No Passport Needed: Ages Exempt from ID Check for US Flights in 2026
As of , air travelers within the United States will be required to present identification accepted by federal security standards, known as REAL ID, to board aircraft. This includes a U.S. Passport or a valid driver’s license. However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has clarified that a specific segment of the population will be exempt from this regulation based on their age.
No Passport or Identification Required for Certain Flyers in 2026
Individuals under the age of 18 will not be required to show any form of identification when traveling domestically, according to the TSA. This means that those born in the following years will not be subject to 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 Federal Requirement
The TSA does not require passengers under 18 to present identification for domestic flights. However, unaccompanied minors who meet the requirements for TSA PreCheck must provide acceptable identification to receive expedited screening, according to the agency.
Complete List of Documents to Meet TSA Requirements
According to the official TSA 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 cards
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- Acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
- 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)
Certain digital formats of ID, 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 as of February for using an alternative identity verification process called TSA ConfirmID.