With the final phase of REAL ID enforcement looming, the Transportation Security Administration confirmed late on 27 January that passengers who show up at U.S. airport checkpoints without a REAL ID-compliant licence or other accepted identity document will have to pay US$45 to use the agency’s new “ConfirmID” alternative screening. The fee buys a one-time identity verification good for a 10-day travel window—covering most round-trips—but must be paid again for later journeys.
TSA officials say ConfirmID uses biometric kiosks, database queries and sworn affidavits to establish identity when primary documents are missing, and that the fee ensures the extra cost is borne by non-compliant travelers rather than taxpayers. The agency stressed that paying the fee does not guarantee clearance; if identity cannot be authenticated the traveller will be denied boarding.
The announcement, less than a week before full REAL ID enforcement begins on 7 May 2026, is a wake-up call for employers with frequent domestic travelers and assignees. Mobility managers should audit staff licences now—especially new hires who may still hold non-compliant IDs issued during pandemic extensions—and budget for potential reimbursement of the fee for unavoidable last-minute trips. Travel arrangers should also note the 10-day validity: a two-week project trip could trigger double charges.
![TSA to Impose US$45 ‘ConfirmID’ Fee for Travelers Lacking REAL ID from 1 February]()
For travelers who decide to rely on their passports rather than navigate last-minute REAL ID renewals, VisaHQ can streamline the process of obtaining new or expedited U.S. passports and any accompanying visas. Their user-friendly portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) offers clear checklists, live support, and corporate account tools, helping mobility teams ensure employees have compliant documents well before they reach the checkpoint.
Airport operators expect initial confusion similar to early ESTA roll-outs. CLEAR and airline lounge staff are preparing signage, while DMV offices report a spike in renewal appointments. Advising assignees to carry a passport as backup remains best practice.
International assignees should remember that a foreign passport plus valid U.S. visa or I-94 print-out already satisfies TSA ID rules, so the fee primarily affects U.S. citizens without updated state IDs. Nevertheless, given the optics of paying to board, companies may face employee-relations issues if policies are not clearly communicated.
TSA officials say ConfirmID uses biometric kiosks, database queries and sworn affidavits to establish identity when primary documents are missing, and that the fee ensures the extra cost is borne by non-compliant travelers rather than taxpayers. The agency stressed that paying the fee does not guarantee clearance; if identity cannot be authenticated the traveller will be denied boarding.
The announcement, less than a week before full REAL ID enforcement begins on 7 May 2026, is a wake-up call for employers with frequent domestic travelers and assignees. Mobility managers should audit staff licences now—especially new hires who may still hold non-compliant IDs issued during pandemic extensions—and budget for potential reimbursement of the fee for unavoidable last-minute trips. Travel arrangers should also note the 10-day validity: a two-week project trip could trigger double charges.
For travelers who decide to rely on their passports rather than navigate last-minute REAL ID renewals, VisaHQ can streamline the process of obtaining new or expedited U.S. passports and any accompanying visas. Their user-friendly portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) offers clear checklists, live support, and corporate account tools, helping mobility teams ensure employees have compliant documents well before they reach the checkpoint.
Airport operators expect initial confusion similar to early ESTA roll-outs. CLEAR and airline lounge staff are preparing signage, while DMV offices report a spike in renewal appointments. Advising assignees to carry a passport as backup remains best practice.
International assignees should remember that a foreign passport plus valid U.S. visa or I-94 print-out already satisfies TSA ID rules, so the fee primarily affects U.S. citizens without updated state IDs. Nevertheless, given the optics of paying to board, companies may face employee-relations issues if policies are not clearly communicated.
