With the national REAL ID requirement for domestic travel in full swing, a new exception has emerged. As of February 1, 2026, TSA will be implementing Confirm ID. Confirm ID is an identity verification service offered to passengers as an alternative to providing a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification.

REAL ID was developed in May 2005. It establishes minimum standards for identity verification during state license issuance and was made mandatory for domestic flights in May 2025. Alternative identification documentation with similar or more stringent requirements are still being accepted in place of a REAL ID. These include a U.S. Passport, Department of Defense ID, Tribal ID, and now, Confirm ID.

Confirm ID will cost $45 per occurrence. The fee does not bypass identity verification; it covers the cost of the additional verification at the airport or up to 10 days prior to a domestic departure. TSA estimates this service will be 10-15 minutes but disclaims that the process can take 30 minutes or more.

Read more about it at About TSA ConfirmID | Transportation Security Administration.