REAL ID In Illinois: Here's What You Need To Get One

ILLINOIS — After the deadline was extended multiple times due to the pandemic, Illinoisans now have less than a year to obtain their REAL ID, which will be required to fly domestically starting May 3, 2023.

Residents will no longer be allowed to board flights or visit federal facilities and military bases with ordinary driver's licenses or ID cards on that date. Those who do not have a REAL ID will need a valid U.S. passport to fly within the country.

While residents have nearly nine months to obtain a REAL ID, with reports of long lines at many facilities, you may want to get yours sooner rather than later.

Some Chicago-area Illinois drivers services facilities are appointment only, so check with your facility and schedule an appointment in advance if it's required.

To obtain a real ID, Illinois residents must provide documents to prove their identity, their Social Security number, a written signature and two documents that show proof of residence.

Here's what will be accepted to prove identity:

• Certified copy of a birth certificate
• U.S. passport
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Certificate of Citizenship issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Form N-560 or Form N-561
• Certificate of Naturalization issued by DHS, Form N-550 or Form N-570
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by DHS, Form I-766 or Form I-688B
• Foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa affixed accompanied by the approved Form I-94 documenting the applicant's most recent admittance to the United States
• Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by DHS or the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
• REAL ID, driver's license, ID card

To verify Social Security number, residents can use:

• Social Security card
• W-2
• Pay stub or printed electronic deposit receipt bearing their name and SSN
• SSA-1099 Form
• Non-SSA-1099 Form

To prove residency, residents must show any TWO of the following documents:

• Bank statement (dated within 90 days prior to application). Account numbers must be visible
• Canceled check (dated within 90 days prior to application). Account numbers must be visible
• Credit card statement from Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express or a statement for a card with 1 of these logos. Account numbers must be visible
• Certified grade/high school or college/university transcript
• Credit report issued by Experian, Equifax or TransUnion (dated within 12 months prior to application)
• Deed/title, mortgage or rental/lease agreement
• Insurance policy (homeowner's or renter's). Account numbers must be visible
• Letter on official school letterhead (dated within 90 days prior to application)
• Medical claim or statement of benefits from private insurance company or public (government) agency (dated within 90 days prior to application)
• Pay stub or printed electronic deposit receipt
• Official mail received from a state, county, city or village, or a federal government agency that includes your first and last name and complete current address. This may include, but is not limited to:
  • Homestead Exemption Receipt.
  • Jury duty notice (issued within 90 days prior to application).
  • Selective Service card
  • Social Security annual statement
  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) statement
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits statement
• Pension or retirement statement. Account numbers must be visible
• Report card from grade/high school or college/university.
• Tuition invoice or other official mail from a college/university (dated within 12 months prior to application)
• Utility bill − electric, water, refuse, phone (land or cell), cable or gas (issued within 90 days prior to application). Account numbers must be visible
• Voter registration card

Proof of written signature can be shown using any of the following:

• Illinois driver's license or ID
• Temporary driver's license, ID or commercial learner's permit
• Out-of-state driver's license/ID
• Canceled check (dated within 90 days prior to application). Account numbers must be visible.
• Cooperative Driver Testing Program certificate
• Court order
• Credit card/debit card – major provider
• Driver's license issued by an agency of the U.S. government (e.g., Department of State)
• Foreign passport
• Identification card issued by an agency of the U.S. government
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Identification Card Verification Form
• Medicare card – with suffix A, J, H, M or T
• Mortgage or installment loan documents. Account numbers must be visible
• Social Security card
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) forms:
  • Form I-551 (Permanent Resident Card)
  • Form I-766 (Employment Authorization Card)
  • Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) with valid passport

• U.S. military driver's license/ID
• U.S. military service record (e.g., DD 214)

Residents will receive a temporary paper ID at the drivers services facility and will receive their REAL ID in the mail.

The deadline to obtain a REAL ID has been extended several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Secretary of State Jesse White's Office has also extended the deadline for driver's licenses expiring between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 1, 2022. Residents now have until Dec. 1, 2022 to renew their license.