You get to the airport, reach for your wallet, and your driver’s license is gone. Or you notice the morning of your flight that your ID expired. In most cases you can still fly a domestic flight. What changed in 2026 is the price: since February 1, 2026, getting through security without acceptable ID costs $45 through a TSA program called ConfirmID, and paying does not guarantee you get through.
This guide covers what to do, in order, with how much time and money each step costs. If you think you left your ID in a bin at the checkpoint on an earlier flight, file with that airport’s TSA office right away; our TSA lost and found guide explains how.
Can You Fly Without an ID?
Yes, on a domestic flight, if TSA can confirm who you are. Forgetting, losing or having your ID stolen does not automatically stop you from flying within the United States. TSA can verify your identity another way. Since February 1, 2026, that alternative verification is TSA ConfirmID, and it has a $45 fee.
Before you pay, check whether you need to. First, a few limits:
- International flights require a passport. There is no checkpoint workaround for a missing passport.
- A standard (non-REAL ID) license counts as no ID. REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025, so a license without the star puts you in the same position as someone who lost theirs. See our REAL ID guide.
- A paper temporary license is not acceptable ID on its own, even though the DMV issued it.
- If you won’t cooperate with identity verification, you will not be allowed through.
Step 1: Check Whether You Have Any Acceptable ID
Many travelers who “lost their ID” are carrying a different ID that works. Any of these skips ConfirmID and the fee entirely:
- State REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card (star in the corner)
- State Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced ID card
- An approved mobile driver’s license at a checkpoint with a digital ID reader (see digital IDs at TSA)
- U.S. passport or passport card
- DHS trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including dependent IDs
- Permanent resident card or Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- Border crossing card
- Photo ID from a federally recognized Tribal Nation
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- TWIC, Merchant Mariner Credential, or Veteran Health Identification Card
A passport card in a desk drawer at home is worth a drive back if you have time. It is cheaper than $45 and much faster than verification.
Step 2: If You Have Nothing on the List, Pay ConfirmID Before You Get in Line
| Detail | What TSA’s rules say |
|---|---|
| Fee | $45 per adult |
| Where to pay | Pay.gov only, not at the airport |
| Payment methods | Debit or credit card, bank account (ACH), PayPal or Venmo |
| What you enter | The traveler’s legal name, travel start date and email |
| How long it covers | 10 days from the travel date you enter |
| Refunds | None. The fee is nonrefundable |
| Guarantee | None. TSA may still be unable to verify you |
| Children under 18 | Exempt. They do not need ID on domestic flights |
Pay from your phone before you join the security line, and screenshot the receipt or keep the Pay.gov confirmation email. You show that to the officer to start verification. Someone else can pay for you, but the traveler’s name must match exactly. Get the date right too: the 10-day window starts on the date you enter, and a round trip that fits inside it needs one payment.
Paying is technically optional. If you don’t pay and have no acceptable ID, TSA may refuse you entry to the checkpoint and you can miss your flight. TSA has not announced an exemption for travelers whose ID was lost or stolen.
Step 3: Go Through Verification at the Checkpoint
- Tell the officer right away that you don’t have acceptable ID, and show your ConfirmID receipt.
- You’ll be sent to an officer who handles verification, often off to the side so the line keeps moving.
- You answer questions to confirm who you are. TSA checks your answers against public and commercial records, much like the security questions a bank or credit bureau asks.
- If you’re confirmed, you go through screening, usually with additional screening: a pat-down and a bag search. See what to expect from a pat-down.
- If TSA can’t confirm your identity, you won’t be allowed through, and the $45 is not returned.
Verification itself usually takes 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes 30 or more. Add the extra screening and the time to pay, and plan for 30 to 45 minutes on top of the normal line.
