U.S. TSA reminds travellers: Costco cards won’t get you through security

A cart wrangler works in front of a Costco warehouse Tuesday, Jul 16, 2024, in Sheridan, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Flashing your Costco card might get you a $1.50 hot dog – but try it at airport security and you might just miss your flight.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a reminder for travellers that Costco membership cards are not acceptable as REAL IDs at U.S. airport security checkpoints.

In a Facebook post, laced with humour, the TSA said, “We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not.”

According to the TSA, only federally approved documents such as REAL ID-compliant driver’s licences, U.S. passports, enhanced driver’s licences (EDLs), Global Entry/NEXUS cards or veteran/military IDs are permitted.

The REAL ID is a U.S. federally approved form of identification introduced under the REAL ID Act passed in 2005 as a post-9/11 security measure.

As of May 7, 2025, all air travellers in the U.S. aged 18 and older must present a REAL ID-compliant licence (typically marked with a star), a valid passport or another TSA-approved form of identification to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities.

For Canadians travelling to the U.S., a valid passport remains the gold standard. While U.S. citizens must show a REAL ID or equivalent for domestic flights, Canadians are not required to hold a REAL ID to enter the U.S. by air.

Instead, they must show a valid Canadian passport or NEXUS card, which is stated in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements.

By land or sea, U.S. CBP will accept a Canadian passport, an enhanced driver’s licence – a regular driver’s licence with added citizenship information – NEXUS or SENTRI enrolment cards.