New $45 Fee for Travelers Without Real ID or Passport at O'Hare

TSA imposes additional charge to offset costs of extra screening for those without enhanced ID.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 9:31am

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Starting February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun imposing a $45 fee on passengers traveling through O'Hare International Airport without a Real ID or passport. The new "ConfirmID" program subjects those without compliant identification to additional screening and verification, requiring them to answer a series of questions about themselves to confirm their identity.

Why it matters

The new fee is intended to help offset the costs of the extra screening and verification process for travelers without Real IDs or passports. While the goal is to improve security, some travelers have expressed concerns that the fee seems more focused on revenue generation than just security.

The details

Under the ConfirmID program, travelers without a Real ID or passport will be required to pay the $45 fee, get in the back of the security line, and go through additional identity verification before being allowed to proceed. The fee is valid for 10 days, so travelers taking trips longer than that will have to pay $90 extra for the round trip. The TSA is also accepting digital IDs like Apple Digital ID, Clear ID, and Google ID Pass as alternatives to physical Real IDs and passports.

  • The new fee and ConfirmID program went into effect on February 1, 2026.

The players

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for security screening at U.S. airports.

Makayla Rediehs

A traveler at O'Hare who was unaware of the new $45 fee for those without a Real ID.

Eric Anderson

A traveler at O'Hare who expressed skepticism about the new fee, questioning whether it was more about revenue generation than just security.

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What they’re saying

“I did not know that. That's crazy. It's a lot of money.”

— Makayla Rediehs (CBS News Chicago)

“To me, that sounds like it's not all about security, because, you know, we were told we had to get the Real ID for security reasons, but then, if you don't have, well, you can just slide on by with 45 bucks. So what do we got going on here?”

— Eric Anderson (CBS News Chicago)

What’s next

The TSA has said it will continue to monitor the implementation of the ConfirmID program and make adjustments as needed to balance security and efficiency at airport checkpoints.

The takeaway

The new $45 fee for travelers without Real IDs or passports at O'Hare highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing airport security with passenger convenience and cost. While the goal is to improve security, some travelers are concerned the fee may be more about revenue generation than just security measures.