TSA Officially Launches ‘ConfirmID’ for Non-REAL ID Travelers

The TSA this week officially unveiled ConfirmID, a new modernized verification program for travelers who do not yet have a REAL ID-compliant license or passport.

Under the system, which has been in place since Feb. 1, travelers can go online to pay a $45 fee and provide basic information—such as their legal name and travel dates—to receive a digital or printed receipt. This receipt allows them to get through airport security despite having non-compliant identification.

The program is a key pillar of the TSA’s REAL ID enforcement, which moved into high gear last year. The transition has been largely successful; according to recent TSA data, between 95% and 99% of travelers now arrive at checkpoints with an approved ID. ConfirmID is specifically for those that don’t.

While the process can be completed at the airport, the TSA strongly urges travelers to finish it before leaving for their flight. Identity verification typically takes between 10 and 15 minutes, but it can stretch to 30 minutes or more in some cases, which will delay travel.

Once issued, a ConfirmID receipt is valid for a 10-day period starting from the “travel start date” entered during payment. This window is designed to cover both legs of a standard trip, preventing most travelers from having to pay the fee twice for a single vacation.

During the initial announcement of ConfirmID, officials said that the purpose of the fee is to fully recover the TSA’s costs of verifying a traveler’s noncompliant ID, costs that are currently being shouldered by the U.S. taxpayer, and will now shift to those who are noncompliant with the rules.