Flying Without a REAL ID Now Costs $45 at the Airport. 3 Kinds of Documents Alabamians Need to Get One

Show up at the airport without a REAL ID, and TSA can charge you $45 just to try to verify who you are.

Alabama calls its REAL ID a STAR ID, and the license office won’t take photocopies of your documents.

Here are the kinds of documents you need to get one, so you can the $45 fee.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Licensing rules and document lists are subject to change, so confirm the current requirements with ALEA.

1. Passport or Birth Certificate

STAR ID paperwork starts with a document proving who you are and when you were born.

ALEA’s list has eight options for that document, starting with an unexpired U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate from a state office of vital statistics.

Naturalized citizens can bring a certificate of naturalization or citizenship.

Permanent residents can bring an unexpired Permanent Resident Card.

An unexpired employment authorization document also qualifies.

A foreign passport qualifies only if it’s unexpired, carries a valid U.S. visa and comes with the approved I-94 form.

If you have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, you can bring it.

ALEA says you need just one of the eight.

2. Social Security Card

A STAR ID application also needs a document showing your full Social Security number.

ALEA takes your Social Security card or a W-2 from the current or previous year.

If you served in the military, you can bring your Form DD 214 instead.

A Medicare or Medicaid card also counts, but only if the Social Security number on it is followed by the letter A.

3. Two Proofs of Address

STAR ID applicants must prove where they live with any two of the 16 documents on ALEA’s list.

Renters can use a current lease or rental agreement.

Owners can use a current homeowners insurance policy with your name and address, a residential mortgage contract or proof that you paid your residential property tax.

Your Alabama driver license or ID card is another option if it’s valid and shows your current address.

You can also use a vehicle registration with your name and address, or your voter registration card.

A tax return from the prior year can be one of your two if your address is on it.

ALEA also accepts Social Security benefits statements and U.S. or state government checks mailed to your physical address.

Some of the list fits particular situations, such as military orders showing your duty station, a court document with your address or school enrollment records.

ALEA will take your water, gas or electric bill if it’s less than 90 days old.

A cell phone or internet bill isn’t on ALEA’s list, so don’t count on one.

If a utility bill is in your spouse’s name, ALEA’s FAQ says you must bring your marriage certificate.

If it’s in your parent’s name, you may use your birth certificate instead.

Name-Change Papers

A STAR ID application needs extra proof if your name changed after your identity document was issued.

ALEA wants certified documents showing the change, such as a marriage certificate, an adoption record or a court order.

If the name printed on your passport or birth certificate differs from the name you use today, you need one of these.

Where to Get a REAL ID in Alabama

Alabama issues STAR IDs originally only at ALEA's driver license exam offices.

County-operated license offices continue to handle renewals and duplicates.

The agency's office list shows addresses and phone numbers by county.

ALEA's FAQ says you can get a STAR ID before your current license expires if you pay for a duplicate.

You can book a driver license appointment online, though the scheduling page notes that not every service can be booked that way.

If your service isn't listed on those screens, you'll need to visit your local office.

What a STAR ID Costs

A STAR ID costs $36.25, the same as a regular Alabama driver license or non-driver ID card, according to an April 2025 ALEA news release.

ALEA's fee page lists $36.25 for a driver license and for a non-driver ID card.

If you add the STAR ID when you renew your regular license, you'll pay the standard $36.25 renewal fee with nothing extra.

STAR ID for Teens

ALEA says a STAR ID may be issued from age 15, since Alabama's licensing process starts with a learner license at that age.

Your teen may not need one to fly: TSA says children under 18 don't need ID for domestic flights.

Ask the airline what ID it wants from your teen.

Do You Need a STAR ID?

Alabama's STAR ID isn't necessary if you don't plan to fly or visit certain federal facilities, according to ALEA.

Your regular Alabama driver license stays valid for driving, voting and other everyday activities.

Some military installations currently require a STAR ID for access, depending on the facility.

What TSA's $45 Fee Covers

Flying without a REAL ID costs $45 through TSA ConfirmID, and that fee only buys an attempt to verify who you are.

February 1, 2026 was the first travel day for the fee.

REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025, and TSA no longer accepts a state license that isn't compliant.

Using ConfirmID is optional, but without an acceptable ID, TSA says you may not get through security and could miss your flight.

TSA says you pay through Pay.gov, which takes bank accounts, debit and credit cards, Venmo and PayPal, but not cash.

You can pay ahead of your trip or on your phone at the airport, but TSA recommends paying early.

At the checkpoint, you show the confirmation email or a printed copy to a TSA officer.

The fee covers 10 days from the travel date on your receipt.

TSA says each adult without an acceptable ID has to complete the process separately.

If you have no acceptable ID and show up without paying, you'll lose your place in line and rejoin at the end.

A passport means no fee.

FAQ

Does Alabama have a REAL ID?

Yes, but Alabama calls it a STAR ID.

ALEA says the card meets all the requirements of federal law.

How can you tell if your Alabama license is a REAL ID?

Look for a gold star in the upper left corner, which ALEA says marks a STAR ID.

A non-compliant license issued on or after April 25, 2022, carries the words "Not for Federal Identification" across the top.

What documents do you need for a REAL ID in Alabama?

ALEA wants one document proving your identity and birth date, one showing your Social Security number and two proofs of address.

If your name has changed or your bills carry a spouse's or parent's name, you'll need a certificate for that too.

Can you make an appointment for a STAR ID in Alabama?

Yes, ALEA says you can schedule one online, though its scheduling page notes that not all services allow an appointment.

If your service isn't listed, you'll need to visit your local office.

Do you need a REAL ID to fly?