ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Still don’t have a REAL ID? Be prepared to pay a fee at the airport.
RELATED: Fliers without a compliant ID will have to pay TSA $45 next year (Dec. 1, 2025)
Starting Sunday, the Transportation Security Administration will start charging travelers 18 or older a non-refundable fee of $45 if they don’t have an acceptable from of ID, like a passport or REAL ID.
The TSA originally proposed an $18 charge for people without REAL ID’s, but it was raised as officials say they realized the alternative identification program would cost more than expected.
According to TSA officials, paying the fee doesn’t guarantee verification, and people’s identities who can’t be verified might be turned away. If approved, the verification covers a 10-day travel period.
The fee can be paid online before getting to the airport, or people can pay online at the airport before getting into the security line. According to officials, the process could take up to 30 minutes.
More than 250 airports in the United States accept digital IDs through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet.
More related stories
- Good Question: Difference between enhanced driver’s license and REAL ID (April 2025)
- Travelers without REAL ID can fly for now, but may experience some delays (May 2025)
- Lines at Rochester airport still moving smoothly after REAL ID requirement takes effect (May 2025)
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