Federal law requires travelers flying within the United States to present identification accepted under Real ID security standards to board an aircraft, such as a U.S. Passport or a valid driver’s license.
However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that certain travelers will be exempt from this requirement in 2026 based on their date of birth. This change aims to streamline the security process for younger passengers while maintaining aviation safety.
Who may be included in this list will not have to present a passport or documents in 2026
Travelers under the age of 18 will not be required to show any form of identification when flying domestically. So individuals born in the following years will be exempt from the Real ID requirement:
- 2009 (17 years old in 2026)
- 2010 (16 years old)
- 2011 (15 years old)
- 2012 (14 years old)
- 2013 (13 years old)
- 2014 (12 years old)
- 2015 (11 years old)
- 2016 (10 years old)
- 2017 (9 years old)
- 2018 (8 years old)
- 2019 (7 years old)
- 2020 (6 years old)
- 2021 (5 years old)
- 2022 (4 years old)
- 2023 (3 years old)
- 2024 (2 years old)
- 2025 (1 year old)
- 2026 (months old)
Exceptions to the rule
“TSA does not require children under 18 to present identification when traveling within the United States,” officials stated. However, unaccompanied minors who qualify for TSA PreCheck must still present acceptable identification to receive expedited screening.
Acceptable Documents
According to the TSA’s official list, which is subject to change, acceptable forms of identification with up to two years of validity at all U.S. Airports include:
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. Passport Card
- DHS Trusted Traveler Card
- U.S. Department of Defense Identification, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent Resident Card
- Border Crossing Card
- Federally Recognized Tribal/Nation Tribal Identification
- PIV HSPD-12 Card
- Foreign Government-Issued Passport
- Canadian Province Driver’s License or Canada’s Native Affairs and Northern Affairs Card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Document (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Some digital ID formats, such as Apple ID, Clear ID, or Google Pass ID, are also accepted.
For those without any of the aforementioned credentials, authorities began requiring a $45 fee on February 1 to use an alternative identity verification process called TSA ConfirmID. The new fee is intended to cover the cost of the verification process.
