TSA ConfirmID: Forgot Your ID? It Costs $45 Now

Forgot your ID at the airport, or still don't have a REAL ID? Since Feb. 1, 2026, travelers 18 and older who show up at a TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID, passport, or other acceptable ID can pay a $45 fee to use TSA ConfirmID (some people search it as "TSA Confirm ID"). You pay online at Pay.gov (card, bank account, PayPal, or Venmo; no cash), show the receipt at the checkpoint, and TSA tries to verify your identity. TSA says it averages 10–15 minutes but can take 30 minutes or more, and there's no guarantee TSA can verify you. One payment covers 10 days from the travel date you enter, and every adult without acceptable ID pays separately. If you haven't paid before you reach the checkpoint, you have to leave the line to pay and go to the back. Tip: TSA currently accepts listed IDs (including REAL ID licenses and passports) up to two years after they expire. Check tsa.gov/ID before you fly.

Want the full rundown? Episode 3 of Weekly Travel Report ("Japan's Fall Colors Are Running Late This Year") also covers TSA ConfirmID: [EP3 LINK]

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