What do airports check for ID?

The following forms of ID are accepted through screening to fly: Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) U.S. passport.



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Background Information on Flying With IDs
If you're over 18 and intend to fly, you must present a valid government-issued form of photo identification when you check in to your domestic or international flight. Acceptable forms of ID for TSA include passports, driver's licenses, passport cards, or military IDs.

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Identification
  • Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) ...
  • U.S. passport.
  • U.S. passport card.
  • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.
  • Permanent resident card.


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If you don't have any of the accepted IDs, you'll be asked to show two alternative forms of ID. One of them must show your name and identifying information, such as a photo, address, phone number or Social Security number, according to TSA.

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A passport is an acceptable form of identification and may be used in lieu of a REAL ID Drivers License or ID to board domestic flights and visit federal facilities.

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TSA will accept expired driver's licenses or state-issued ID a year after expiration. DHS has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline to May 7, 2025.

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because you could not get off the plane if you didn't have one at your destination. TSA scans passports (or drivers licenses if a domestic flight) and so your identify is verified that way before you are allowed out of security. Airlines rely on TSA to verify IDs.

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We carry out these checks to make sure our passengers have all the required documents of the country they are flying to so that when they arrive at their destination, they will not be sent back due to lack of documents.

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Can you refuse to go through a body scanner? Yes, you can refuse to go through an airport body scanner. Still, you should always be polite about it—the machines are there for your safety—and be mindful of the things you shouldn't say to a TSO that might get you flagged as a disruptive or unruly passenger.

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Ready Your Passport/ID and Boarding Pass
Before going through security, your boarding pass and passport/ID will be checked, so keep them somewhere accessible. Note: In Europe and a few other countries, you only need to show your boarding pass at airport security. Your passport/ID is only checked at the gate.

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There are signs that will indicate you have been flagged for additional screenings: You were not able to print a boarding pass from an airline ticketing kiosk or from the internet. You were denied or delayed boarding. A ticket agent “called someone” before handing you a boarding pass.

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Inspection of Foreign Nationals At A U.S. Airport
If you are a foreign national, the CBP officer will ask why you are visiting the United States, ask to see the relevant documents, and decide how long you should be allowed to stay during this visit to the United States.

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It might not be scanning because: you haven't aligned the NFC reader on your phone with your passport; or. your passport chip might not be working.

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During a healthy pregnancy, occasional air travel is almost always safe. Most airlines allow you to fly domestically until about 36 weeks of pregnancy. Your ob-gyn can provide proof of your due date if you need it. If you are planning an international flight, the cut-off for traveling may be earlier.

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An official U.S. passport will get you through airport security and can be used in place of a Real ID. If you are only traveling domestically, you can use a Real ID or passport. If you are traveling internationally, you still need a valid passport.

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The American Citizen Services Section wants to remind all U.S. citizens not to travel outside the United States without a valid U.S. passport. While dual citizens may be able to travel abroad with alternative documentation, all U.S. citizens are required to present a U.S. passport to re-enter the United States.

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Print out a second copy at the check-in counter or check-in machine at the airport, in case the loss is already noticed in the check-in area. Report to the flight staff at the gate if your boarding pass is missing, and you are already in the security area.

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