REAL ID Deadline Approaching for Illinois Residents: What To Know

CHICAGO— Federal enforcement of REAL ID begins for commercial domestic air travel in just six months. There are a few things you can do to prepare.

Officials with the Illinois Secretary of State's office said in a statement last year that residents who want a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or photo ID card should get their documents together as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline.

Starting in October 2021, drivers licenses and state IDs that are not REAL ID-compliant will not be accepted as identification by federal authorities.

While REAL IDs are optional, you'll need some form of acceptable identification to board flights within the United States and gain access to federal buildings like courthouses. A U.S. passport or military ID will also be accepted.

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. Due to backlogs in many federal systems, Illinois and other states received several extensions to implement the requirements.

The federal Department of Homeland Security postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from Oct. 1, 2020, to Oct. 1, 2021, in response to COVID-19.

Before the slowdown from the pandemic, the Secretary of State's office said the agency was issuing about 3,000 REAL IDs each day.

A REAL ID has a one-time fee of $30, plus a renewal fee.

The current renewal fee is $30.50 for a four-year, non-commercial driver's license, $31.50 for a photo ID.

There are three ways to get a REAL ID:

• If you've been pre-verified, you can order your REAL ID online and receive it in the mail within two weeks.
• You can visit one of Illinois' Driver's License Centers, have your documents verified, and pay the one-time fee.
• You can visit one of the 12 REAL ID Centers across the country to have documents verified, pay the one-time fee, and receive the REAL ID over the counter at that time.

To get a REAL ID you'll need the following documents:

• Proof of identity: Original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics with a raised seal/embossed or valid, unexpired, U.S. passport
• Proof of Social Security Number: Social Security card, in current legal name
• Two proofs of current, physical Illinois address: Current, unexpired Illinois driver's license or identification card, vehicle registration or a utility bill with the same name and address
• Proof of all legal name changes (if applicable): Certified marriage certificate(s) issued by the County Court for each marriage, court order(s) approving a change in legal name, or amended birth certificate issued by the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics

More information on REAL IDs in Illinois can be found here.