Forgot your REAL ID before a domestic flight? The Transportation Security Administration says some passengers can still try to get through security without showing the card in the usual way. Since February 1, 2026, the agency has offered TSA ConfirmID, a paid identity check for travelers who arrive at the checkpoint without an acceptable ID.
That does not mean the REAL ID rule is gone. Since May 7, 2025, adults 18 and older have needed a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of identification for domestic flights under the Department of Homeland Security framework, and early 2026 data showed about 95% to 99% of travelers were already meeting that standard. In other words, this is a backup, not a repeal.
Who can use TSA ConfirmID instead of showing a REAL ID?
The option is aimed at travelers who lost their ID, forgot it, or do not have another acceptable document such as a passport when they reach security. They can pay $45 through Pay.gov, and the agency will then attempt to verify their identity. But there is an important catch, because paying the fee does not guarantee that the traveler will be cleared to continue.
The fee covers a 10-day travel window tied to the start date entered during payment, and each adult traveler without acceptable ID has to complete the process separately. The agency says the identity check “takes an average of 10-15 minutes,” though it can take 30 minutes or more. That may not sound long, but in a crowded airport line it can feel like plenty.
How the payment works and what digital ID really changes
To use the program, travelers enter their legal name and travel start date on the federal Pay.gov site, then pay with a bank account, debit card, credit card, Venmo, or PayPal. After the payment goes through, they receive an email receipt that can be shown on a phone or in printed form at the checkpoint.
There is also a second option that has caused some confusion. The agency lists Apple Digital ID, Clear ID, and Google ID pass among accepted digital identity tools, and says digital ID technology is now available at more than 250 airports. But it also says travelers should still carry a physical acceptable ID, so these digital tools look more like a convenience feature than a full replacement for a REAL ID card.
The main official information has been published by the Transportation Security Administration.
