Don't Have A REAL ID? Middlesex County Passport Office Has An Alternative

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ - The Middlesex County Clerk's Passport Office is urging residents without a REAL ID-compliant driver's license to obtain a U.S. passport or passport card before traveling, as the Transportation Security Administration has begun charging a $45 fee to travelers who arrive at airport security without an approved form of identification.

The TSA's new ConfirmID fee, which took effect Feb. 1, applies to domestic travelers who cannot present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, a U.S. passport or passport card, or another TSA-approved document at security checkpoints. Travelers subject to the process may also face additional screenings and delays.

Passports and passport cards both qualify as TSA-approved identification for domestic air travel and serve as alternatives for residents who have not yet upgraded to a REAL ID-compliant license.

The Middlesex County Clerk's Passport Office, located at the County Administration Building at 75 Bayard St. in New Brunswick, offers both passport books and passport cards by appointment.

Office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., with applicants required to arrive by 4 p.m. Extended hours are available on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a 5:45 p.m. arrival cutoff.

Residents seeking a REAL ID-compliant driver's license must apply separately through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, as the County Clerk's Office does not issue that document.

Information on required documents, fees and frequently asked questions is available at middlesexcountynj.gov/countyclerk.

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