REAL ID, Passports and TSA ConfirmID: What to Check Before Holiday Travel

Holiday travel is when a wallet problem turns into a missed flight. If you fly often, you probably sorted your ID long ago, but it is worth a two-minute check before Thanksgiving, especially for anyone traveling with you who flies less.

The rule

TSA states that beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 or older needs a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the U.S. TSA lists a valid passport or U.S. military ID as alternatives, along with state-issued enhanced driver's licenses (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington) and federally recognized tribal photo IDs. TSA's acceptable ID list also includes DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST). Sources: TSA, REAL ID; TSA, Acceptable Identification.

Children under 18 do not need ID when traveling with a companion within the United States; the adult companion needs acceptable ID. Source: TSA, REAL ID.

What TSA ConfirmID is

If an adult arrives without acceptable ID, TSA now offers an optional identity-verification path called TSA ConfirmID, paid through Pay.gov. Key points from the official payment page:

• The fee is $45.

• The payment is valid for 10 days from the travel start date you enter. Travel after that window means paying again.

• Each traveler 18 or older without acceptable ID pays separately.

• It is not a guarantee. The page says TSA will attempt to verify your identity but "there is no guarantee TSA can do so," and travelers who do not use it may not be allowed through security.

• Bring the printed or electronic receipt to the checkpoint each time you fly in that window.

The frequent flyer checklist

1. Look for the star (or your state's REAL ID marking) on your license. If it is not there, carry your passport.
2. Check passport expiration now, not the night before. A passport is the easiest backup for a non-REAL ID license.
3. Check the ID of everyone 18 or older in your travel party, especially college students coming home.
4. If someone will not have acceptable ID in time, pay ConfirmID before you leave for the airport, set the travel start date carefully, and arrive early since verification is not guaranteed.
5. Keep a photo of your ID and passport in a secure app as a reference (not a substitute).