Travellers flying within the United States who arrive at the checkpoint without an acceptable ID now have an official, paid option called TSA ConfirmID. The Transportation Security Administration’s own page sets out how it works. This article summarises it, adds context for people heading to resorts and explains why the best plan is still to bring the right document.

What the TSA page says

According to the TSA ConfirmID page, travellers who cannot show an acceptable form of ID, such as a passport or a REAL ID-compliant licence, can pay a $45 fee to use ConfirmID. The page states the following:

  • The fee can only be paid through Pay.gov.
  • It applies to travel on or after February 1. The page does not name a year in the text we reviewed. Reporting from December 2025 indicated that the change would start in 2026.
  • Using ConfirmID is described as optional, but travellers without an acceptable ID may not be allowed through security.
  • Each adult aged 18 or over must complete the process separately.
  • The fee lets a traveller use ConfirmID for 10 days from the date of travel listed on the receipt.
  • Someone else may pay on the traveller’s behalf, but the traveller’s legal name and travel start date must be entered correctly.
  • Travellers should keep the Pay.gov confirmation email, or a printed or screenshot receipt, and show it to a TSA officer at the checkpoint.

The page does not list any exemptions from the fee. It also does not promise that identity will be verified, so treat it as an attempt to verify identity rather than a guarantee of passage.

Why this matters for a resort trip

Many resort holidays begin with a domestic flight in the United States, even when the final destination is Mexico or the Caribbean. A traveller who forgets their passport, has an expired licence or holds a licence that is not REAL ID-compliant can be stopped at the first checkpoint. For international trips, you will also need a passport at the border and the airline’s check-in, so ConfirmID would not replace one for the international leg.

ConfirmID is only about getting through domestic security. It does not solve passport, visa or entry requirements for the country you are visiting. If you are checking what else you should have before you fly, our post on package versus booking flights and hotel separately covers booking choices, and our broader guides section collects planning pages.

Better than paying: bring the right ID

The simplest approach is to avoid needing ConfirmID in the first place. Before your trip:

  • Check your licence for the REAL ID star marking, or carry a valid passport or another acceptable document listed on the TSA site.
  • Check the expiry dates on every document, and replace anything close to expiry.
  • Take a photo of your documents and store copies separately, as a backup for loss or theft, though a photo is not a substitute for the original.
  • Make sure the name on your ticket matches the name on your ID.

If you are travelling with children, check the TSA’s guidance on what is required for minors.

If you do need to use it

Pay before you get to the airport rather than at the gate. Arrive early, because additional identity verification takes time, and the process is not instant. Bring any other documents that help prove who you are, such as cards, a birth certificate or old photo ID, though the TSA decides what it will accept. Do not rely on a verbal assurance from a friend or an airline employee. Keep your receipt where you can show it.

If you lose your passport during a trip, the steps are different and depend on where you are. Our post on what to do if you lose your passport on a resort trip has more detail on that scenario.

Limits of what we can say

We have summarised the TSA’s page as it appeared when we checked it. Fees, procedures and effective dates can change, and the TSA is the only source that can confirm them. Check the page again before your trip, especially if you are relying on it. We also cannot say how many travellers will succeed with ConfirmID, how long checkpoints may take or what happens if identity cannot be verified beyond what the TSA states.

Bottom line

ConfirmID is a fallback, not a plan. It costs money, adds time and carries no guarantee. For anyone heading to a resort holiday, spending a few minutes checking your documents before you leave home is cheaper and far less stressful than paying a fee at an airport checkpoint.

Source: TSA ConfirmID page at tsa.gov. Check the page for the latest details before you travel.