Documents That Help (Bring Anything You Have)
You don’t need a photo ID to complete verification, but anything with your name on it helps the officer confirm you faster:
- A photo of your ID on your phone, front and back
- An expired passport or expired license
- Credit, debit or bank cards in your name
- Insurance, Costco or other membership cards
- A Social Security card or birth certificate
- Mail, a voter registration card or a marriage license with your name and address
- A work or student ID
- A police report, if your ID was stolen
Expired IDs: The Two-Year Rule
TSA accepts IDs from its list for up to two years after they expire. A REAL ID or passport that expired last year still gets you through without ConfirmID. Two catches:
- The two-year window only covers IDs on the list. An expired standard license was never acceptable after May 2025, so it doesn’t count.
- Past two years, treat it like a lost ID. Pay ConfirmID, and bring the expired card anyway because it helps with verification.
How Much Extra Time to Budget
- Domestic flight, no acceptable ID: arrive at least 3 hours early, versus the usual 2.
- Peak days (holidays, Sunday afternoons, Monday mornings): add more. The busiest days at airport security are ranked with TSA’s own counts.
Before you head out, check when your airport’s checkpoints are busiest on Airport TSA Times. Verification adds a fixed cost; the regular line is the part that varies. For general timing, see what time you should arrive at the airport.
Special Situations
My ID was stolen while traveling
You can still fly home with ConfirmID. File a police report if you can, since it is one more supporting document, and freeze your cards. If you’ll be there long enough, a local DMV office may be able to issue a replacement. Remember that a paper temporary license alone is not accepted.
I’m flying with a child who has no ID
Children under 18 do not need ID on domestic flights with an adult, and they don’t pay the ConfirmID fee. The adult needs acceptable ID or ConfirmID. Our flying with kids guide covers the rest.
I only have a digital ID on my phone
TSA accepts approved mobile driver’s licenses at checkpoints with a digital ID reader, but not every lane has one. Carry the physical card. If your phone ID is your only ID and the lane can’t read it, you’re back to ConfirmID.
How to Avoid the Fee Entirely
- Photograph your ID, front and back, and keep a copy in a cloud account.
- Keep a passport card in a different bag from your wallet. It’s wallet-sized and it’s acceptable ID.
- Check expiration dates a month before a trip, especially before holidays.
- Get a REAL ID if your license has no star.
- Enroll in Global Entry, whose card is a backup ID. TSA PreCheck speeds screening but has no card of its own.
For everything else that changed at checkpoints since 2025, see the new TSA rules for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly without an ID?
Yes, on domestic flights, if TSA can confirm your identity. Since February 1, 2026, that requires paying $45 for TSA ConfirmID on Pay.gov, answering identity questions at the checkpoint and usually going through additional screening. International flights require a passport.
Is there a fee to fly without ID?
Yes. Since February 1, 2026, adults without acceptable ID pay a $45 TSA ConfirmID fee on Pay.gov. It covers 10 days of travel, is nonrefundable and does not guarantee verification. Children under 18 are exempt.
Can I fly with an expired ID?
Yes, if it’s on TSA’s list of acceptable IDs and expired less than two years ago. An expired REAL ID or passport works. An expired standard license does not, and anything past two years means using ConfirmID.
How long does TSA identity verification take?
Usually 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes 30 or more, plus additional screening. Arrive at least 3 hours before a domestic flight if you know you’re missing your ID.
Can I pay the ConfirmID fee at the airport?
Not at a counter or the checkpoint. The fee is only paid on Pay.gov, but you can do that from your phone at the airport before you get in line. Save the receipt to show the officer.
Does a photo of my ID work at the airport?
Not as ID by itself, and it won’t let you skip the fee. It does help a lot during verification, so keep a copy on your phone.
Do kids need an ID to fly?
No. Passengers under 18 don’t need ID for domestic flights when traveling with an adult, and they never pay the ConfirmID fee.
Can I fly internationally without a passport?
No. International travel requires a valid passport, and often a visa. If your passport is lost or stolen abroad, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Missing your ID means every minute counts. Before you leave for the airport, look up your airport on Airport TSA Times to see when its checkpoints are busiest, from TSA’s own hourly counts. When you’re already facing an ID check, arriving in the rush instead of a quiet window can be the difference between making your flight and missing it.