Fee for travelers without REAL ID or passport proposed by TSA

WARWICK, R.I. — Airplane passengers who show up to airport security without a REAL ID or passport could soon be charged an $18 fee under a new rule proposed by the Transportation Security Administration.

The rule, expected to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, would require travelers without the required ID to verify their identity at a new biometric kiosk system before being allowed through security. The fee would help pay for the technology and would be valid for 10 days, covering multiple trips within that window.

TSA says the new process is part of the long-planned enforcement of the REAL ID Act, which was passed in 2005 and officially implemented nationwide in May 2025. The agency says the upgraded system is meant to streamline checkpoints and modernize identity verification.

However, TSA notes that using the alternative system does not guarantee clearance. Travelers may face additional screening, delays, or could even be denied access if their identity cannot be confirmed.

It’s still unclear when the new system, and the $18 charge, will officially roll out, but the proposal will move into a public comment period once published.

Fee for travelers without REAL ID.