• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will charge a $45 fee starting February 1 for travelers without a REAL ID.
• The fee enables travelers to use a biometric identity verification program known as TSA Confirm.ID.
• Currently, about 94% of air travelers already comply with the REAL ID requirements.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that beginning on February 1, air travelers in the United States who do not present a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification will be required to pay a $45 fee for identity verification through a new alternative system called TSA Confirm.ID. This fee is implemented as part of the TSA's ongoing efforts to encourage compliance with the REAL ID requirements established after the September 11 attacks, with about 94% of passengers already using compliant identification, according to ABC News, The Hill, and NPR.

Travelers without a REAL ID will need to participate in the TSA Confirm.ID process to verify their identity at security checkpoints. This includes answering biometric questions or using biometric kiosks to confirm their identity. The TSA warns that the process varies by airport and could result in delays, with the agency encouraging passengers to pay the $45 fee online ahead of time to expedite their journey through security, as stated by CBS News and Reuters.

The $45 fee allows travelers access to the TSA Confirm.ID system for a 10-day travel period. This correction follows an earlier proposal which suggested an $18 fee, but costs associated with the verification system exceeded expectations, leading to the increase, as reported by Los Angeles Times, SFGate, and Business Insider.

Travelers will be allowed to clear security using an acceptable form of ID—including passports, military IDs, and permanent resident cards—without incurring the fee. However, those who do not comply with these requirements and attempt to fly may face increased wait times and the risk of being turned away due to inability to verify their identity, as emphasized by Los Angeles Times, and SFGate.