TSA issues warning over 'unacceptable' payment type for new $45 passport fee

A huge update to the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) travel guidelines is due to come into force next month – and travelers could be caught out by one key change.

The changes all stem from an announcement last year, that revealed that travelers without a passport or a valid form of REAL ID (e.g. a driver's license or ID card that meets enhanced federal security standards)would need to pay a $45 fee to pass through airport security.

These rules are due to come into force on February 1, but new guidance from the TSA has revealed that not all payment methods will be accepted to pay the necessary fee – and travelers could easily be caught out if they’re not properly prepared.

Passengers without valid ID or the means to pay, will be turned away at security (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

Under the new rules, cash payments will not be accepted in any circumstances, so payment will need to be made by bank account, credit or debit cards, Venmo, or PayPal.

The fee is designed to cover the use of the TSA’s alternative identity verification system, known as ConfirmID.

The $45 fee will allow you to travel through airport security for 10 days, but if your trip exceeds that, you’ll need to pay the fee again for your return journey if you still don’t have an acceptable form of identification.

Waiting times are also likely to be increased, due to the extra requirements needed to manually verify identity, meaning you could be waiting up to 30 minutes before being permitted to pass into the security line.

According to the TSA, around 94 percent of the US population already have a valid ID to travel, but that means there are still 20 million people who could be affected by the change.

Passengers are therefore advised to check their ID in advance to make sure it has the enhanced security features (it can be identified by a star), or make a trip to their local government office or DMV to update it.

Passengers without REAL ID compliant identification could find themselves stuck in hefty queues (Getty Stock Images)

“Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems such as rail,” Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA Adam Stahl said, before adding: “The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights.”

The forms of ID currently accepted

· Real ID

· State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)

· U.S. passport

· U.S. passport card

· DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

· U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents

· Permanent resident card

· Border crossing card

· An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)

· HSPD-12 PIV card

· Foreign government-issued passport

· Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

· Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

· U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

· U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

· Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)