How to Get an ID in Illinois: REAL ID, Documents, and Fees

To get an ID in Illinois, visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility in person with documents proving your signature, identity and date of birth, Social Security number, and two proofs of Illinois residency, then pay a fee between $0 and $20 depending on your age. Before you go, decide whether you want a standard card or a REAL ID-compliant card, because that choice changes what you need to bring.

Standard Card or REAL ID

Illinois issues two versions of its state identification card. The REAL ID-compliant version carries a small gold star in the upper-right corner; the standard version does not. Since May 7, 2025, TSA only accepts REAL ID-compliant cards at airport security checkpoints, and a standard Illinois ID without the gold star no longer works for boarding domestic flights or entering federal buildings unless you bring an alternative like a U.S. passport.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions2Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint

The practical difference is one extra document. A REAL ID requires everything a standard card does, plus one document from Group E proving U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status. If you’ll never fly domestically or enter a federal building, the standard card is simpler. If a birth certificate or passport is already in your pile, the REAL ID costs you nothing extra to request.

Who Can Apply

Any Illinois resident can apply under the Illinois Identification Card Act. There is no minimum age, but applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian present.3Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 15 ILCS 335 – Illinois Identification Card Act You must provide a physical Illinois address; P.O. boxes do not qualify. Since January 1, 2024, you can choose M, F, or X as your gender designation, and no medical certification is required to choose X.4Illinois State Police. Illinois Secretary of State Non-binary Gender X Designation

Documents to Bring

Illinois sorts acceptable documents into groups. For a standard state ID, bring one document from each of Groups A, B, and C, plus two documents from Group D. For a REAL ID, add one document from Group E.5Legal Information Institute. Illinois Admin Code Title 92 Part 1030 Appendix D – Acceptable Identification Documents

  • Group A — written signature: a canceled check, credit card, or other document bearing your signature.
  • Group B — identity and date of birth: a certified U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate.
  • Group C — Social Security number: your Social Security card or an official Social Security Administration record showing your full number.
  • Group D — Illinois residency (two required): utility bills, bank statements, or insurance documents issued within the last 90 days.
  • Group E — U.S. citizenship or lawful status (REAL ID only): a certified birth certificate, U.S. passport or passport card, Certificate of Naturalization, permanent resident card, or employment authorization document.6Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Admin Code Section 1030 Appendix D – Acceptable Identification Documents

A birth certificate can satisfy both Group B and Group E at once, which simplifies the REAL ID pile for anyone born in the U.S.

Document Rules That Trip People Up

Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies are rejected. Every document with an expiration date must still be valid on the day you apply.5Legal Information Institute. Illinois Admin Code Title 92 Part 1030 Appendix D – Acceptable Identification Documents

If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your birth certificate or identity document, you need a linking document such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing the name change. This is where many first-time applicants get sent home. Lay your documents side by side before you leave the house; if the names don’t match across all of them, bring whatever connects the dots.

Fees

What you pay depends on your age and whether you qualify for a waiver:7Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Fees

For everyone else, the standard card is valid for five years from the date of issue.

The In-Person Visit

All first-time state ID applications must be completed in person at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility. Illinois requires appointments at its 44 busiest locations, which include all Chicago and suburban offices.9Illinois Secretary of State. Skip the Line Smaller downstate offices may accept walk-ins, but scheduling ahead saves time either way.

When you arrive, staff at the front desk review your documents to confirm you have the right items from each group. That preliminary check catches obvious gaps before you wait in line, but it isn’t a guarantee. Once you’re cleared, you move to a processing counter where a staff member enters your information into the state database and verifies each document.

Then comes the photo. Your full face must be visible without obstruction, and staff will ask for a neutral expression. Religious head coverings are permitted as long as they don’t cover any part of your face, and you’ll sign a declaration confirming the covering reflects a sincerely held religious belief.10Legal Information Institute. Illinois Admin Code Title 92 Section 1030.90 – Requirement for Photograph and Signature You’ll provide a digital signature and pay at the cashier station. You can also register as an organ donor and register to vote during the application.

Your Temporary ID and the Real Card

You’ll leave with a temporary paper identification document. The permanent plastic card is produced at a secure central facility and mailed to the address on your application. Most applicants receive it within a few weeks.

The paper temporary has one important limitation: TSA does not accept it for air travel.2Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you have a trip coming up, carry your passport or another TSA-accepted document until the permanent card arrives. If 30 days pass with no card, call the Secretary of State’s office. Mail gets lost, and you don’t want to assume it’s still being processed when it may be sitting in someone else’s mailbox.

Renewing Your Card

The Secretary of State mails renewal notices before your card expires. Online renewal is available if you’re renewing an existing standard card without changes. You cannot renew online if you want to upgrade to a REAL ID for the first time; that requires an in-person visit with the full document set including Group E.11Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Renewal

In-person renewal follows the same process as the original application. Bring your expiring card and any required documents. The renewal fee matches the original fee for your age group. Residents aged 65 and older hold non-expiring cards and don’t need to renew.8Illinois Secretary of State. Drivers License and State ID Card Information

Replacing a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Card

You can request a duplicate if your card is lost, stolen, or damaged. The Secretary of State offers an online replacement option, which is faster than visiting a facility.12Illinois Secretary of State. Duplicate Drivers License or ID Card A replacement fee applies. If you suspect theft, file a police report first; you may need it if someone uses your identity fraudulently.

Updating Your Address

Illinois law requires you to notify the Secretary of State within 10 days of moving.13Illinois Secretary of State. Address Change You can submit the address change notification online, but updating the physical card requires an in-person visit to a Driver Services facility with acceptable ID and the applicable fee. An outdated address on your ID can create problems with voting, package delivery, and law enforcement interactions, so don’t let it slide.