The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced it will begin charging air travelers a $45 fee starting February 1 if they do not have REAL ID-compliant identification.

The fee is aimed at encouraging travelers to obtain REAL IDs, which meet stricter federal standards for identification.

The big picture: Beginning in May 2025, TSA will fully enforce the REAL ID requirements, with travelers lacking these IDs currently facing warnings and enhanced screening. • The $45 fee will cover a period of 10 days of air travel and is nonrefundable. • TSA officials said the fee was raised from an earlier proposed $18 due to higher-than-expected costs for the screening option.

Go deeper: Travelers may need up to 30 minutes to pay the fee at the airport if they haven’t paid in advan

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