The holidays are the busiest time of the year to travel. And the winter of 2025 marks the first holiday season where people need to have a REAL ID in order to fly.
Life & Style reveals what will happen if you try to fly without a REAL ID, as well as identification alternatives.
What Happens If You Try to Fly Without a REAL ID?
The REAL ID has been required to travel with since May 2025. However, up until this point passengers without a Real ID have been allowed to pass through security with an additional screening and a warning, according to the Associated Press.
Those that don’t have a REAL ID still have some time until they’re penalized, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on December 2 that those flying without a REAL ID will be charged a $45 fee beginning in February 2026.
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TSA officials said that paying the fee will not guarantee verification, and they have the right to turn away travelers whose identifications they can’t verify. However, those who pay the fee and get approved will be covered for a 10-day travel period.
The fee can be paid online before travelers arrive at the airport, while the payment can also be made at the airport before the travelers enter the security line. However, it’s recommended to pay the fee online because the process can take up to 30 minutes.
What Is the REAL ID?
The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 and establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses, permits and ID cards, according to the DMV’s website. Additionally, the act prohibits federal agencies – such as the TSA – from accepting cards for official purposes from states that do not meet the set of standards.
The federally compliant state-issued license meets enhanced requirements that were mandated following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
In order to obtain a REAL ID card, people must take more documents to the DMV than are required to obtain a regular ID.
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The enforcement of the REAL ID was originally supposed to be rolled out in 2008, though the implementation has been delayed several times, according to the Associated Press.
What Are Alternatives to the REAL ID?
If you don’t have a REAL ID, people can still fly without having to pay the fee by using a State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced ID, a U.S. passport, a U.S. passport card, a DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), a U.S. Department of Defense ID, a permanent resident card, a border crossing card, an acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, a foreign government-issued passport, a Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card, a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card, a U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential or a Veteran Health Identification Card.
