CALLS THE REAL ID PROCESS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL. YOU’LL GET WELCOMED LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO HERE AT ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE WITH A SMILE. WE GOT A GREAT WORKFORCE HERE. IF YOU ARE PLANNING A TRIP BY AIR TRAVEL, YOU MAY END UP $45 SHORT WITHOUT A REAL I.D. IT’S PART OF OUR SECURITY PROCESS THAT WE WANT TRAVELERS TO FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY GET ON THAT PLANE. EVERYBODY WHO IS ON THAT PLANE, WE CAN VERIFY THE ID MATCHES THE PERSON. $45 FEE NOW REQUIRED. STARTING FEBRUARY 1ST, TRAVELERS WITHOUT ONE WILL HAVE TO VERIFY THEIR IDENTITY THROUGH TSA CONFIRM I.D. WE MAY JUST DIRECT THEM TO DO IT ON THEIR CELL PHONES, AND THEY COULD DO THE WHOLE PROCESS ON THEIR PHONE ANYWAY. IT SHOWS UP THAT MAY NOT HAVE A CELL PHONE. AND YOU CAN’T DO THAT. WE CAN HELP THEM. WE’LL HAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR TEN DAYS AFTER YOUR FLIGHT. SO IF YOUR FLIGHT IS ON FEBRUARY 1ST, IT’LL BE GOOD FOR TEN DAYS AFTER THAT, IF YOU’RE ON A TWO WEEK TRIP, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN FOR YOUR RETURN TRIP. IT IS AN ONLINE FORM TO HELP VERIFY IDENTITY. IF YOU LOST YOUR ID, DON’T HAVE A REAL ID OR AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF ID, LIKE A PASSPORT OR DRIVER’S LICENSE. NEW MEXICO ON YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER, THERE WILL BE A GOLD STAR. SO THAT’S HOW YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A REAL A REAL ID COMPLIANT NEW MEXICO DRIVER’S LICENSE. DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ONLY. THE REAL ID ACT, PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 2005 DUE TO HEIGHTENED SECURITY CONCERNS AFTER THE 911 ATTACKS, TSA TELLING US THEY ARE NOW IN PHASE TWO OF THE REAL I.D. PROCESS. WE HAVE 2.5 MILLION PLUS FLIERS ACROSS THIS NATION, SO 6% ARE SHOWING UP WITHOUT AN I.D. OR ACCEPTABLE I.D. WE’RE TRYING TO GET THOSE 6% TO JOIN THE 94% FAITH EGBUONU KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. KEEP IN MIND, TSA WILL ATTEMPT TO VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY THROUGH CONFIRM I.D., BUT THEY TELL US IT’S NOT ALWAYS GUARANTEED. SO YOU MAY M
Confirm ID: Travelers to pay $45 TSA fee for ‘Real ID’ compliance, starting Feb. 1
According to TSA, New Mexico travelers without a Real ID will be required to pay a $45 fee to verify their identity through TSA’s Confirm ID process
New Mexico travelers without a “Real ID” will be required to pay a $45 fee to verify their identity through the Transportation Security Administration’s “Confirm ID” process on Feb. 1, 2026. Confirm ID is an online form via TSA to help verify identity if one has lost their ID, doesn’t have an ID, or an acceptable form of ID, which includes a passport or a driver’s license. According to TSA, Confirm ID is phase 2 of the Real ID nationwide initiative after the Real ID ACT was passed by Congress in 2005 due to heightened security concerns following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. MORE: TSA Confirm ID process”It’s part of our security process that we want the travelers to feel safe when they get on that plane. Everybody who sits on that plane, we can verify that the ID matches the person,” TSA spokesperson Dave Fitz said.TSA Confirm ID is optional. However, TSA states that if one chooses not to utilize it and doesn’t have an acceptable form of ID, one may not be allowed through security. As a result, you may miss your flight. “The Real ID Act came in after 9/11. We went compliant with it and started enforcing it last May. So, this is phase 2 of the process. The great news is, about 94% of Americans, and just a little bit higher here in New Mexico, have a real ID. compliant ID, driver’s license or an acceptable ID when they show up at our New Mexico airport security checkpoints,” Fitz said. What is the ‘REAL ID’ ACT?”The Real ID Act requires states to meet minimum security standards for driver’s licenses and ID cards, including stricter, mandatory document verification for identity, social security number and residency. Beginning May 7, 2025, compliant IDs, or valid alternatives, such as passports, are necessary to board domestic flights and enter secure federal facilities and military bases.” “Check your ID. You could just pull out your driver’s license. If you have that gold star on the right — you’re good to go. Nothing changes for you. If you don’t have that, we advise you to go to the MVD and get an updated driver’s license that’s Real I.D. compliant. We have 2.5 million plus fliers across this nation, so 6% are showing up without an ID or acceptable I.D. We’re trying to get those 6% to join the 94%,” Fitz said.The online form used for identity verification via Confirm ID will be valid for 10 days after a flight. The $45 fee has to be paid via credit card. “It’ll be good for 10 days after your flight. So, if your flight is on February 1st, it’ll be good for 10 days after that. If