The star on a driver’s license? That’s how you know it’s a REAL ID. Even though using a REAL ID began to be required May 7, 2025, it's still been ok to travel without one.
“TSA now offers an option called TSA Confirm ID,” said Monya Bates, Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening for the state of Mississippi. “TSA Confirm ID allows eligible travelers to confirm their identity for a fee of $45.”
According to Gervais Joubert, TSA spokesperson for Mississippi, the state has a 98% compliance rate for the ID. However, he said the national fee change was approved to ensure that the cost of ID verification comes from the traveler, not the taxpayer.
If a traveler does not comply, there will be consequences.
“They can expect delays,” said Joubert. “Basically, they'll have to be pulled out of the line. They'll have to go through the payment process and then bring that proof of purchase to the checkpoint and then the identity verification process begins from there.”
Travelers without appropriate identification will not be allowed to take any flights without paying the verification fee.
TSA requires all travelers 18 years of age and older to present an acceptable form of ID, which includes a REAL ID compliant driver's license or state ID, a valid passport or military ID.
The travel receipt will be good for 10 days. The payment process will be accessible through pay.gov using a valid bank account, debit card, credit card, Venmo, or PayPal.
