost of the new technology and the costs of operation were higher than initially anticipated. Ah, the cost of innovation.
Then What Happens?
So what happens if you show up at the airport without proper identification? Besides the fee, there is an entire process. First, the Post shares you need to "go online to the TSA website to complete identification steps." Afterward is when you pay the $45 fee. From there, you should receive an email confirmation that you can show at the security checkpoint.
While the estimated wait time for the process is only between 10 and 15 minutes, that is not guaranteed. Sometimes, the process can take 30 minutes or longer. Not exactly what you want to hear when making it to your flight on time is already a struggle. After the process is complete, your new confirmation will be valid for 10 days. However, TSA admits that the fee, as well as your admission through security, is not guaranteed.
While switching over your ID may seem tedious, it beats the stress and fees that come with not following this new TSA policy.
