VIRGINIA – If you’re flying out of Virginia and don’t have a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification, there’s a new fee you should know about.
Starting Feb. 1, travelers without an acceptable form of identification will need to pay $45 for identity verification before they get to the TSA checkpoint. This fee covers a new system called TSA ConfirmID, which helps verify your identity so you can still catch your flight. Officials say the verification can be applied to a 10-day travel period, so if your return flight is within that window, you won’t have to pay twice.
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If you haven’t gotten your REAL ID yet, you can make an appointment at your local DMV to avoid the fee and potential delays.
- Besides the REAL ID, there are other forms of ID TSA accepts, including:
- Enhanced driver’s licenses or enhanced IDs issued by your state
- U.S. passports and passport cards
- Trusted traveler cards like Global Entry and NEXUS
- Military and dependent IDs
- Permanent resident cards and border crossing cards
- Photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations
The REAL ID law was signed more than 20 years ago, but it wasn’t fully enforced until May 2025. Now, more than 94% of travelers already use a REAL ID or other acceptable ID. If you don’t, expect longer lines and wait times at the airport.
For more information on REAL ID, please visit TSA.gov/real-idor text 275-872 (“AskTSA”) or@AskTSA with questions.