No, TSA no longer requires shoes off at U.S. airport security, though officers can still request shoe removal during extra screening in some cases.
For nearly twenty years, taking off your shoes at the checkpoint felt as normal as showing your boarding pass. In July 2025, TSA dropped that rule nationwide, thanks to better scanners and stricter ID checks across U.S. airports. That change leaves a lot of travelers asking the same thing right before a trip: does tsa still require shoes off?
This guide walks through how the current rule works, when shoes might still come off, and how to pick footwear so security lines move quickly. You will also see how the update affects TSA PreCheck, connections, and trips that start outside the United States.
Details here draw on official TSA announcements and recent national news reports that covered the July 8, 2025 policy change, so you can plan your next airport visit with clear, current information.
Does TSA Still Require Shoes Off?
For routine screening at U.S. airports, TSA no longer requires every traveler to take shoes off. The long-standing rule that adults between 12 and 75 had to put footwear in a bin ended in July 2025, after running in one form or another since 2006.
An officer can still ask you to remove shoes in certain situations. If a scanner flags something, if you are pulled into secondary screening, or if your shoes have features that block the machines, you may still be directed to take them off. The difference is that this is now the exception, not the default for every person in line.
When The Rule Ended
On July 8, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced that TSA would end its “shoes-off” travel policy across domestic airports. The change followed a period of testing at selected hubs, where newer scanners and updated procedures showed they could catch threats without mandatory shoe removal for everyone. News outlets and airport authorities confirmed that the rule was lifted nationwide from that date.
Before this update, only certain groups could usually keep shoes on: TSA PreCheck members, children 12 and under, and travelers 75 and older. Now, the standard is the same for all ages in regular screening lanes, with shoe removal reserved for special cases.
Who Still Gets Asked To Remove Shoes
Even under the new policy, some travelers will still hear, “Shoes off, please.” Common examples include:
- You are selected for secondary screening after the first pass through the scanner.
- The scanner shows an unclear image around your feet or ankles.
- You wear very thick boots, heavy hiking shoes, or footwear with metal pieces that confuse the equipment.
- You arrive at the checkpoint without a Real ID or other acceptable ID and face extra checks at the document podium.
- You carry medical devices or orthopedic hardware in your shoes that call for closer inspection.
TSA Shoe Removal Rules At A Glance
| Traveler Or Situation | Normal Rule Now | When Shoes May Still Come Off |
|---|---|---|
| Adult in standard U.S. screening lane | Keep shoes on | Scanner alarm or random extra screening |
| TSA PreCheck passenger | Keep shoes on | Rarely, if directed after an alarm |
| Child 12 and under | Keep shoes on | Only if an officer decides a closer check is needed |
| Traveler 75 or older | Keep shoes on | If footwear triggers a scanner or pat-down |
| Passenger without Real ID at document check | Extra ID steps | Possible shoe removal during added screening |
| Secondary screening after an alarm | Follow officer instructions | Shoes often removed and X-rayed again |
| Foreign airport security (non-U.S.) | Local rules apply | Some airports still use full shoes-off lines |
| Medical or orthopedic footwear | Usually kept on | May be removed or swabbed if scanners cannot clear them |
Current TSA Shoe Rules At Airport Security
TSA’s new approach keeps the layers of security but removes the old blanket step that forced every traveler to unlace shoes. Understanding how this works in different lanes helps you avoid surprises on the way to your gate.
Standard Screening Lines
In regular lines, you now walk through the body scanner with your shoes on. You still place carry-ons, laptops, and liquids in bins as usual, and you still remove heavier jackets or coats, but footwear stays on your feet unless a screener tells you otherwise.
If the scanner flags something around your lower legs, the officer may simply ask you to step aside for a quick pat-down of that area. In some cases, you will be asked to place your shoes on the belt for a quick X-ray. The officer is looking for a clear view of any spots that look dense or unusual on the image.
TSA Precheck And Other Trusted Lanes
TSA PreCheck lines already allowed most members to leave shoes on, so the daily routine in those lanes has not changed much. You still keep shoes, light jackets, and belts on, and laptops and small liquids can often stay inside your bag.
The main difference after July 2025 is that shoes in regular lines now follow a rule closer to PreCheck for this one step. PreCheck still helps, though, by cutting bin prep and speeding up the whole process, not just the footwear part. If you fly often, the time savings at security can still make PreCheck worthwhile over five years of travel.
Connections And International Flights
TSA rules apply every time you pass through a TSA checkpoint on U.S. soil, whether you are starting your trip or connecting from another city or country. If you land from abroad and re-check bags before a domestic leg, you will meet the same shoe-on standard in that checkpoint.
Outside the United States, local airport authorities set their own security rules. Some foreign airports continue to run full shoes-off lines, and some have already moved closer to the newer U.S. practice. So you might breeze through security with shoes on in Chicago, then face a shoes-off line in London or Tokyo, because those checkpoints follow local rules instead of TSA policy.
For the latest details on what TSA screens and how checkpoints work, you can review the agency’s main security screening overview before your next trip.
Why TSA Ended The Shoes-Off Requirement
The shoes-off rule did not start as a random request. It grew out of a very specific threat and then stayed in place while newer tools arrived. Understanding that story explains why TSA now feels comfortable letting most people keep shoes on.
From The Shoe Bomber To New Scanners
In 2001, a man named Richard Reid tried to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on American Airlines Flight 63. In response to that attempt and other plots, U.S. authorities ramped up airport security. By 2006, TSA had a nationwide rule that pushed nearly all travelers to remove shoes for screening, so X-ray machines could reveal altered soles or hidden compartments.
