10 Passport Wallets to Use to Avoid TSA’s $45 Real ID Fee

Most – if not all – trips to the DMV aren’t high on the list of fun things to do. In fact, it feels like a chore, which is why I’ve put off upgrading my current look to a real identity. If you’re like me, it can quickly cost you $45 to get it right.

Starting February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is introducing a $45 fee for travelers without real identification or another form of acceptable identification (such as a passport or Global Entry. The $45 will allow you to use an “innovative alternative identity verification system” to verify your identity at security checkpoints, the TSA says.

So, if you basically want to avoid yet another flight fee, upgrade your existing ID and don’t forget to pack it (as I often do). The best way to make sure it’s always on you is to keep it with something you never leave behind, like your phone or keys. I love using the Mag Safe Wallet to keep my ID and credit cards close at hand. If I’m traveling with a passport, I use a brightly colored wallet to hold everything so I can quickly look in my personal item bag to see if it’s there. The passport wallets and ID holders below can help you come up with personal travel hacks to avoid the $45 fee. And they’re almost all on sale, with prices starting at just $5.

The best travel wallets for storing your ID

Puigoya RFID Blocking Bifold Slim Wallet

Made with faux leather and available in over 30 colors, this bifold RFID blocking wallet is a total fashion statement, and it’s budget-friendly enough that you can grab a few to match your travel outfits. It comes with two clear windows, allowing you to add your ID to either, plus nine other slots for credit cards or tickets and cash and coin pockets.

kngitryi purse keychain wrist

Whether you want to wear it as a wristlet or use its ring to attach to your keys, this RFID blocking keychain wallet is a great way to keep your identity close. Its strap is a stylish beaded bracelet made with a stretchy, elastic band that conforms to your wrist, preventing it from slipping off your arm. Plus, it comes in lots of fun colors, like hot pink, light blue, and purple.

Melbourne RFID Blocking Passport Holder

Dubbed one of our best passport wallets for its color availability, the Miles Bernana RFID Blocking Passport Holder also features a transparent window to store your ID and four card slots. While your ID will be snug enough that it won’t slip out of the wallet, the passport is also designed with a snap button closure to provide extra security to the holder.

Venture 4th Money Belt

If you get into the habit of strapping that money belt around your waist every time you leave to catch a flight, it will likely prevent you from forgetting your ID at home when you notice it’s not on. It’s also slim enough to be worn under clothing, making it the ideal bag to protect your cash and cards from pockmarks when you’re on the move.

Wallet on zipper

It’s probably a good idea to have identification on you every time you leave your home, and not just when you’re traveling to a different state. A keychain wallet is a simple hack to ensure that your ID—like your keys—is on you at all times, especially when it’s time to show it to the TSA. This keychain wallet is small and compact but really spacious, as it is designed with a total of 15 card slots. Now 20 percent off, it’s only $10, which makes it a steal, too.

Tatanti RFID-blocking minimalist travel wallet

This compact titanium-minimalist wallet-definitely only $5 common works with a lanyard that you can wear around your neck for a hands-free way to hold your ID and other valuables. It’s slim, water-resistant and lightweight, so it won’t weigh you down or get in the way, even if you’re running to catch a flight on a rainy day.

Hide-and-seek small RFID-blocking wallet

If you prefer a compact ID holder that’s roomy enough to hold all your cash and cards, this slim wallet is it. It’s built with a pop-up mechanism that quickly grabs your ID and cards when needed, and keeps them safe otherwise. Reviewers also say that this size-aware wallet helps reduce bulk in their pockets.

Huanlang Airtag Passport Wallet

Accidents happen, and a misplaced wallet is a surefire way to ruin a day or trip. This passport and ID holder comes with an airtag holder, so you can digitally track its location the next time you second-guess what you’re actually packing. Additionally, the passport wallet comes with a wrist strap so you can keep it securely in hand as you go through the airport.

Exter Life Mag Safe Purse

If your phone is the first thing you grab when you’re ready to go, a Magsafe phone wallet is a fail-safe way to make sure you never forget your wallet. This RFID-blocking magnetic wallet fits up to eight cards and your ID and doubles as a stand, so you can comfortably watch a movie on your next flight. In addition, it is designed with space for an AirTag. In other words, this wallet has it all.

Travellon Anti-Theft Metro Convertible Small Crossbody Bag

Keeping your ID and other important documents safe while traveling is super easy with Travellin’s Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag. In addition to plenty of slots to store your ID, it’s also built with special features like slash-resistant straps and locking zippers to prevent thieves from making off with your valuables. You can snag this editor’s favorite bag for 35 percent off right now.

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