Travelers who show up at U.S. airport checkpoints without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other acceptable identification will soon be able to prove their identity—at a price. The Transportation Security Administration confirmed on January 22 that its new “ConfirmID” service will launch nationwide on February 1, 2026, with a $45 fee payable via Pay.gov.
Under ConfirmID, passengers provide biographical details at the checkpoint. TSA officers then run database checks to confirm identity and issue a printed receipt good for travel for up to ten days. The agency cautions that verification is not guaranteed, and users should arrive early; Albany International Airport, which piloted the program, said screenings can take up to 30 minutes longer.
For anyone still missing a compliant ID, services like VisaHQ can help bridge the gap. The company offers expedited U.S. passport renewals, assists with second passports and provides step-by-step guidance on the documents that meet REAL ID standards, all handled online through its portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/).
![TSA to charge $45 ConfirmID fee for passengers without REAL ID starting Feb 1]()
TSA says the fee shifts the cost of additional vetting to non-compliant travelers rather than taxpayers. The agency reports that 94 percent of U.S. flyers already present REAL ID or passport credentials; at Albany the figure is 98 percent. Still, the policy affects millions of occasional travelers and expatriates who may not yet have upgraded IDs.
For mobility managers, the change is another compliance checkpoint. Companies should remind relocating employees, short-term assignees and frequent visitors to secure REAL ID licenses or carry passports for domestic trips. Travel expense policies may need updating to address whether the $45 ConfirmID charge is reimbursable.
REAL ID enforcement technically began on May 7, 2025, but TSA had allowed an “education period” with warning notices. ConfirmID marks the transition to a penalty phase—pay or potentially miss your flight.
Under ConfirmID, passengers provide biographical details at the checkpoint. TSA officers then run database checks to confirm identity and issue a printed receipt good for travel for up to ten days. The agency cautions that verification is not guaranteed, and users should arrive early; Albany International Airport, which piloted the program, said screenings can take up to 30 minutes longer.
For anyone still missing a compliant ID, services like VisaHQ can help bridge the gap. The company offers expedited U.S. passport renewals, assists with second passports and provides step-by-step guidance on the documents that meet REAL ID standards, all handled online through its portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/).
TSA says the fee shifts the cost of additional vetting to non-compliant travelers rather than taxpayers. The agency reports that 94 percent of U.S. flyers already present REAL ID or passport credentials; at Albany the figure is 98 percent. Still, the policy affects millions of occasional travelers and expatriates who may not yet have upgraded IDs.
For mobility managers, the change is another compliance checkpoint. Companies should remind relocating employees, short-term assignees and frequent visitors to secure REAL ID licenses or carry passports for domestic trips. Travel expense policies may need updating to address whether the $45 ConfirmID charge is reimbursable.
REAL ID enforcement technically began on May 7, 2025, but TSA had allowed an “education period” with warning notices. ConfirmID marks the transition to a penalty phase—pay or potentially miss your flight.
