Airline vacationers who try to go via safety checkpoints with out a Actual ID shall be topic to the Transportation Safety Administration’s new safety screening program and pay a brand new price of $45.
On Monday, the TSA introduced that passengers with out a Actual ID or different TSA-approved type of identification have the choice to confirm their identification via the modernized various identity-verification program, formally referred to as TSA Affirm.ID, starting Feb. 1, 2026.
Those that select to make use of TSA Affirm.ID shall be charged a $45 price — a rise from a beforehand introduced $18 price.
“Identification verification is important to traveler security, as a result of it retains terrorists, criminals, and unlawful aliens out of the skies and different home transportation techniques similar to rail,” mentioned Adam Stahl, appearing deputy administrator for the TSA. “The overwhelming majority of vacationers current acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, however we should guarantee everybody who flies is who they are saying they’re.”
What’s Affirm.ID?
Beginning Feb. 1, passengers arriving at U.S. airports shall be introduced with the TSA Affirm.ID choice upon reaching a TSA check-in and earlier than coming into the safety traces, in line with TSA.
“This course of will differ airport to airport, and TSA is working with personal business to proactively provide on-line cost choices previous to arrival on the airport,” in line with a press launch.
In response to a TSA announcement in the Federal Register final month, the proposed program will use a brand new biometric kiosk system to confirm identification earlier than every traveler with out a Actual ID or different acceptable type of identification is permitted to go via the TSA checkpoint.
It’s unclear whether or not the kiosks have been carried out at airports but.
“Vacationers will course of with a kiosk system that captures their biometric information and compares it to TSA’s Safe Flight watchlists,” mentioned Tom Spagnola, senior vice chairman of Accomplice Relations at CheapOair.
The approval is legitimate for 10 days, permitting passengers to journey as a lot as they need inside the 10-day interval, Spagnola mentioned.
The price for the choice identity-verification program was initially set for $18. TSA didn’t reply to The Occasions request for remark in regards to the change in worth.
Biometrics makes use of bodily traits, similar to fingerprints, facial recognition software program and retinal scans to confirm an identification. The TSA already makes use of such strategies for verifying digital IDs utilizing facial recognition software program.
How Affirm.ID may have an effect on journey
Greater than 94% of passengers at the moment use their Actual ID or different acceptable types of identification, in line with TSA.
The company expects elevated wait occasions for passengers who don’t present a suitable type of ID.
“There shall be some potential delays for vacationers who’re unaware of the price,” Spagnola mentioned. “There may very well be probably lengthy traces of vacationers ready to pay their price.”
Finally, it will likely be a way more efficient, streamlined expertise and quicker course of to finish the TSA journey as a result of the brand new biometric techniques allow touchless, paperless determine verification, he mentioned.
Why is Affirm.ID being carried out?
Affirm.ID is, “a subsequent step within the course of in REAL ID compliance, which was signed into regulation greater than 20 years in the past and eventually carried out by Secretary [Kristi] Noem as of Might 2025,” the TSA mentioned in an announcement. “TSA is working with stakeholders and companions to make sure each safety and effectivity at our checkpoints.”
The most recent program comes seven months after the TSA lastly started imposing its Actual ID deadline, with combined outcomes. Congress handed the Actual ID Act in 2005, establishing particular necessities for states issuing IDs to make them tougher to counterfeit. The regulation stems from a 9/11 Fee advice that the federal authorities set up a nationwide normal for identification. Since Might 7, vacationers who plan to board a home flight are required to point out the federally compliant Actual ID or one other accepted type of identification similar to a passport.
A whole checklist of acceptable types of identification will be discovered on the TSA web site.
