TSA PreCheck Touchless ID Launches at Miami International, Expanding Facial-Verification Lanes for Eligible Travelers

A new identity-check option arrives at MIA

Miami International Airport has begun offering TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, a screening-lane option that allows eligible travelers to verify identity using facial comparison rather than presenting a physical ID at the document-check podium. The program operates only in designated TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes and is limited to travelers who have chosen to participate through their airline.

The technology is designed for identity verification at the checkpoint: a camera captures a live image and compares it with an existing government-held photo associated with the traveler, such as a passport image. Travelers who do not participate—or who are not eligible—continue to use standard TSA identity-verification procedures.

Who can use it, and what travelers must do before arriving

Eligibility is tied to both TSA PreCheck membership and airline participation. Travelers generally need an active profile with a participating airline, a Known Traveler Number in that profile, and valid passport information saved in the airline account. Participation is opt-in, and travelers can choose the traditional ID check instead.

• Must be a current TSA PreCheck traveler
• Must be traveling with a participating airline on a route and at a checkpoint where the feature is enabled
• Must have passport information and the Known Traveler Number associated with the airline profile
• Must opt in through the airline (often in the airline profile or during app-based check-in)

Even when using the touchless lane, travelers are expected to carry acceptable physical identification as a backup in case the system cannot verify identity or a Transportation Security Officer requests an ID check.

What changes at the checkpoint

For eligible, opted-in passengers, the main difference is at the document-check step. Rather than handing over a driver’s license or passport, the traveler briefly faces the camera for a match. If the match is successful, the passenger proceeds into the standard TSA PreCheck screening process. If the match is unsuccessful, the traveler is handled through conventional identity verification.

Participation is voluntary, and travelers who decline biometric verification can use standard identity checks without losing their place in line.

Privacy, retention, and how the program fits into broader aviation changes

The touchless-lane rollout at MIA comes as U.S. airports expand biometric identity tools across the travel journey, including digital identity initiatives and airline-led verification options. In the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID model, the traveler’s live photo is used for identity verification at the checkpoint. Under normal program operations, images and associated personal data are retained only for a limited period tied to the flight, with deletion timelines measured in hours rather than days.

As implementation grows, availability can vary by terminal, checkpoint, and airline, meaning the presence of the program at an airport does not guarantee it will be offered for every flight or at every security entrance. Travelers departing from MIA who want to use the feature should confirm that their airline profile contains the required passport and Known Traveler Number information and look for lane signage and a Touchless ID indicator during mobile check-in.