Travelers Without REAL ID Face New Fee At Airports

Travelers planning to fly without a REAL ID-compliant identification card will now face a surcharge when passing through airport security checkpoints.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), passengers lacking proper documentation will be charged a $45 fee to use an alternative verification system effective Feb. 1.

The fee applies to a process the agency calls Confirm.ID, which is used for travelers who arrive at checkpoints without a REAL ID driver’s license, passport, or other federally accepted documentation.

The TSA stated the fee covers a travel period of up to 10 days. To mitigate potential flight delays and long lines, officials are asking travelers to pay the fee online before arriving at the airport.

“This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer,” said Adam Stahl, the senior official performing the duties of deputy administrator for TSA, in a statement recently.

Stahl said that public security remains the agency’s top priority.

“We urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights,” he added.

The federal requirement for REAL ID went into effect last May. Since then, travelers without compliant identification have been permitted to fly only after undergoing additional screening.

In Pennsylvania, PennDOT and federal officials spent much of last year urging residents to secure the credentials ahead of the spring deadline. According to PennDOT data from early last year, nearly 3 million Pennsylvanians have obtained a REAL ID.

The TSA reports that the vast majority of the flying public — more than 94% — already utilizes a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative.

How to Obtain a REAL ID

To secure a REAL ID in Pennsylvania, residents must provide:

• Proof of identity.
• Two proofs of a current physical Pennsylvania address.
• Proof of Social Security number.
• Documentation of all legal name changes (if the current name differs from the primary identity document).

Pennsylvania residents pay a one-time fee of $30 for their first REAL ID, in addition to the standard renewal fee.

The initial card’s expiration date includes the time remaining on the existing non-compliant ID plus an additional four years. PennDOT noted that subsequent renewals will only incur standard fees.

Further details regarding document requirements are available on PennDOT’s REAL ID website.