Travel in the US Will Cost Without the Right ID

by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Tue January 13, 2026

Starting Feb. 1, 2026, air travellers in the U.S. without acceptable ID will be charged a $45 US ($62.50 Cdn) fee. It’s part of the American REAL ID initiative, which requires domestic flyers to have an upgraded identification card. 

A REAL ID or equivalent has been required to fly within the U.S. since May 7, 2025. 

Canadians and other non-U.S. residents aren’t required to have (or eligible for) the REAL ID, but are still required to have equivalent ID to present when flying from a U.S. airport. If you don’t, you will be charged the fee to pass through TSA security at the airport.

Luckily, one of the acceptable forms of ID is a passport, which Canadians entering the U.S. will  have anyway in almost all cases. Other acceptable Canadian ID includes Canadian provincial driver's licenses and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cards, according to the TSA. Global Entry cards are also acceptable.

Children under the age of 18 don’t require ID to fly. Unlike when flying in Canada where our ID must be valid, TSA will accept eligible expired ID, up to two years past the expiry date.

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