A new rule proposed by the Transportation Security Administration could result in passengers facing an $18 fee for not having a REAL ID or passport at checkpoints, ABC News reports.
The proposed rule, which is set to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday (November 20), would see travelers without the required identification have their identity verified on a new biometric kiosk system before being cleared to go through the checkpoint. An $18 fee allowing passengers to gain access to TSA checkpoint for 10 days will fund the new technology, though it’s unclear when exactly the new system and fee would be implemented.
The agency said that while TSA plans to use “modernized alternative identity verification program” to verify the identity of a person without a REAL ID or passport, it won’t guarantee “that an individual’s identity will be verified or that the individual will be provided access to the sterile area of the airport,” according to the notice.
The REAL ID Act was initially passed by the U.S. Congress in 2005 after being recommended by the 9/11 Commission in order to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” but had been delayed for 20 years before finally being enforced in May 2025.
“This notice serves as a next step in the process in REAL ID compliance, which was signed into law more than 20 years ago and finally implemented by Secretary [Kristi] Noem as of May 2025. TSA is working with stakeholders and partners to ensure both security and efficiency at our checkpoints. Additional guidance will be announced in the coming days,” a TSA spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News regarding the new identity verification fee.
U.S. citizens can get REAL IDs from their state’s driver’s licensing agencies and are advised to check the agencies’ websites to determine the exact requirements.
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