Illinois REAL ID Does Not Go Into Effect Until October 1, 2021. UPDATED BY SYLVIA CHAPMAN
REAL ID does not go into effect until October 1, 2021.
Your current Illinois driver's license or ID card (DL/ID) will be accepted at airports, military bases and secure federal facilities until Oct. 1, 2020. We are providing you with the choice either to obtain a REAL ID card or to keep a standard card. Take time to know your options.
You NEED a REAL ID if:
- You do not have a valid U.S. passport or passport card; AND
- You use airplanes as a mode of domestic transportation; or
- You visit military bases; or
- You visit secure federal facilities.
You DO NOT NEED a REAL ID if
- You have a valid U.S. passport or passport card; or
- You do not use airplanes as a mode of domestic transportation; or
- You do not visit military bases; or
- You do not visit secure federal facilities.
To see what documents you need to apply for a REAL ID, visit the REAL ID Interactive Checklist.
All Driver Services facilities are issuing REAL IDs, with the exception of mobile units and express facilities (Diversey, Lockport, Orland Park, Rockford Auburn St., Roscoe, Washington and Wheaton).
Application Process for
REAL ID Driver's License or ID
Step 1: Visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility and take your photo and any required exams.
Step 2: All applicants must provide proof of identity. (Examples are: a certified U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport, an employment authorization document, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form.) *Please note that name change documents, such as a certified copy of a marriage certificate, will be required if the applicant presents a birth certificate with a name different from his/her current name.
Step 3: All applicants must provide proof of full Social Security number (SSN). (Examples are: an SSN card, a W-2 or a pay stub with full SSN.)
Step 4: All applicants must provide two current residency documents with the applicant's name. (Examples are: a utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title or a bank statement.)
Step 5: All applicants must provide proof of signature. (Examples are: a credit/debit card, canceled check or current Illinois DL/ID.)
Step 6: Receive a temporary, secure paper DL/ID at the facility. *Please note that the TSA and federal agents will not accept the paper document.
Step 7: After review and verification of documents have been conducted, your new permanent REAL ID card will be mailed to you within 15 business days.
Complete this simple interactive checklist to find out exactly what documents you will need to bring to apply for a REAL ID DL/ID before visiting a Driver Services facility.
MORE INFORMATION Illinois Secretary of State Website: https://realid.ilsos.gov/
