Domestic air travel in the United States just got a lot more serious about identity. As of 2025, the Transportation Security Administrationhas fully implemented the REAL ID Act and introduced an alternative verification system for those who arrive without a compliant ID. If you think skipping the ID check is a harmless gamble, think again: you could end up paying a fee, face extra screening, or even be turned away and denied boarding.

In this article, we will explain exactly what “not having a valid ID” now means at TSA, what might happen if you attempt to fly without one, and how you can avoid trouble. We’ll trace the evolution of ID enforcement, clarify what counts (and what doesn’t), walk you through real-world examples of what happens when travelers show up underprepared, and, crucially, give you practical advice for future trips.

REAL ID Enforcement Has Finally Arrived

Since the post-9/11 era, the REAL ID Act has been on the books but repeatedly delayed. That changed on 7 May 2025, when TSA began nationwide enforcement. From that date, state-issued driver’s licenses or photo IDs needed one specific feature to be valid for air travel: a special symbol, usually a star in the upper right corner, according to VisaVerge.

If your license lacks that star (or equivalent marking), it’s no longer acceptable as ID at TSA checkpoints, at least not without an acceptable alternative. Basically, what once passed for “just a normal driver’s license” is now often considered invalid for domestic flights. That may sound like a minor detail, but the stakes are high because once enforcement began, noncompliant IDs triggered a cascade of potential consequences.

What Counts (And What Doesn’t) As Valid ID

TSA’s list of acceptable IDs is now stricter, but also fairly broad, so you should be prepared. Acceptable IDs for domestic flights within the US now include the following:

• REAL ID-compliant state licenses/IDs
• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL/EID)
• US passport or passport card,
• DHS “Trusted Traveler” cards (like Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI)
• US military IDs (active/retired, or dependents)
• Permanent resident cards
• Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• And other federally recognized photo IDs.

The complete list is available on the TSA website. Please check the website before boarding the flight, as rules may change without notice.

TSA also allows, but only under certain conditions, so-called mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) or digital IDs, provided they’re issued by a state approved for TSA use.

That said, many forms of ID that travelers once assumed were fine are now invalid. Standard state licenses without the REAL ID marking, temporary paper licenses, and generic membership or campus cards (e.g., store cards) are not acceptable. If you’re 18 or older, you are expected to present one of these valid IDs at security – without exception. But if you’re under 18, you are not required to provide identification when traveling within the US. You should contact your airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18, as per US LAW.

The same strict identification rules apply to non-US citizens traveling within the US. You should provide either one of the US-issued documents from the approved list, a Canadian-issued ID from the approved list, or your international travel passport issued by your country.

What Happens If You Don’t Have A Valid ID?

So, you show up at the airport with a noncompliant license or no acceptable ID at all. What will happen then? TSA still offers a fallback: an identity-verification process that may allow you to proceed. That might involve answering personal questions (name, address, background), or, under the new system, using technology-based verification.

However, this alternative route comes at a cost. As of November 2025, TSA introduced the Modernized Alternative Identity Verification Program. Travelers opting for it must pay an $18 non-refundable fee, which, if their identity is successfully verified, grants up to 10 days of airport access, as The Washington Post reported.

But there’s an important caveat: paying the fee does not guarantee you’ll get clearance. If TSA cannot confirm your identity through this process, you may still be denied access to the secure area and, by extension, denied boarding.

Even if identity is verified, expect disruptions such as additional screening, longer lines, bag checks, possible pat-downs, or biometric scans. Many travelers who hoped to “wing it” with a standard license or no ID at all now find themselves stuck. Some have shared their experiences online on Reddit:

“Non-REAL-ID State IDs are just treated like a Costco Membership … not a valid ID, but still better than no ID.”

In other words, skipping ID is no longer a small gamble. It’s a serious financial, logistical, and access risk.

Recent Update: The New $18 Fee And Biometric Check

The shift that really turned heads came in November 2025, when TSA formalized its alternative-verification program by publishing the fee requirement in the Federal Register. Under this new framework, travelers without an acceptable ID can pay $18 and submit to a technology-assisted identity check, likely involving biometric scans, database matching, or other automated verification tools. If successful, the passenger gains a temporary clearance valid for 10 days, according to the official Justia Regulation.

But the program remains optional, and success is not guaranteed. TSA’s own documentation states that even if you pay and submit to the check, you “may still be subject to additional screening or be denied access” should identity verification fail.

Importantly, the $18 fee is non-refundable, so if the verify-and-hope approach fails, you’re out of pocket. Given that about 94% of US travelers reportedly already have compliant IDs (up from ~81% earlier in 2025, as reported by Forbes), the new fee is clearly aimed at the remaining minority and at streamlining what had been a resource-heavy manual process.

The technology-backed system may ultimately prove faster and more scalable than asking TSA officers to call a hotline and grill travelers with personal questions. That said, for the unlucky or unprepared, it adds a new variable: cost.

Real-World Impact: Stories From Travelers

What do actual travelers say about arriving without proper ID under the new rules? Reports are already coming in, and they are not always reassuring. For example, some passengers who tried alternate IDs found themselves held up or outright denied: one person shared on Reddit that their trusted-traveler card (like Global Entry) was treated as “not Real ID compliant”, even though such cards are on TSA’s approved list.

Another common complaint: even when TSA allows you through under identity verification, you might get a note (some call it a “red slip”) and then be subject to extra screening procedures, like bag checks, longer waits, and sometimes missing flights.

Ultimately, while some travelers do make it through, many find the gamble too risky, especially for tight itineraries, short layovers, or important meetings. For them, the $18 fee, or worse, a denied boarding, isn’t worth it. These reports represent the new reality: the new rules are not just bureaucratic tweaks. They are reshaping how Americans travel by air.

What You Should Do: Tips For Any Traveler

Given the uncertainty and stakes, here’s how you should approach air travel now, if you want to avoid headaches:

• Check your ID well before you head to the airport. Make sure your state license or photo ID is REAL ID-compliant (look for the star or state-specific marking), or carry another accepted form, such as a passport, military/federal ID, or trusted traveler card.
• Consider the $18 alternative only as a last resort. The new biometric-verification option is better than nothing, but success is not guaranteed, and failure still means no flight (and no refund).
• Arrive early. If you must do alternate verification, it takes time: more bag checks, extra screening, potential delays. For safety, add one or two hours to the usual arrival time recommendations.
• Carry a backup ID if possible. A passport, passport card, or other federally accepted documentation can save a trip.
• For frequent flyers: upgrade to REAL ID if you haven’t yet. With enforcement now active, it’s the safest, most hassle-free option.
• If denied, be ready to reschedule. Airlines and TSA may not be able to help if identity verification fails.

For many travelers, the lesson is simple: treat your ID like your boarding pass. Without a compliant one, you may find yourself grounded.

To sum up, the enforcement of the REAL ID Act, combined with the rollout of a fee-based alternative identity verification system, marks a turning point for US domestic air travel. What once was a fairly lax environment, where a simple driver’s license often sufficed, has become a carefully regulated space prioritizing certainty, fraud prevention, and scalability.

For most travelers, the change won’t matter: they already carry compliant IDs. But for that remaining fraction of forgetful, unprepared, or relying on slowly arriving temporary licenses, the stakes have grown. An $18 fee, uncertain identity verification, added delays, or even being turned away at the gate. In plain terms, flying without a valid ID now carries real risk. For frequent travelers, last-minute flyers, or anyone who hasn’t updated their license, it’s time to act.