TSA says Kansans have a choice: $34 to fly with Real ID or this fee at the gate

Travelers will soon be able to fly out of Wichita’s Eisenhower Airport without a REAL ID — but there’s a catch.

The Transportation Security Administration announced in December travelers without REAL ID or other acceptable identification will pay a $45 fee. The fee would be used to bring travelers through TSA ConfirmID, which the agency describes as a “modernized alternative identity verification system.”

Paying the fee allows travelers to use TSA ConfirmID for a 10-day period.

Lawmakers passed the requirement to present a REAL ID, a federally standardized form of identification, more than 20 years ago, but implementation of REAL ID requirements to fly and access some federal properties was delayed until May 2025.

Since the TSA started enforcing the requirement for domestic flights, most Wichita travelers have complied and presented a REAL ID.

“Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport’s REAL ID/Acceptable form of ID compliance rate is 95.5%, which is also the same for the state of Kansas,” the Kansas region TSA spokesperson Gervais Joubert told The Eagle.

Even with this fee, which will be charged to those without proper identification beginning Sunday, Feb. 1, officials prefer REAL ID for a smoother travel experience. Other acceptable forms of identification at a TSA checkpoint include a U.S. passport, foreign passport, permanent resident card, state-issued enhanced drivers’ license and more.

How can I get my Real ID in Kansas?

REAL IDs have been issued since 2017, so you may already have one without knowing it. You can tell you have a REAL ID if your license or state-issued ID has a gold star in the top right corner.

To get a REAL ID, you must provide two proofs of address, your Social Security number and proof of your lawful presence in the state at a Kansas driver’s license office. Proof of lawful presence could be a birth certificate, a U.S. passport or a permanent resident card.

If your name has changed since you last got a state ID, you also need to provide a proof of name change, like a legal document or a marriage license.

Kansas REAL IDs costs an additional $8 on top of the usual $26 license fee.

There are three driver’s license offices in Sedgwick County. They are:

• Twin Lakes, 1873 W. 21st St.
• West Wichita, 610 S. Tyler
• Derby, 620 North Rock Road

This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "TSA says Kansans have a choice: $34 to fly with Real ID or this fee at the gate."

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.