TSA offers costly fix for travel problem affecting 16 million | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

An estimated 91% of Americans want to travel in 2026, according to a survey conducted by Marriott Bonvoy. Unfortunately, some of them are going to have a harder time flying than others.

In fact, millions have a big problem when it comes to getting on a plane. Fortunately, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has just announced a solution to that problem — but it’s a costly one that won’t work for everyone.

Here are some details about the travel problem affecting 16 million Americans, along with the TSA’s plan for addressing it.

Millions of travelers may not be ready for a TSA screening requirement to board a plane.

Jim Lambert/Shutterstock

About 16 million Americans have a big travel problem

The travel issue plaguing millions of Americans results from the personal identification that’s now necessary to get on a plane. Specifically, Real ID became mandatory on May 7, 2025, even for domestic flights.

This happened because, back in 2005, Congress passed a new law requiring a digital identification system that would improve security after the terrorist attacks on September 11.

Under the new law, there are a lot more requirements to get a driver’s license or state-issued ID, which is considered a Real ID. Those requirements include:

Verifying your full legal name
Providing your Social Security number
Providing proof of residency
Showing you are in the state legally (have lawful status)

Unfortunately, an estimated 6% of Americans don’t have a Real ID, according to the News-Press.

Since the U.S. Census Bureau reported there were approximately 267 million adults in the U.S. who are age 18 or over, this means somewhere around 16 million adults in the U.S. lack the necessary ID to fly.

TSA introduces a fix for Real ID problem affecting millions

The TSA is now offering a solution for those who want to fly without a Real ID. The solution is called ConfirmID.

According to the TSA, “Passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID (including non-REAL ID compliant state-issued identification) at TSA checkpoints may verify their ID using TSA ConfirmID, TSA’s modernized alternative identity verification option.”

How does the TSA’s solution work, and what does it cost?

According to the TSA:

Passengers have to pay a $45 fee to use ConfirmID.
Travelers who lose their Real ID or other acceptable form of identification can use TSA ConfirmID.
Passengers are encouraged pay for ConfirmID before going to the airport. While you can do it at the airport if you have to, confirming your identity takes around 10 to 15 minutes, and could sometimes take as long as 30 minutes.
ConfirmID is valid for 10 days, and if you fly outside that window, you have to go through the process again.

You can visit Pay.gov to complete your form and pay for ConfirmID online. You’ll need to print a hard copy of your document or come prepared with an electronic copy when you travel.

More Airlines:

You are not required to do this, but you take a big risk if you don’t, the TSA website says. “Using TSA ConfirmID is voluntary. If you choose not to use it and don’t have an acceptable ID, you may not be allowed through security and could miss your flight.”

The TSA also warns, “If you don’t have an acceptable ID and haven’t paid the fee [for ConfirmID], you must leave the line to pay. After you finish the process, you must go to the end of the line for security screening and be prepared to present your receipt.”

Remember, you pay the $45 fee each time you travel outside of the 10-day window through which ConfirmID is valid. To avoid this fee, consider getting a Real ID.