REAL ID Check Before You Fly: A Traveler-by-Traveler ID Worksheet

Updated October 8, 2026

Since May 7, 2025, adult passengers have needed a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable ID to fly within the U.S. Since February 1, 2026, travelers without one can pay for a backup process called TSA ConfirmID, but the fee does not guarantee verification, and delays are expected.

Check identification one traveler at a time, a week before you fly. This worksheet shows what to look for and what the backup option costs.

Scope: Domestic flights from U.S. airports. TSA’s list of acceptable IDs can change, so confirm it on TSA’s identification page before departure. Core fee, age and digital-ID details were rechecked against TSA’s official guidance on October 8, 2026. Educational information only.

Check the card itself

A REAL ID-compliant license or state ID carries a star marking, and TSA’s REAL ID page is the place to confirm what the marking looks like. Enhanced licenses and enhanced ID cards also qualify. A standard card without the marking is no longer accepted by itself at the checkpoint. TSA materials also state that a temporary paper driver’s license is not acceptable.

What else TSA accepts

You do not need a REAL ID if you carry another acceptable document. TSA materials list items such as a U.S. passport or passport card, a Trusted Traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST), a Department of Defense ID, a permanent resident card and a foreign government-issued passport. Treat that as a sample, not the full list, which is on TSA’s site.

Fill in one row per traveler

Pre-trip ID worksheet

Traveler	Age on travel date	ID you will carry	On TSA’s list?	Fix if not
Adult 1	18 or older	________	Yes / No	________
Adult 2	18 or older	________	Yes / No	________
Teen or child	Under 18	________	Check TSA	________

TSA does not ordinarily require ID for children under 18 on domestic flights. Airline rules can differ. An unaccompanied child with TSA PreCheck needs an acceptable ID to receive PreCheck screening.

What ConfirmID is and is not

TSA ConfirmID is an optional paid identity-verification process for travelers without an acceptable ID. TSA’s rollout announcement describes a $45 fee covering a 10-day travel period, paid online before the trip, with an emailed receipt to show at the checkpoint. ABC News reported that the fee is for travelers 18 and older and that verification alone could take up to 30 minutes.

It is not a guaranteed pass. According to local news coverage of TSA’s announcement, paying the fee does not guarantee verification, travelers whose identity cannot be verified may be turned away, and TSA expects longer waits for people without an acceptable ID. The official page is TSA ConfirmID.

Cost example: Three adults travel together and none has an acceptable ID. 3 × $45 = $135 for the 10-day period, plus extra time at the airport. The next table shows other combinations. If your trip is longer than 10 days, check how TSA applies the period before paying.

Four hypothetical travel groups

What ConfirmID could cost in different situations

Group	ID situation	ConfirmID fees
Family of four	Two adults with REAL ID; two children (check TSA rules for minors)	$0
Couple	One has a REAL ID; the other left the card at home	1 × $45 = $45
Three adult friends	None has a REAL ID or passport	3 × $45 = $135
Solo traveler, 8-day round trip	No acceptable ID; both flights fall inside one 10-day period	$45

TSA’s published guidance confirms that the fee also applies to travelers who have lost an ID, so a forgotten wallet falls under the same rule as a missing REAL ID. These totals assume the fee is charged per traveler and that the 10-day period covers each flight; confirm both on TSA’s page.

Digital IDs: useful, but limited

Eligible digital IDs work only at supported checkpoints. TSA reports digital-ID support at more than 250 airports; that does not mean every lane accepts every digital credential. Check the supported ID, wallet and location before departure. TSA’s mobile-ID guidance says to carry a physical ID as backup. Keep your phone charged.

If you need a REAL ID

REAL ID is issued by your state’s motor vehicle agency, and appointment availability and document requirements vary by state. Start with the agency’s website instead of waiting until the week of your trip. TSA also encourages travelers without a REAL ID to book a DMV appointment.

Common mistakes

• Checking only your own ID. A group trip fails at its weakest document.
• Treating ConfirmID as plan A. It costs money, adds time and offers no guarantee.
• Assuming a phone ID works everywhere. Support depends on the issuing state and the airport.
• Waiting for a DMV slot. Appointment availability varies, and a missed window can leave you with only the backup.

The day-before routine

1. Open your wallet and check each adult’s ID against TSA’s list.
2. Confirm expiration dates and that no card is a temporary paper copy.
3. If anyone lacks an acceptable ID, decide whether a passport, a new REAL ID or ConfirmID is the realistic fix.
4. If using ConfirmID, pay in advance and save the receipt where you can show it at the checkpoint.
5. Add time to your airport arrival plan for travelers who are using it.

The best outcome is a boring one: every adult shows an acceptable ID, and the ConfirmID page never comes up.

Sources and scope

Core TSA fee, age and digital-ID facts rechecked October 8, 2026; secondary reporting previously reviewed October 7, 2026. Rules, fees and product terms can change. Examples and worksheets are original illustrations, not individual advice or reports of personal experience.

• TSA — acceptable identification
• TSA — REAL ID
• TSA — ConfirmID
• Homeland Security Today — TSA ConfirmID rollout
• ABC News — REAL ID and the $45 ConfirmID fee
• AZFamily — TSA announces $45 fee for travelers without REAL ID
• TSA — digital ID support
• TSA — children and domestic ID requirements