TSA confirmID: What it is (and isn't)

If you’ve flown recently, you already know that REAL ID requirements are now part of everyday travel. Since May of 2025, adults flying domestically have needed a REAL ID–compliant driver’s license, a passport, or another TSA-approved form of identification to pass through airport security.

But what happens if you arrive at the airport without one?

Beginning February 1, 2026, TSA is officially launching a new paid identity-verification option called ConfirmID — designed for travelers who show up at the checkpoint without acceptable identification.

It’s a helpful safety net in the right situation. But it’s also something travelers should understand clearly before relying on it.

What is TSA ConfirmID?

ConfirmID is a backup identity-verification program for adult travelers (18 and over) who arrive at airport security without a REAL ID, passport, or other acceptable ID. For a $45 fee, TSA will attempt to verify your identity so you can proceed through screening and continue your trip. This option is intended for situations such as:    

• You never upgraded to a REAL ID
• Your ID was lost or stolen right before travel
• You’re waiting on a replacement license
• You forgot your wallet at home

After paying through a secure federal system, TSA attempts to confirm your identity using internal verification tools at the checkpoint. If your identity can be verified, you’ll be allowed to continue — usually with additional screening and extra processing time. If your identity cannot be verified, you may be denied access to the checkpoint and miss your flight.

One important detail: the $45 payment is valid for a 10-day travel window starting from the travel date you enter, and each adult traveler must complete it individually. Payment allows TSA to attempt verification — but it does not guarantee success.

How ConfirmID works in real life

ConfirmID is designed to be completed before you arrive at the airport whenever possible. After paying, you’ll receive a receipt that you must bring with you to the checkpoint (digital or printed). At security, travelers using ConfirmID should expect:

• A longer screening process

• Additional questioning or verification steps

• Extra time at the checkpoint — sometimes 20–30 minutes longer than normal

This is not a fast-lane option. It’s a problem-solving option.

Scenic Vacations’ Advice: 

ConfirmID Is a Backup — Not a Travel Plan

At Scenic Vacations, we’re glad this option exists. It will absolutely help travelers in emergencies. But our guidance is very clear:

ConfirmID should be treated as a backup, not a strategy.

Using it adds:

• Extra cost

• Extra time

• Extra uncertainty on departure day

The smoothest travel experience still comes from carrying proper identification. Our recommendation remains:

Plan A: REAL ID–compliant license or state ID
Plan B: Passport or passport card
Plan C: ConfirmID — only if something goes wrong

If you don’t yet have a REAL ID, upgrading your license or traveling with a passport is far easier than navigating identity verification at the airport while a flight is boarding.

When ConfirmID makes sense

ConfirmID can be extremely helpful if:

• Your ID is lost or stolen just before travel

• A last-minute emergency forces you to fly unexpectedly

• You’re waiting on replacement documents

In those situations, this program may save a trip that would otherwise be canceled. If you do need to use ConfirmID, we strongly recommend:

• Completing payment before you leave for the airport

• Bringing multiple copies of your receipt (email, screenshot, printed if possible)

• Arriving earlier than usual to allow for extra processing time

A final travel tip from Scenic Vacations

ConfirmID is a smart addition to TSA’s system, and it will help many travelers in a pinch.

But the best travel days still begin with preparation.

If you’re unsure whether your license is REAL ID–compliant — or you’re not sure what identification you’ll need for an upcoming trip — your Scenic Vacations advisor is always happy to review everything with you before you go.

Because the best vacations start long before you reach the airport.