Have you ever reached the front of an airport security line only to realize your ID is buried at the bottom of your bag? That small moment of panic may soon fade for many passengers in the United States. Starting in spring 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to let eligible TSA PreCheck travelers verify their identity with a facial scan instead of handing over a physical document.
The system, known as TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, uses biometric cameras at security checkpoints to compare a live image of each traveler with a passport photo already stored in government systems.
When the match is confirmed, the traveler can walk through without showing a boarding pass or driver license. TSA says the process is voluntary and still recommends that people carry a physical ID as backup in case the technology is unavailable or glitches.
What changes at TSA checkpoints in 2026
Until now, Touchless ID has only been available at a small group of airports, including hubs such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle and San Francisco. In a recent expansion plan, TSA said the program will move from a limited trial to a standard feature in 65 airports nationwide, adding 50 new locations on top of the roughly 15 that already have the lanes in place.
The rollout focuses on high-traffic destinations where long security lines are almost a daily routine. Cities like Miami, Orlando, Boston, Dallas and Houston are among those prioritized, a move that also lines up with expected crowds for the 2026 World Cup hosted in North America.
How the Touchless ID system actually works
On the surface, the process looks simple. A PreCheck traveler who has opted in walks up to a dedicated Touchless ID lane, pauses for a moment while a camera captures their face and then continues toward the X-ray machines once a green light confirms the match. Behind the scenes, facial-comparison software checks the live image against passport or visa photos already held by federal agencies.
According to the TSA, the camera only checks whether the person in front of it matches an existing government photo rather than building a new permanent profile. Officials say the images and associated data are encrypted, used first to verify identity and then deleted within roughly one day of the flight. In public fact sheets, the agency stresses that the photos are “not used for law enforcement or surveillance” and are removed soon after departure.
Where and who can use it
For now, Touchless ID is limited to travelers who already pay for TSA PreCheck, a trusted traveler program that offers lighter screening. They also need an active frequent flier profile with a participating airline and a valid passport uploaded to that profile. Only then will a small Touchless ID label appear on their digital boarding pass, signaling that they can use the special lane.
The list of airports is growing quickly, from early adopters like Atlanta and San Francisco to new additions such as Miami, Boston, Orlando and several Texas and California hubs. In total, the TSA expects 65 airports across the country to offer the biometric lanes by late spring, covering many of the routes used for major sports events and summer vacations.
Why TSA says this makes flying easier
Anyone who has crawled through a security line during a holiday weekend knows how much time disappears while people dig for wallets, unfold documents and fumble with phone screens. By removing those steps, TSA and partner airlines say a typical Touchless ID check takes around ten seconds per traveler.
That may not sound like much, yet over hundreds of passengers it can shave minutes off waits and free officers to focus on spotting real threats instead of squinting at worn plastic cards.
The agency also argues that the technology reduces human error in identity checks and provides a more consistent process across airports. Industry groups that represent airlines and travel companies often echo that view and warn that strict limits on facial recognition could lengthen lines at already crowded checkpoints.
Privacy questions and what critics fear
Privacy advocates see the same cameras very differently. In a statement supporting the Traveler Privacy Protection Act, the American Civil Liberties Union argued that “there is no proof that this invasive technology meaningfully makes us safer” and warned of the risks of tracking, misidentification and discrimination.
Experts also worry about what happens when a system like this becomes routine. They caution that normalizing face scans at airport checkpoints could make it easier to roll similar tools into shopping malls, stadiums or city streets and they highlight that TSA rules already allow some sharing of traveler information with agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Past incidents, including a Department of Homeland Security contractor breach that exposed traveler images, fuel doubts about whether any database of faces can ever be entirely secure.
What travelers should do now
For most passengers, the change will feel more like a tweak than a revolution. If you qualify for TSA PreCheck and fly often through one of the participating airports, Touchless ID could mean shorter lines, a little less stress in that early morning rush and one less thing to juggle while you take off your belt or shoes. If you rarely fly or prefer not to have your face scanned, you can simply keep using the standard PreCheck lane.
The key point is that the program remains optional, and TSA says travelers can opt out at any time by asking for a regular ID check at the podium. In practical terms, that means you can test the faster lane on one trip and go back to handing over your license on the next if it does not feel right for you.
The main official announcement about TSA PreCheck Touchless ID has been published by the Transportation Security Administration.
