What To Use at the Airport If You DON’T Have a REAL ID
(photo of Plane taking off)
Staff reports
The $45.00 fee for travelers who attempt to fly without a REAL-ID (or other TSA-approved ID) is scheduled to begin February 1, 2026. If you’re flying domestically (within the U.S.) and you don’t have a REAL ID-compliant NC drivers license, you can still travel as long as you bring one of these federally accepted IDs:
✅ Top 4 Best Alternatives to REAL ID for Air Travel
1. U.S. Passport Book
- Most universally accepted ID for all domestic and international flights.
- Valid for 10 years (adults).
2. U.S. Passport Card
- Cheaper than a passport book.
- Works for domestic flights, land, and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Bermuda.
- Does NOT work for international air travel.
3. DHS Trusted Traveler Cards
- Global Entry
- TSA PreCheck / PreCheck with KTN
- NEXUS
- SENTRI
- FAST
These cards all serve as valid TSA IDs.
4. U.S. Military ID (Active Duty or Dependent)
- Accepted for TSA screening.
- Includes CAC (Common Access Card).
🟦 Other Acceptable IDs (If You Happen to Have One)
You can also fly domestically using any of these:
- Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- Foreign Passport
- Enhanced Tribal ID / Tribal Photo ID
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- Veteran Health ID Card (VHIC)
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD) – Form I-766
- Border Crossing Card
- HSPD-12 PIV Card (federal employee ID)
All of these are TSA-verified identity documents.
⚠️ What you cannot use at TSA
- A standard NC driver’s license without the REAL ID star (not valid for flying)
- Temporary / paper NC licenses or permits
- County-issued Voter ID cards
- School IDs, library cards, work badges
- Expired IDs, unless meeting specific TSA exceptions (rare)
🛂 Quick Recommendation: Best Budget-Friendly Option
If you don’t want to pay for a REAL ID:
→ Get a U.S. Passport Card
It’s the cheapest federal ID that works for domestic flights.
