The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Monday that all passengers traveling without a REAL ID or acceptable forms of ID will have to pay a fee in order to get through security.
The TSA says starting Feb. 1, the
$45 fee will allow travelers to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to confirm their identity at security checkpoints.
Some traveling through Newark Airport say they are not happy about this announcement.
"I think it's just another way to you know gouge money from travelers," Angelique, a passenger heading to Indiana said. "We're already spending more money on top of what prices used to be, so it's really kind of unfair because we're really traveling for either family reasons or emergency."
Others like Janet Boyle say this is all about safety.
"I'm on board if it means keeping everybody safe," she said.
After paying the fee, the TSA Confirm.ID verification will be usable for only 10 days, meaning anyone traveling longer than that, will have to pay twice.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- REAL ID - compliant driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
TSA urges travelling without a REAL ID or any acceptable forms of ID to pay the fee online before arriving to the airport. Those who choose to do it in-person should expect some delays.