US agency will charge $45 fee for air passengers without REAL IDs
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will charge air travelers a $45 fee starting February 1 if their IDs do not meet REAL ID standards. This fee covers travel for 10 days. TSA urges passengers to obtain REAL IDs or pay the fee before arriving at airports. The fee was increased from $18 due to higher-than-expected expenses.
WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said on Monday it will begin charging air travelers $45 on February 1 if their IDs do not meet stricter federal standards.
In May 2025, the TSA began enforcing the standards known as “REAL ID” but gave warnings and conducted enhanced screening for passengers without the new IDs. TSA officials said they would urge passengers without REAL IDs to obtain them or pay the fee before arriving at the airport. The $45 fee will cover travel for a 10-day period.
On November 20, TSA said travelers could face an $18 fee if they did not have REAL ID but officials in a briefing with reporters said that they had raised the price because expenses for the option were higher than forecast.
