New U.S. ConfirmID travel registration

Travelers flying within the United States without a REAL ID, passport, or other accepted identification can now pay $45 for TSA ConfirmID before reaching security. (tsa.gov) The Transportation Security Administration says ConfirmID is a paid identity-check option for passengers who arrive at a checkpoint without an acceptable ID, including a state license that is not REAL ID compliant. TSA says the service is voluntary and does not guarantee that a traveler will be cleared through security. (tsa.gov; tsa.gov) TSA’s payment page says the fee applies to travel on or after February 1, and the payment is valid for 10 days from the travel start date entered on the receipt. Travelers can pay through Pay.gov with a bank account, debit card, credit card, Venmo, or PayPal, and TSA says cash is not accepted. (tsa.gov; tsa.gov) The practical point is narrow: ConfirmID is not a new document for every passenger, and it is not a replacement for a passport on international trips. It is a backup process for domestic air travelers who do not have a compliant driver’s license or another accepted ID in hand. (tsa.gov; cbp.gov) TSA says the identity-verification process takes an average of 10 to 15 minutes, but it can take 30 minutes or longer. The agency recommends paying before arriving at the airport to reduce delays at the checkpoint. (tsa.gov; tsa.gov) The rule also does not apply the same way to children. TSA says children younger than 18 do not need identification for domestic flights, though airlines can set their own rules for unaccompanied minors. (tsa.gov) Adults who already have an accepted ID do not need to use ConfirmID or pay the fee. TSA’s accepted list includes a United States passport or passport card, Department of Defense identification, Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses, and REAL ID-compliant mobile driver’s licenses and digital passport options that meet federal standards. (tsa.gov; tsa.gov) Each traveler age 18 or older without acceptable identification must complete the process separately, even if another person pays. TSA says the payer’s name does not have to match the traveler’s name, but the traveler’s legal name and travel dates must be entered correctly. (tsa.gov; tsa.gov) The agency ties ConfirmID to the broader REAL ID enforcement push, which requires compliant identification for domestic flights unless a traveler brings another accepted document such as a passport. For travelers packing for a United States flight, the simplest test is still the old one: if your ID is accepted, you ignore ConfirmID; if it is not, TSA says the $45 backup now exists. (tsa.gov; tsa.gov)