Airline travel without a REAL ID will cost $45
From the Allegany County Clerk’s Office,
Beginning February 1, 2026, the TSA will officially begin enforcing the REAL ID requirement for all U.S. domestic flights. This means that every traveler 18 and older will need a REAL ID–compliant driver’s license or ID card to board a domestic flight.
If you are planning to fly, but have not upgraded your license, beginning February 1st, it will cost you!
Right now, travelers without a REAL ID may be subject to additional screening before being allowed through secure checkpoints. However, beginning February 1, 2026, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID will be required to pay a $45 fee to use the TSA’s alternative identity verification system, called TSA ConfirmID. According to TSA, this fee covers a 10-day travel period and can be paid online in advance to reduce airport delays.
According to TSA officials, noncompliant travelers who use the new Confirm.ID process should plan to pay the fee and upload their documents through a TSA web portal, which will go online soon, before they arrive at the airport. Those travelers should bring a copy of their Confirm.ID receipt to the standard TSA line and should be able to proceed through the security checkpoint normally after presenting their noncompliant documents and proof of completing the Confirm.ID process.
Alternatively, travelers who do not complete Confirm.ID in advance will have the option of completing it at the airport. TSA officials generally expect ID verification to take 10 to 15 minutes on average but could take up to 30 minutes. For more information on ConfirmID visit: www.tsa.gov/tsaconfirm-id.
If you do not have a REAL ID, a list of acceptable alternatives can be found at www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.
If you are planning a visit to the DMV to upgrade your license to Real or Enhanced, it is important to be prepared. Be sure you have all required documents with you. You will need one proof of identity (passport or U.S. birth certificate), two proofs of New York residency, your social security card and a current driver’s license. If you have been married, we will need a certified copy of your marriage license (or divorce decree) to show your name change. Expired or outdated documents will not be accepted. Certified copies of both birth and marriage certificates are accepted.
As a reminder, Real ID compliant licenses will have a Star (for a Real) or a Flag (for an enhanced) in the upper corner. As always, we are happy to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to call us at (585) 268-9267.
Read more on this subject from recent update by former TSA supervisor Steve Sprague:
