How to Remove Federal Limits Apply From Your Illinois ID

To remove the “Federal Limits Apply” marking from your Illinois driver’s license or state ID, you have to replace the card with a REAL ID-compliant version by applying in person at an Illinois Secretary of State facility. There is no form to check or box to update on your existing card. The marking exists because your current license was issued without the federal verification steps the REAL ID Act requires, so the only way to clear it is to go through those steps and get a new card with a gold star in the upper corner.¹

Since May 7, 2025, federal enforcement has been active. A card marked “Federal Limits Apply” is no longer accepted for boarding domestic flights or entering most secured federal facilities, which is why most people upgrading right now are doing it before a trip.²

Documents You Need to Bring

The Illinois Secretary of State requires four categories of documentation. Every document must be an original or a certified copy. Photocopies are not accepted, and only residency documents can be printed from an electronic source.³

One document proving identity and lawful status, showing your full legal name, date of birth, and citizenship or lawful status on a single document. A U.S. passport, birth certificate, permanent resident card, or employment authorization card all qualify.
One document proving your Social Security number: your Social Security card, a W-2 showing the full number, or a 1099. If you already hold a valid Illinois license or ID and previously provided your Social Security card, this requirement is waived.
Two documents proving Illinois residency, each showing your name and current Illinois address. Bank statements, rental or lease agreements, pay stubs, utility bills, and voter registration cards all work.
One document for signature verification, such as your current non-REAL ID license, a credit or debit card, a passport, or a canceled check.

These mirror the federal minimums under the REAL ID Act, which requires states to verify identity, date of birth, Social Security number, lawful status, and principal residence before issuing a compliant card.⁴

If Your Name Has Changed

When your current legal name does not match the name on your identity document, you need paperwork bridging your birth name to your current name. If your name changed more than once, you need a document for each change.³ Acceptable proof includes:

Certified marriage certificate
Adoption documents showing your legal name after the adoption
Certified name-change document showing both your former and current name
Domestic partnership or civil union registration document

This is where many applications stall. If a marriage certificate from decades ago is lost, you have to request a certified replacement from the county or state where the marriage was recorded before you can finish the REAL ID application.

A Note for Non-Citizens

Lawfully present non-citizens can obtain a REAL ID in Illinois, and the identity document used must also establish that lawful status. Illinois verifies status through the federal SAVE system before issuing the card.⁵ Those who qualify receive a “Limited Term” REAL ID valid only through the end of their authorized stay. Applicants who cannot provide proof of lawful status as defined in federal regulations are not eligible and will continue to receive a standard Illinois card marked “Federal Limits Apply.”¹

Where to Apply

Applications have to be completed in person so a staff member can verify your original documents and take a new photograph. You cannot apply online or by mail.³ Two options are available:

The REAL ID walk-in Supercenter at 191 N. Clark Street in Chicago, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., no appointment needed. This facility has been extended through the end of 2026.
Any of the roughly 140 full-service Driver Services Facilities statewide. Some locations require an appointment, so confirm availability before you go.

At the counter, staff review your originals, process your application, and take your photo. You leave the same day with a temporary paper license or ID. Your permanent card with the gold star arrives in the mail in about 15 business days.³

One catch worth planning around: the temporary paper document is not accepted as a REAL ID at TSA checkpoints. If you are flying before the permanent card arrives, bring a passport or another acceptable federal ID.

What It Costs

Confirm the current fee for a REAL ID-compliant card directly at ilsos.gov or at a Driver Services Facility, since fees are subject to change. The larger cost right now is what happens if you fly without one. Starting in early 2025, TSA began charging $45 at the checkpoint for travelers without a REAL ID or other acceptable identification, and $90 for trips longer than 10 days.³ A single round trip without a compliant ID can cost more than the card.

What the Standard Card Still Does

If you rarely fly and do not visit federal buildings or military bases, you may not need to upgrade at all. A standard Illinois card marked “Federal Limits Apply” still lets you drive, vote, apply for federal benefits, and visit hospitals.⁶ The limitation applies only when a federal agency controls access, which in practice means airports, federal courthouses, military installations, and certain other secured facilities. Specific entrance rules can vary by facility, so check before you visit.⁷

Acceptable Alternatives to a REAL ID

You can also satisfy federal ID requirements with a document you may already carry, which means your Illinois license can stay as it is. TSA accepts:⁸

U.S. passport or passport card
U.S. military ID, including dependent IDs
DHS trusted traveler cards such as Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI
Permanent resident card
Federally recognized tribal ID
Transportation Worker Identification Credential

A passport card costs less than a full passport book and fits in a wallet, which makes it a reasonable backup if you do not want to upgrade your license. For most people, though, replacing the card you already carry is simpler than keeping track of a second document.

1
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Identification Card Act 15 ILCS 335
2
Transportation Security Administration. Transportation Security Administration – REAL ID
3
Illinois Secretary of State. REAL ID
4
Department of Homeland Security. REAL ID Act of 2005 – Title II
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. SAVE
6
Defense Logistics Agency. Real ID Act Brings New Identification Requirements for Domestic Travel, Installation Access
7
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ID Requirements for Federal Facilities
8
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint