Guide
What ID you need to fly within the United States
To board a domestic flight in the United States you need identification that TSA accepts. Since 7 May 2025 that has meant a REAL ID-compliant licence, a passport or another approved document — and since 1 February 2026, if you turn up without one, there is a paid process rather than a simple wave-through.
On this page
The short answer
Bring a valid US passport if you have one. It is accepted everywhere, it never depends on which state issued it, and it removes the entire question. If you are using a driver's licence, check it has the compliance marking — usually a star in the top corner.
What TSA accepts at the checkpoint
- A state-issued driver's licence or ID card that is REAL ID compliant
- A valid US passport or passport card
- A DHS trusted traveler card — Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST (see TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry)
- A US Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- A permanent resident card, a foreign government-issued passport, and a range of other documents on TSA's list
TSA publishes the full list and updates it, so check the TSA identification page if your document is not obviously on this list.
What happens if you do not have compliant ID
Since 1 February 2026, TSA has offered an alternative identity verification process called ConfirmID, at a fee of $45. The important details:
- It is optional, not a substitute for getting a REAL ID.
- The payment covers 10 days from the travel date on the receipt, which can cover a return trip but is not a lasting solution.
- TSA says there is no guarantee it can verify your identity. If it cannot, you may not be allowed through security.
- TSA recommends paying in advance on Pay.gov and says the process can take up to 30 minutes, so allow extra time.
Source: TSA press release, 15 January 2026 and TSA ConfirmID FAQs.
Children and minors
TSA does not require identification from passengers under 18 travelling within the United States. The exception TSA notes is a child flying alone in a PreCheck lane, who must show acceptable ID to get PreCheck screening. That said:
- The airline may have its own requirement, particularly to prove the age of an infant travelling free on a lap, or a child travelling on a discounted fare. A birth certificate copy is the usual evidence.
- A child travelling alone under an unaccompanied minor programme has separate paperwork requirements, and the adults at both ends will need photo ID.
- For international travel every passenger needs a passport regardless of age.
If your ID is lost or stolen before a flight
Do not assume the trip is over. Since 1 February 2026, a passenger who cannot present an acceptable ID uses TSA ConfirmID, described above: pay the $45 fee, ideally in advance, and TSA then attempts to verify your identity at the checkpoint before additional screening. TSA says using it is voluntary, but without it and without acceptable ID you may not be allowed through security.
Arrive very early, bring anything that helps establish identity — a credit card, a work badge, a prescription bottle, a police report if there is one — and be prepared for it to take time.
Names have to match
The name on your boarding pass has to match the name on your identification. This is the single most common avoidable problem we see, and it usually appears when someone books under a shortened first name, or leaves off a middle name that appears on the document, or books in a maiden name after a change.
Minor discrepancies are often tolerated at the checkpoint, but "often" is not a plan and the decision rests with the officer on the day. If your ticket and your ID do not match, get it corrected before you travel — see wrong name on your ticket.
Practical checklist
- Check your licence for the compliance marking now, not at the airport.
- If it is not compliant, book a DMV appointment. Waiting times can be long, and each $45 ConfirmID payment covers only 10 days of travel, so it stops being cheap quickly.
- If you already hold a passport, take it and stop worrying about the licence.
- Check the name on the booking matches the document, well before departure.
- If anyone in your party is using ConfirmID, pay in advance and allow up to 30 minutes extra.
Common questions
Can I still fly without a REAL ID?
Yes, but only with another accepted document such as a passport or a trusted traveler card, or by paying the $45 TSA ConfirmID fee and passing the identity verification. Without one of those you will not be allowed through the checkpoint.
How much is the fee and how long does it last?
It is $45, introduced on 1 February 2026, and the payment covers 10 days from the travel date on the receipt. TSA says there is no guarantee it can verify your identity.
Do children need ID to fly domestically?
TSA does not require identification for passengers under 18 on domestic flights. Your airline may still ask for proof of age, especially for infants and discounted child fares, and a child flying alone needs ID to use a PreCheck lane.
Does a REAL ID work for international travel?
No. A REAL ID licence is for domestic flights and federal facilities. International travel needs a passport.
Is a passport card enough?
For domestic flights, yes. For international air travel you need the full passport book; the card is limited to land and sea entry from a small number of countries.
My ID expired last month. Will TSA take it?
TSA currently says it accepts expired ID up to two years after expiration for the forms of identification on its acceptable ID list. That policy can change, so check the TSA identification page before you travel.
General information about US screening rules, not legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm with TSA before you travel.