Do I need a passport to fly in the US?

In the United States, you need a valid U.S. government-issued photo ID or a passport from your country of origin to travel through security. You must show that the name on your boarding pass matches the legal name on your unexpired government-issued ID.



For domestic flights within the United States, a passport is not strictly required if you have another form of "acceptable identification." As of 2026, the primary requirement is a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state-issued ID card. You can tell if your license is compliant by looking for a star icon in the upper right-hand corner. If your state ID is not REAL ID-compliant, you will need to present an alternative, such as a U.S. passport, a U.S. passport card, a permanent resident card, or a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck card. In early 2026, the TSA introduced a new "ConfirmID" program that allows travelers without a valid ID to fly for a $45 fee after a secondary identity verification process, though this can cause significant delays and is not a guaranteed entry. Children under 18 traveling with an adult generally do not need to show any ID for domestic travel. For international flights, including those to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, a valid passport is always required for all passengers regardless of age.

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You're not REAL ID ready! Important: if you want to board domestic flights or visit federal facilities beginning May 7, 2025 you must have a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification. Click on your state or territory in the map below to visit your local DMV to learn more.

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U.S. citizens do not need a passport to travel between the U.S. and these territories:
  • American Samoa.
  • Guam.
  • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Puerto Rico.
  • U.S. Virgin Islands.


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Beginning May 3, 2023, U.S. travelers flying within the United States will need to show Transportation Security Administration agents either a security-enhanced driver's license that's Real ID-compliant or another T.S.A.-approved form of identification like a passport.

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In place of a passport, you can use WHTI-compliant documents like passport cards, trusted traveler's cards, and NEXUS cards. While these allow you to travel to these regions by sea and road, they are not acceptable for international flights.

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Barring any further delays, REAL ID will go into effect on May 7, 2025. At that point, US travelers 18 and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, identification card, state-issued enhanced driver's license (EDL), or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

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If you only have an expired passport, you can still bring it along for domestic travel within the United States, but you must convince TSA officers that you are who you say you are. However, if you're traveling internationally, you must have a valid passport.

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If you don't have any acceptable alternate form of ID, a TSA employee will ask you to complete an identity verification process by filling out a TSA Form 415, also known as a Certification of Identity form. It asks for your full name, current address, signature and date.

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As a general rule, passports must be valid for six months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States.

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Add your state-issued eligible driver's license or identification card to your phone's digital wallet. Present your ID at select TSA PreCheck® checkpoints by tapping your phone or linked device. Your photo will be take by the TSA reader at security to proceed to screening.

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Come prepared with additional forms of identification (credit card, photo business card, student ID, even mail or prescription medication with your name and address). Once the airline representative is satisfied that you are who you say you are, they will issue a boarding pass with a note that you don't have an ID.

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