How Do You Get an Illinois REAL ID?

The REAL ID rule in one table

| Enforcement | REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025. Age 18 and older, without a valid U.S. passport, passport card, U.S. military ID, or DHS trusted traveler card, need a REAL ID to fly domestic or enter certain federal facilities | | Not needed | Under 18, with a valid passport, military ID, or trusted traveler card, or with no such travel or facility plans. A standard license still suffices to drive in Illinois. No REAL ID is needed to vote or prove citizenship | | One per person | Only one form of REAL ID per person under federal law. No holding both a REAL ID license and a REAL ID state ID | | Document bundle | Proof of identity, date of birth, and U.S. citizenship or lawful status; proof of the full Social Security number; two proofs of residency; verification of the written signature | | Fee | The same as the standard license or ID fee. A driver's license is 30 dollars for ages 21 to 68. A state ID is 20 dollars for ages 18 to 64 and 5 dollars under 18, free at 65 and older | | At the facility | Temporary paper credential issued at application. Laminated card mailed within 15 business days. Apply at least 30 days before a scheduled flight |

What makes REAL ID different

A REAL ID is a standard card with a federal star, not a separate document type. The gold star in the top right corner means the card already is one. The card costs the same as the standard license or ID, and its validity matches the standard card: typically 4 years for licenses and 5 years for IDs. Temporary-status cards expire with lawful status.

The second difference is the February 1 clock. Starting February 1, travelers without a REAL ID or passport face a TSA charge of 45 dollars for a trip, and 90 dollars if the trip lasts more than 10 days, just to pass through airport security. From that date, TSA accepts only the permanent REAL ID card. A temporary paper REAL ID does not avoid the charge. Apply at least one month before travel.

The process, step by step

1. Gather the bundle: one document with the full legal name, date of birth, and citizenship or lawful status, such as a passport, birth certificate, permanent resident card, or employment authorization card; one document with the full Social Security number, such as a Social Security card, a W-2, or a 1099 (waived with a valid Illinois license or state ID where the number was previously provided); two documents proving Illinois residency, such as a bank statement, rental agreement, pay stub, utility bill, or voter registration card; and one document verifying the written signature, such as a current non-REAL ID license, a credit or debit card, a passport, or a canceled check. All documents must be valid and up to date, and only original hard copies are accepted. No photocopies. Printed electronic documents are accepted for proof of residency.
2. If the current legal name differs from the name on the identity documents, bring the linking document: a certified marriage certificate, an adoption document, a certified name-change document, or a domestic partnership or civil union document.
3. Visit a Secretary of State facility or the REAL ID walk-in Supercenter in downtown Chicago, at 191 North Clark Street, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., extended through the end of 2026. Some facilities require appointments, so check ahead. Apply at least 30 days before a scheduled flight.
4. Receive the temporary paper credential at the facility. The permanent card arrives by mail within 15 business days. Lawful-status non-citizens, including permanent residents, DACA and TPS holders, and student or employment visa holders with a Social Security number, may apply.

A corrected REAL ID is listed at 5 dollars. A disability ID switch, with a new physician-dated application within 3 months, is a separate track from the main application on this page.

Related Illinois guides

See Illinois State Identification Card and Illinois Driver's License Renewal by Safe Driver. Drivers 79 and older renew under the senior renewal rules. The full hub is the Illinois Admin Process Directory.

Source

The enforcement date, the who-needs-it rule, the document bundle, the fee rule, and the temporary-card timing on this page come from the Illinois Secretary of State: the REAL ID FAQ and the REAL ID homepage. Fee figures follow the Secretary of State fee listings. Facts verified 2026-10-27.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your government agency.