you’re on a two-week trip, you’re going to have to do it again for your return trip,” Fitz explained. What is considered a form of ‘REAL ID?’State-issued REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or identification cards (Note: A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification)State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification Card (EID)Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs): TSA accepts certain mDLs issued by states that have been approved for Federal use.The mDL must be based on a REAL ID, EDL, or EID.Approved states are listed at Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs | Transportation Security AdministrationU.S. passportU.S. passport cardDHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependentsPermanent resident cardBorder crossing cardAn acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)HSPD-12 PIV cardForeign government-issued passportCanadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cardTransportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)U.S. Merchant Mariner CredentialVeteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)According to TSA, they are also accepting the Digital Identification as a part of its ongoing testing efforts to strengthen identity security, which include:Apple Digital IDClear IDGoogle ID passStay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. Download here.
New Mexico travelers without a “Real ID” will be required to pay a $45 fee to verify their identity through the Transportation Security Administration’s “Confirm ID” process on Feb. 1, 2026. Confirm ID is an online form via TSA to help verify identity if one has lost their ID, doesn’t have an ID, or an acceptable form of ID, which includes a passport or a driver’s license.
According to TSA, Confirm ID is phase 2 of the Real ID nationwide initiative after the Real ID ACT was passed by Congress in 2005 due to heightened security concerns following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
MORE: TSA Confirm ID process
“It’s part of our security process that we want the travelers to feel safe when they get on that plane. Everybody who sits on that plane, we can verify that the ID matches the person,” TSA spokesperson Dave Fitz said.
TSA Confirm ID is optional. However, TSA states that if one chooses not to utilize it and doesn’t have an acceptable form of ID, one may not be allowed through security. As a result, you may miss your flight.
“The Real ID Act came in after 9/11. We went compliant with it and started enforcing it last May. So, this is phase 2 of the process. The great news is, about 94% of Americans, and just a little bit higher here in New Mexico, have a real ID. compliant ID, driver’s license or an acceptable ID when they show up at our New Mexico airport security checkpoints,” Fitz said.
What is the ‘REAL ID’ ACT?
“The Real ID Act requires states to meet minimum security standards for driver’s licenses and ID cards, including stricter, mandatory document verification for identity, social security number and residency.
Beginning May 7, 2025, compliant IDs, or valid alternatives, such as passports, are necessary to board domestic flights and enter secure federal facilities and military bases.”
“Check your ID. You could just pull out your driver’s license. If you have that gold star on the right — you’re good to go. Nothing changes for you. If you don’t have that, we advise you to go to the MVD and get an updated driver’s license that’s Real I.D. compliant. We have 2.5 million plus fliers across this nation, so 6% are showing up without an ID or acceptable I.D. We’re trying to get those 6% to join the 94%,” Fitz said.
The online form used for identity verification via Confirm ID will be valid for 10 days after a flight. The $45 fee has to be paid via credit card. “It’ll be good for 10 days after your flight. So, if your flight is on February 1st, it’ll be good for 10 days after that. If you’re on a two-week trip, you’re going to have to do it again for your return trip,” Fitz explained.
What is considered a form of ‘REAL ID?’
- State-issued REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or identification cards (Note: A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification)
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification Card (EID)
- Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs): TSA accepts certain mDLs issued by states that have been approved for Federal use.
- The mDL must be based on a REAL ID, EDL, or EID.
- Approved states are listed at Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs | Transportation Security Administration
- 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)
According to TSA, they are also accepting the Digital Identification as a part of its ongoing testing efforts to strengthen identity security, which include:
- Apple Digital ID
- Clear ID
- Google ID pass
Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. Download here.
