Spring travel is going to be more expensive for fliers who don’t yet have a REAL ID.
Americans flying in the U.S. without a REAL ID are going to be charged a $45 fee starting in February, according to an announcement made Monday by the Transportation Security Administration.
The updated ID has been a requirement since May, though passengers without it have so far been allowed to clear security with additional screening and a warning. According to statistics cited by the Department of Homeland Security, 94% of passengers are already compliant. The new fee, they said, is intended to encourage travelers to obtain the ID.
REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that meets enhanced requirements mandated in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Obtaining the ID — indicated by a white star in a yellow circle in most states — means taking more documents to the motor vehicle agency than most states require for regular IDs.
The Associated Press reported that, beginning Feb. 1, travelers 18 and older flying domestically without a REAL ID and who don’t have another accepted form of ID, such as a passport, will pay the non-refundable fee to verify their identity through TSA’s alternative “Confirm.ID” system.
TSA officials said that paying the fee does not guarantee verification, and travelers whose identities cannot be verified may be turned away, according to the AP report. If approved, however, the verification covers a 10-day travel period.
The fee can be paid online before arriving at the airport. Travelers can also pay online at the airport before entering the security line, but officials said the process may take up to 30 minutes. Other acceptable forms of ID include military IDs, permanent resident cards and photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations. TSA also accepts digital IDs through platforms such as Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet at more than 250 airports in the U.S.
