How to Get a STAR ID in Illinois: Documents, Cost, and Eligibility

To get a STAR ID in Illinois, you gather original documents proving your identity, Social Security number, and Illinois residency, then apply in person at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility. There is no extra charge over a standard license, and no way to complete the application online or by mail because a clerk needs to examine and scan your original paperwork.¹ The gold star in the upper right corner of the card is what tells TSA and federal facility staff that the license meets REAL ID standards.²

Documents To Bring

This is where most applications fail. Everything must be an original or a certified copy. Photocopies, phone photos, and expired documents will not be accepted, and one missing item means a wasted trip.¹ Before you go, run through the interactive checklist at realid.ilsos.gov, which flags problems specific to your documents in a few minutes.³

Proof of Identity, Date of Birth, and Lawful Status

Bring one document from this group. Common choices:

A certified birth certificate issued by a state or local vital statistics office. Hospital-issued certificates do not count.
A valid U.S. passport or passport card.
Permanent resident card (Form I-551).
Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) or Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561).
Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) for eligible noncitizens.
A foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and an approved Form I-94.

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad from the U.S. Department of State also qualifies.¹

Proof of Your Social Security Number

If your SSN is already on file from a prior Illinois license or state ID, you can skip this group.⁴ Otherwise, bring one document showing your full number: your Social Security card, a W-2, a recent pay stub or electronic deposit receipt showing the full SSN, or an SSA-1099.¹

Two Proofs of Illinois Residency

You need two separate documents showing your current physical address, and both must show the same address. This is where applications most often get rejected. Options include a utility bill (electric, water, gas, phone, or cable) dated within 90 days, a bank or credit card statement dated within 90 days, a mortgage or lease agreement, or a voter registration card. A document you already used in another group counts toward residency if it shows your full residential address.¹

Name Change Documents

If your current legal name differs from the name on your identity document, you must bring proof for every change in the chain. One change means one document; several changes over the years mean several documents. Acceptable proof includes a certified marriage certificate, a certified divorce decree showing the resulting legal name, adoption paperwork, a court-ordered name change document, or a civil union or domestic partnership certificate.⁵

Applying in Person

You must apply at an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility. Book an appointment online through the Secretary of State’s website to avoid long waits.⁶

At the counter, the clerk reviews and scans your documents, takes your photo, and captures a digital signature. You leave with a temporary paper document that is valid for 90 days and serves as your license while the state runs federal verification.⁷ The permanent STAR ID card arrives by U.S. mail at the address on file, typically within 15 business days.⁸ If it does not arrive in that window, call the Secretary of State’s office rather than assume it was lost in the mail; the office has a process for reissuing cards.

What It Costs

There is no extra fee for choosing the STAR ID over a standard license. You pay the regular Illinois driver’s license fee, which is $30 for a standard adult driver’s license. Fees differ for state ID cards, seniors, and applicants under 21. If you upgrade a current valid license to a STAR ID before your renewal date, you may pay a duplicate or corrected license fee instead of the full renewal price. Check the Secretary of State’s fee schedule for your situation before your visit.

Who Qualifies

You must be an Illinois resident and show lawful presence in the United States. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, people with approved asylum applications, and refugees qualify for a full-term STAR ID. Noncitizens in temporary lawful status, including those with approved deferred action, temporary protected status, or a nonimmigrant visa, can receive a limited-term STAR ID that expires when their authorized stay ends.⁹

Illinois residents who cannot show lawful presence can still obtain a standard driver’s license or state ID. That card will not carry the gold star and will not be accepted for federal purposes, but it remains valid for driving and state-level identification.

Whether You Actually Need One

The STAR ID (or an acceptable substitute) is required to board a domestic commercial flight, enter federal facilities that check ID at the door, and access nuclear power plants. Enforcement began May 7, 2025.¹⁰ If you never fly domestically and have no reason to enter a federal building or military installation, your standard Illinois license still works for driving and everyday identification.

Children under 18 do not need a STAR ID, a passport, or any ID to fly domestically. TSA’s identification requirement applies only to passengers age 18 and older, so a minor traveling with an adult needs nothing at the checkpoint.¹¹ Airline rules for unaccompanied minors are separate from TSA’s checkpoint policy.

If You Need To Fly Before Your STAR ID Arrives

A U.S. passport or passport card gets you through TSA without a STAR ID. So does a DHS trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST), a U.S. military ID or Common Access Card, or an Enhanced Driver’s License from Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, or Vermont.¹²

Starting February 1, 2026, TSA also offers a paid identity verification service called ConfirmID. You pay $45 (you can prepay online), present your receipt at the checkpoint, and TSA attempts to verify you through other means. Verification is not guaranteed, and if it fails you will not pass security. The $45 covers a 10-day window from the travel date on the receipt; each adult without acceptable ID pays separately, and a round trip longer than 10 days requires a second payment.¹³

1
Illinois Secretary of State. REAL ID Document Checklist
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Illinois State Police. Formatting Change to Illinois Driver’s License and ID Cards – REAL ID
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Illinois Secretary of State. REAL ID
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Illinois Secretary of State. Document Requirements to Obtain a Driver’s License or State ID Card
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Illinois Secretary of State. Corrected Driver’s License or ID Card Checklist
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Illinois Secretary of State. Appointments
7
Legal Information Institute. Illinois Administrative Code tit 92 1030.89 – Temporary Driver’s Licenses and Temporary Instruction Permits
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Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Information
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
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Defense Travel Management Office. Travelers without REAL ID Could Pay $45 Fee for TSAs ConfirmID Beginning February 1, 2026
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Transportation Security Administration. TSA ConfirmID