The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a proposal on November 2, 2023, that could require adults flying within the United States to pay an $18 fee if they do not possess a REAL ID. This fee aims to fund improved technology for verifying travelers’ identities when they present forms of identification that are not deemed acceptable, such as a passport, passport card, or military identification.
Under this proposal, the TSA indicated that a “modernized alternative identity verification program” would be implemented. While specifics remain unclear, it is anticipated that the program may utilize “biographic and/or biometric information,” potentially including facial recognition software that has undergone testing by the agency.
For travelers who pay the $18 fee, the TSA stated they would not incur the charge again within a 10-day window for subsequent travels. However, the TSA retains the authority to prevent individuals from flying if they repeatedly arrive without acceptable identification.
In Oregon, obtaining a REAL ID would more than justify itself after just two instances of incurring the TSA fee. The state charges $30 for a REAL ID, in addition to the cost of a standard license, which is $64 for first-time applicants and $54 for renewals.
The timeline for the implementation of the $18 fee remains ambiguous, as the TSA has not specified when the policy will take effect. A spokesperson for the TSA noted that further guidance would be provided on the agency’s website, www.tsa.gov.
Public reaction to the proposal has been mixed. Some travelers have criticized the fee as “ridiculous” and a tactic for revenue generation, while others argue that ample notice has been given for individuals to obtain a REAL ID. The REAL ID Act, enacted by Congress in 2005 in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, was originally intended to be enforced by 2008, but its implementation has faced numerous delays.
According to TSA officials, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem began implementing the ID requirements in May 2025, though the reality has not aligned with this timeline. TSA continues to allow many travelers to pass through security without presenting REAL IDs, passports, or other acceptable identification.
“If travelers do not have an ID compliant with REAL ID requirements, TSA may require them to submit to additional screening measures,” stated Molly Prescott, a spokesperson for the Port of Portland, which operates PDX. Prescott also mentioned that the airport does not track how many travelers arrive without acceptable identification. According to the TSA, approximately 94% of air travelers nationwide carry appropriate identification.
“This notice serves as a next step in the process of REAL ID compliance,” the TSA spokesperson commented. Notably, children traveling within the United States are not required to show identification and would not face the $18 fee.
