As you probably know, a Real ID (or another approved form of identification) is now required to travel via plane, even for domestic flights in the United States. Now, while many people lament having to update their IDs before their expiration dates, the deadline for Real IDs was pushed back multiple times, primarily due to COVID-19.
Travelers are officially expected to have a Real ID or another acceptable ID (such as a passport), but TSA has announced a $45 fee for a “modernized alternative identity verification system” called TSA ConfirmID. The system will let people with a state license that has not been updated establish their identity at a security checkpoint for a 10-day period. The new fee will take effect on February 1, 2026.
Luckily, a Real ID is not the only accepted form of identification for travelers. Passports are a common alternative, as are permanent resident cards, passport cards, and more. Check out the full list of accepted IDs here:
- Real ID
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
If you haven’t updated your ID yet, you can do so at your local DMV. Real IDs were introduced to meet federal security standards, and are marked by a star in the corner. You can find more information about Real IDs in California here.
You can learn more about the upcoming fee and ConfirmID here.