This guide covers TSA checkpoints for U.S. air travel. It does not set entry requirements for another country or replace your airline's baggage allowance. The key preparation steps are choosing an accepted ID and checking what is in your carry-on before you arrive.
If your boarding pass is marked SSSS, read our guide to the four-letter screening code for the distinction between additional screening, watchlist assumptions and travel redress.
A REAL ID is one accepted option
Since May 7, 2025, a non-compliant state-issued driver's licence or ID has not been an accepted TSA checkpoint ID. A REAL ID-compliant licence is one option; valid U.S. passports and foreign government-issued passports are also on the accepted list. If you already carry another accepted document, lacking a REAL ID does not by itself mean you need ConfirmID. Check TSA's full identification list.
TSA generally does not require ID for children under 18 travelling within the United States. Airlines can have their own requirements, and TSA lists a specific ID condition for unaccompanied minors using TSA PreCheck. Check the relevant guidance for your child and itinerary.
ConfirmID: $45, with no guarantee of verification
From February 1, 2026, adults without an acceptable ID can choose TSA ConfirmID, a $45 identity-verification process. The payment covers ten days from the travel start date entered. Paying does not guarantee TSA can verify your identity or allow you through the checkpoint.
Start from the official TSA ConfirmID page, which links to Pay.gov. Keep the payment receipt available to show at the checkpoint. Make time for the extra process; a receipt is not an identity document or a promise that you will catch the flight.
The 3-1-1 liquids rule still applies
For ordinary carry-on liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes, use containers no larger than 3.4 ounces / 100 millilitres, fitting in one quart-sized bag per passenger. The container's capacity matters; a partly empty large bottle is not a travel-sized container. TSA's current liquids rule.
Medication and infant or child nourishment have exceptions and screening requirements. Consult the exception links on the TSA page before packing them. Follow the officer's instructions for your lane rather than assuming every checkpoint uses the same equipment or unpacking sequence.
One practical tip: do a checkpoint check at home
Power banks need a separate check because airline and battery-safety rules also apply. Read our 2026 power-bank guide and save the free SkyStamp packing PDF for your departure reminders.
Sources and review date
Checked on . Requirements can change. Use the official links to check your route again before departure.
