New Fee for Travelers Without REAL ID
Plan ahead to avoid fees and delays at the airport.
The $45 fee for travelers who attempt to fly without a REAL-ID (or other TSA-approved ID) is scheduled to begin February 1, 2026.
If you’re flying domestically (within the US) and you don’t have a REAL ID-compliant NC drivers license, you can still travel as long as you bring one of these federally accepted IDs.
Top 4 Best Alternatives to REAL ID for Air Travel
TSA officials emphasize that several forms of identification remain valid for domestic air travel. The most common include:
- US Passport Book – The gold standard for both domestic and international flights, valid for 10 years for adults.
- US Passport Card – A budget-friendly option that works for domestic flights and land/sea travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It cannot be used for international air travel.
- DHS Trusted Traveler Cards – Programs such as Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST issue cards that are accepted at TSA checkpoints.
- US Military ID – Active duty service members and dependents may use their Common Access Card (CAC) or other military-issued IDs.
Other Acceptable IDs
In addition to the top four, TSA recognizes a wide range of federally issued documents, including:
- Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- Foreign Passport
- Enhanced Tribal ID or Tribal Photo ID
- US Merchant Mariner Credential
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- Veteran Health ID Card (VHIC)
- Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)
- Border Crossing Card
- Federal employee HSPD-12 PIV Card
What Won’t Work
Travelers should be aware that standard North Carolina driver’s licenses without the REAL ID star will not be accepted for boarding. Other invalid forms include:
- Temporary or paper licenses
- County-issued voter ID cards
- School IDs, library cards, or work badges
- Expired IDs (except in rare TSA-approved exceptions)
Budget-Friendly Recommendation
For those reluctant to pay for a REAL ID upgrade, experts suggest the US Passport Card as the most affordable alternative. It provides federal compliance for domestic flights and is widely recognized at TSA checkpoints.
