New TSA ID rules add fee for travelers without REAL ID

Air travelers who do not have a REAL ID–compliant driver license, state ID card, or another acceptable form of identification will soon face an added step at airport security.

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 31, passengers without a REAL ID or approved alternative will be required to pay a $45 identity-verification fee before passing through airport checkpoints operated by the Transportation Security Administration. The fee covers access to a modernized verification system known as TSA ConfirmID.

The ConfirmID verification is valid for a 10-day travel window, meaning passengers who book a return flight within that period will only need to pay the fee once.

State officials say most North Carolinians are already compliant. According to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, more than five million residents—about 58 percent—have obtained a REAL ID since the state began issuing them nearly nine years ago. DMV officials note that all driver license offices now accept walk-ins throughout the day, subject to capacity, and appointments can be booked up to seven days in advance.

Acceptable identification at TSA checkpoints includes REAL ID driver licenses or state ID cards, U.S. passports and passport cards, and Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards such as Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST.

Passengers without an acceptable ID are encouraged to pay the ConfirmID fee in advance of travel on or after Sunday, Feb. 1, and bring either a printed or electronic receipt to the airport, along with another form of identification, to present at the checkpoint.

Officials estimate that roughly 90 percent of North Carolina travelers already use a REAL ID or another approved credential. However, TSA expects longer wait times for those who do not, once ConfirmID is fully implemented.

Travelers can check whether they need a REAL ID and generate a personalized document checklist at NCREALID.gov. State officials also remind residents that a first-time North Carolina REAL ID must be obtained in person at a driver license office and cannot be issued online.