The Transportation Security Administration will charge passengers a $45 fee starting Feb. 1, 2026, for arriving at airport checkpoints without proper ID.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will start offering travelers without acceptable identification the option to pay a $45 fee for identity verification starting February 1, 2026. The new system is called TSA Confirm.

The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register Thursday and is now undergoing a public comment period before it can be made permanent.

Starting Feb. 1, travelers who do not present acceptable identification and still want to fly will be given an option to pay a $45 fee to use “TSA Confirm.ID”,

If you haven't flown since last Thanksgiving, the rules are different in 2025, from IDs to new restrictions on what can be in checked luggage.

It's not exactly easy keeping up with TSA's ever-evolving rules, but if you're traveling internationally, some things get a whole lot easier.

If you’re going the carry-on route, the TSA advises you to be sure the ice or gel packs keeping your food cold are still solid before going through security, or you’ll run afoul of size limitations on liquids. You can also bring cooked meat, seafood and vegetables onto your flight in your purse or backpack, the TSA says.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced that it will refer all passengers without a REAL ID to a new system, TSA Confirm.ID, to pay a $45 fee for identity verification. The good news is that most travelers have obtained an approved REAL ID since the new rules went into effect in 2025.