No Illinois REAL ID? Fees Start This Coming Monday At Airports

I know, life often gets in the way of doing the things you should get done, especially when it's difficult to motivate yourself to even go outside during this intense cold period we're all dealing with.

However, you're looking at an added fee at the airport starting Monday, February 1st, if you don't have a REAL ID, passport, or another acceptable form of identification.

If you’ve been putting off getting your Illinois REAL ID, now’s the time to act. Starting this coming Monday, February 1st, travelers who show up at a TSA airport security checkpoint without a REAL ID or other acceptable identification could be charged a $45 fee just to board a domestic flight.

Here’s how it works: the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) introduced a backup identity-verification system called ConfirmID. If you don’t have a REAL ID or another approved ID like a U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, or DHS trusted traveler card, you can choose to go through this alternative process. The catch is that you’ll pay a non-refundable $45 fee to use it, and it’s valid for only a 10-day window of travel.

So, What Exactly Is The CONFIRM ID Process?

The Confirm ID process can take 10 to 30 minutes or even longer, so showing up unprepared could lead to delays,  and end up with you potentially missing your flight. TSA officials say the fee helps cover the extra time and administrative costs for additional screening for travelers without compliant IDs.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to pay the fee at all if you get your REAL ID before you travel. A REAL ID has a small gold star in the top right corner of your Illinois driver’s license or state ID. If you already have one of the other approved forms of federal ID like a passport, that works too.

If you’ve been delaying this because of life, work, or just plain forgetfulness, consider this your friendly reminder. With the new fees kicking in Monday, it’s a lot cheaper (and less stressful) to get your REAL ID now than to pay extra at airport security.