Saturday marks final day to obtain a Real ID before $45 TSA fee takes effect

For travelers without a Real ID planning to board a plane within the next week, the clock is ticking if you don’t want to pay a $45 fee.

Starting Sunday, Feb. 1, anyone without a Real ID, valid passport card or valid passport, will need to pay $45 for the Transportation Security Administration’s “ConfirmID” process. The program verifies the identity of travelers who don’t have an acceptable form of identification.

“If you choose not to use it and don’t have an acceptable ID, you may not be allowed through security and could miss your flight,” TSA has warned.

If your trip will last more than 10 days, the Illinois Secretary of State says the fee will be $90.

For those wondering if you can get a real ID on Saturday, you’re in luck. Walk-ins are available at a select facility on Saturday, and more information can be found below.

Ahead of the fee’s rollout, here’s what to know.

I need to fly soon. Can I get my Real ID on Saturday?

Walk-ins are accepted at the Illinois Secretary of State’s Real ID Supercenter in downtown Chicago until 4 p.m. as part of extended hours.

The supercenter is located at 191 N. Clark St.

Its hours are:

Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Outside of the site, appointments to get a Real ID are required.

How does it work, and can you do it at the airport?

The whole “ConfirmID” identification process takes an average of 10-15 minutes, but it could take 30 minutes or more, according to the TSA.

The agency has advised travelers to complete the process before arriving at the airport “to avoid delays or missing your flight” – including paying ahead of time.

If travelers are completing the process at the airport, they’ll need to get out of the security line to pay. In addition to the $45 fee, travelers should be prepared to give officials their legal name, address and date of birth for ConfirmID, TSA said.

After finishing the process, travelers will head to the end of the line for security screening – and should be prepared to present their recent.

The identity verification will be valid for 10 days once approved. After that period, travelers without a REAL ID or passport will need to pay the fee again if they travel.

Who needs to pay the fee?

Anyone who plans to board a domestic flight, but does not have any of TSA’s acceptable forms of ID.

Do children need it?

No.

Children under 18 do not need ID for domestic flights, TSA said, as long as they are accompanied by someone 18 or older.

What are acceptable forms of ID at the airport?

As of May 7, 2025, your regular, hard-copy driver’s license or state ID is no longer an acceptable form of ID to board a plane.

The following is a list of IDs acceptable at TSA checkpoints for domestic flights:

Real ID
State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification Card (EID)
Apple Digital ID from the state of Illinois
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)
Clear ID