Ontario International Airport (ONT) has announced that Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at the airport now accept eligible digital identity credentials, allowing travelers to present approved mobile IDs from smartphones or smartwatches during security screening.
The airport’s announcement also highlights TSA’s Confirm.ID program, which begins February 1, 2026. Confirm.ID is a paid identity verification option available to travelers who arrive at a checkpoint without an acceptable form of identification. TSA has set the Confirm.ID fee at 45 dollars, with verification valid for travel over a ten-day period.
Digital ID acceptance and Confirm.ID serve different traveler scenarios. Digital ID acceptance applies to travelers who already hold eligible mobile driver’s licenses or state IDs issued by participating jurisdictions. Confirm.ID applies when a traveler lacks acceptable identification and opts to complete an additional verification process for a fee.
TSA has published separate materials detailing Confirm.ID, including a Federal Register-supported fee determination and a dedicated information page describing how the service operates. The agency also maintains a list of participating states and eligible digital IDs accepted at checkpoints, which determines whether a traveler can use a mobile credential in place of a physical ID.
ONT’s release combines both developments in a single announcement, which may require careful interpretation by travelers. Digital ID acceptance does not involve a fee and functions as an alternative presentation format for eligible credentials, while Confirm.ID is a paid fallback option when acceptable ID is not available.
The expansion of digital ID acceptance at airports continues a gradual rollout across U.S. checkpoints, with TSA evaluating mobile credentials as part of broader efforts to modernize identity presentation at screening. At the same time, Confirm.ID introduces a formalized paid pathway for resolving identity verification issues at the checkpoint.
Together, the two programs illustrate parallel tracks in airport identity handling: increasing acceptance of mobile credentials for prepared travelers, and a structured recovery option for those who arrive without standard identification.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
