This week, the TSA has officially introduced ConfirmID, an enhanced verification initiative designed for passengers who haven’t yet acquired a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or passport.
Through this program, which started on February 1, travelers can access the service online, pay a $45 charge, and submit essential details—such as their full name and travel schedule—to obtain a digital or printed confirmation. This confirmation facilitates their passage through airport security even if their identification does not meet compliance standards.
The initiative serves as a fundamental component of the TSA’s REAL ID initiative, which gained substantial momentum last year. The transition has predominantly been successful; as per the latest TSA statistics, about 95% to 99% of travelers now present an acceptable ID at security checkpoints. ConfirmID caters specifically to individuals who do not meet these requirements.
Although the procedure can be handled at the airport, the TSA highly recommends that travelers complete it prior to departing for their flight. The identity verification process generally lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, but it could extend to 30 minutes or longer in certain situations, which can cause delays in travel plans.
Once obtained, a ConfirmID receipt remains valid for a period of 10 days from the “travel start date” input during the payment process. This timeline is structured to accommodate both segments of a typical journey, eliminating the need for most travelers to pay the fee again for a single trip.
When ConfirmID was first announced, officials indicated that the intention behind the fee is to fully recoup the TSA’s expenses associated with validating a traveler’s noncompliant ID, costs that were previously borne by U.S. taxpayers, and will now be assigned to those who do not adhere to the stipulated regulations.
Fonte: Travel Market Report