Over the following years, checkpoint technology improved. Modern computed tomography scanners and advanced imaging machines can build a three-dimensional picture of items in bags and on the body, making it easier to spot unusual shapes or materials inside footwear. By 2025, TSA and Homeland Security leaders concluded that these tools, combined with other layers of security, could replace the old blanket shoes-off mandate.
Real Id And Identity Checks
At the same time, the Real ID law finally reached full enforcement for air travel in 2025, tightening how identity checks work at security. Only IDs that meet federal standards now pass the document podium at U.S. airports. That extra confidence in who is entering the checkpoint helps TSA rely more on watchlists, behavior checks, and scanner results, instead of older visible rules that created long lines and frustration.
Homeland Security’s announcement ending the shoes-off rule framed the change as a way to keep security strong while cutting one of the most disliked steps of the screening process.
Practical Tips For Shoes At Security Now
The end of the standard shoes-off requirement makes airport lines feel lighter, but a little planning still helps. The footwear you choose, and how you pack, can shave minutes off your wait and make any extra checks easier to handle.
Best Types Of Footwear For Screening
You no longer have to dress around a guaranteed shoes-off stop, but some styles still work better at checkpoints than others. Here is how common options stack up in practice.
| Footwear Type | Screening Experience | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Slip-on sneakers | Stay on; easy to remove if asked | Most trips and long walks through terminals |
| Lace-up running shoes | Stay on; may need removal after an alarm | Travel days with tight connections |
| Light boots or ankle boots | Usually stay on; thicker soles draw more checks | Cold-weather trips and outdoor routes |
| Heavy hiking boots | Higher chance of extra screening | Trips with backcountry stops or rugged terrain |
| Sandals or slides | Stay on; quick to take off if told | Beach breaks and short flights |
| High heels | Can be unstable on scanner platforms | Non-stop trips where you sit soon after security |
| Steel-toe or safety shoes | Often trigger alarms | Work trips where you go straight to a job site |
| Kids’ light-up shoes | Electronics can draw extra checks | Short flights with younger children |
Whichever style you pick, clean socks and shoes that slip on and off without a long lacing routine still help. Even though the rule changed, you may be glad you can move quickly if an officer does ask for one more pass through the scanner.
What To Do If An Officer Asks For Shoes Off
If a screener tells you to remove shoes, try to treat it as a short extra step, not a setback. Step to the side, find a bench or chair if one is near, and place shoes flat in a bin so the X-ray gets a clear view.
If you have mobility limits, a medical condition, or balance issues, you can tell the officer that you need a seat or some help before you try to stand barefoot on the floor. TSA rules allow travelers with disabilities or medical needs to request alternate screening methods, which might include a swab or pat-down instead of walking again through the machine.
Parents with small children can also ask for a little extra time at the belt so kids do not feel rushed or unsafe while shoes come off and on.
How This Affects Families And Older Travelers
Families who once had to juggle strollers, car seats, and a pile of tiny sneakers at the belt now have one less task to manage. Kids can usually walk straight through in whatever shoes they are wearing, unless something about the footwear sets off the scanner.
Older travelers benefit in a similar way. Bending down to tie laces or balance on one leg at the checkpoint can be tough. With the shoes-off rule gone, many seniors can now keep comfortable footwear on from curb to gate, with fewer awkward stops in between.
Even with those perks, it still helps to pack a spare pair of simple, comfortable shoes in your carry-on. That way, if one pair keeps drawing extra attention, you can swap to another style on the next leg of your trip.
Quick Recap On TSA Shoe Rules For Travelers
Does TSA Still Require Shoes Off?
The short answer today is no: TSA no longer requires every traveler to remove shoes at U.S. checkpoints. For most people, footwear stays on unless a scanner alarm, a random check, or unusual footwear triggers extra attention from officers.
The old blanket rule, first rolled out in 2006 after the attempted shoe bombing on Flight 63, officially ended on July 8, 2025. New scanners, stronger identity checks under Real ID, and other security layers now carry more of the load, so the once standard shoes-off line is no longer part of a normal U.S. screening experience.
If you still catch yourself typing “does tsa still require shoes off?” before every trip, remember these basic points:
- In U.S. TSA lines, shoes stay on unless an officer tells you otherwise.
- TSA PreCheck keeps its lighter screening style, but you no longer need it just to keep shoes on.
- Foreign airports may still run shoes-off lines, since local rules govern those checkpoints.
- Any alarm, random pull-aside, or special footwear can still lead to a quick “shoes in the bin” step.
One more time, for peace of mind on your next trip: does tsa still require shoes off? No—at least not by default. Wear comfortable shoes, pack a clean pair of socks, give yourself a little time at the checkpoint, and you will move through security with fewer hoops to jump through than travelers faced for nearly two decades.
Fast Checklist Before You Pack
- Check whether your departure and return airports are U.S. TSA checkpoints or foreign security lines.
- Pick shoes you can slip off and on without a long lacing routine, just in case an officer asks.
- Pack spare socks in your carry-on so you are not standing barefoot on the floor if shoes come off.
- Keep medications, braces, or medical letters handy if your footwear relates to a health condition.
- Carry a small plastic bag for shoes if you expect rain or snow outside the airport and want to keep them dry during screening.
With the end of the shoes-off rule, security lines in the United States feel a little lighter. A bit of planning around footwear and documents lets you take full advantage of the change and spend more of your travel day thinking about the trip itself, not the checkpoint floor.