Expired passports allowed
- The TSA will allow expired passports to be used for boarding U.S. domestic flights during the Real ID transition. - The policy explicitly permits expired passports for domestic boarding as a temporary accommodation during the rollout. - The move is presented as short-term flexibility while Real ID implementation continues, according to El Cronista. (cronista.com)
The Transportation Security Administration says adults flying within the United States can still use a passport instead of a REAL ID license, but the passport must be valid at the checkpoint. (tsa.gov) That matters because the federal REAL ID requirement took effect on May 7, 2025, ending the use of standard state licenses for airport screening unless travelers bring another accepted document. (tsa.gov) TSA’s current identification list names a U.S. passport, passport card, trusted traveler cards, military IDs and some tribal IDs, and it says passengers 18 and older must show valid identification. (tsa.gov) The agency also says non-REAL ID state licenses are no longer valid for airport identification, and travelers without an accepted document can face delays, extra screening or denial at the checkpoint. (tsa.gov) Since February 1, 2026, TSA has offered a separate fallback called ConfirmID, which lets travelers without acceptable ID pay a $45 fee so the agency can try to verify identity before screening. TSA says that process is optional and does not guarantee passage through security. (tsa.gov; tsa.gov) The REAL ID law itself dates to 2005 and set federal security standards for state-issued licenses after a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission. DHS says passports remain an alternative to REAL ID for domestic flights and access to some federal facilities. (dhs.gov; dhs.gov) As of April 21, 2026, TSA’s official guidance does not show a general domestic-flight exemption for expired passports. Travelers relying on a passport should check the agency’s identification page again before leaving for the airport, because TSA says the list can change without notice. (tsa.gov)
