Illinois State ID Number: Format, Eligibility, and Fees

An Illinois state ID number is the unique 12-character alphanumeric code the Secretary of State assigns to every state identification card. It appears on the front of the card in the field labeled “ID Number,” and it isn’t random: the sequence encodes your last name, first name, middle initial, sex, and date of birth into a compact string that also serves as your permanent record in the state’s identity database.

What the 12 Characters Mean

Illinois builds the number using a coded formula that converts your personal information into 12 positions. The naming portion works like the Soundex method the federal government developed for census records, turning names into numeric codes so similar-sounding names produce similar sequences.¹ The Illinois State Police LEADS Operating Manual lays out the structure using a driver’s license example, and the same encoding applies to state ID cards.²

Take the sample number Y620-930-57-270. Here is what each segment carries:

Y620: the first letter of the holder’s last name, followed by three digits derived from the remaining letters of that last name.
930: a three-digit code representing the first name or initial and the middle initial.
57: the last two digits of the birth year (1957 in this example).
270: three digits encoding sex and day of birth. Males fall in the range 001 through 372, females in the range 601 through 972.

The digits 7, 8, and 9 never appear in the first three numeric positions, and numbers 373 through 599 are invalid in the last three positions. When two people happen to generate the same number, the Secretary of State assigns a replacement value between 400 and 599 in the final three digits so every record stays unique.

Where the Letter Sits on an ID vs. a Driver’s License

One quirk trips people up. On a driver’s license, the letter comes first. On a state ID card, the same formula runs, but the letter moves to the end.² So a driver’s license number of Y620-930-57-270 corresponds to a state ID number of 620-930-57-270Y. If you’re comparing the two side by side and think one of them is wrong, check the position of the letter first.

Who Can Get an Illinois State ID

Any Illinois resident can apply, regardless of age. Children, adults who don’t drive, and seniors all qualify. The statute covers “any natural person who is a resident of the State of Illinois.”³

There is one restriction worth knowing. Under federal regulation, you cannot hold a REAL ID driver’s license and a REAL ID identification card at the same time.⁴ Illinois enforces the same rule and will refuse to issue a REAL ID card to anyone already holding a REAL ID license, unless the applicant surrenders the license.³ If you hold identification from another state, you have to give that up as well.

Residents aged 65 and older receive a standard (non-REAL ID) card that never expires and costs nothing.⁵ A senior who chooses a REAL ID instead gets a card that expires after eight years.

Non-citizens with temporary legal status who cannot get a Social Security number apply through a separate program, the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License, which runs four years or the length of authorized stay, whichever is shorter.⁶

Documents You’ll Need

The document list depends on which card you’re applying for.

Standard ID

For a standard card, bring one document from each of four groups:⁷

Group A, written signature: a previous Illinois ID, a passport, or another signed document.
Group B, date of birth: a certified birth certificate, a valid passport, or a court order.
Group C, Social Security number: your original Social Security card or an official tax document showing the full SSN.
Group D, residency: two documents showing your current Illinois address. Bank statements and utility bills must be dated within 90 days.

Every document has to be an original or certified copy. Photocopies get turned away.

REAL ID

A REAL ID card uses a different grouping and stricter proof:⁸

Group 1, identity, date of birth, and lawful status: U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, permanent resident card, or similar federal document.
Group 2, Social Security number: your Social Security card, a W-2, or an SSA-1099.
Group 3, residency: two documents showing your full home address.
Group 4, written signature: one signed document.

A Group 1 or Group 2 document that shows your full home address can count as one of your two residency proofs.

Standard ID or REAL ID?

REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025.⁹ Since then, anyone 18 or older needs a REAL ID-compliant card, a valid U.S. passport, or another federally approved document to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal buildings. A standard Illinois ID no longer works at TSA checkpoints.

If you don’t fly and don’t need to enter federal facilities, a standard card handles banking, employment verification, age-restricted purchases, and general identification. Fees are the same for both. The practical difference is documentation at the counter and, for seniors, whether the card ever expires.

Alternatives to a REAL ID at the airport include a U.S. passport or passport card, military ID, permanent resident card, and trusted traveler cards like Global Entry or NEXUS.¹⁰

Applying in Person

You apply for an original state ID in person at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility. Staff review your documents, check your information against state records, take a digital photo, and have you fill out an application with your legal name, height, weight, and eye color.

Illinois uses central issuance, so no facility prints the permanent card on site. You leave with a temporary paper ID valid for 90 days that also serves as proof of your pending application.¹¹ Your information moves to a centralized production facility for a fraud check before the permanent card is printed and mailed. The card arrives within 15 business days.¹² Keep the paper receipt until your card shows up.

Fees

What you pay turns on age and circumstances:¹³

Adults 18 to 64: $20 for an original or renewal.
Under 18: $5 for original, renewal, corrected, or duplicate.
65 and older: free.
Persons with disabilities: free (a completed disability form is required).
Homeless individuals: free.
Corrected card, adults: $10.
Duplicate card, adults: $20.

REAL ID costs the same as a standard card. Veterans living in a state veterans home, and youth leaving foster care or the Department of Corrections, also qualify for fee waivers.

Expiration and Renewal

A standard state ID for adults 21 through 64 is good for five years and expires on your birthday. Cards issued to minors aged 15 through 20 expire when the holder turns 21.⁵ Standard cards for residents 65 and older are permanent, while REAL ID cards for seniors expire after eight years.

You can renew online if you received a renewal letter with a PIN or Renewal Authorization Number. Online renewal isn’t available for REAL ID cards, which require an in-person visit.¹⁴ Either way, the new card arrives by mail within 15 business days. If your renewal letter never showed up or you lost the PIN, call the Secretary of State at 800-252-8980.

Penalties for Fake IDs

Illinois treats fraudulent identification cards as felonies in most cases. Under the Illinois Identification Card Act:¹⁵

Possessing a fraudulent ID card: Class 4 felony, minimum fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service.
Possessing a fraudulent ID to commit theft, fraud, or another felony: Class 3 felony, escalating to Class 2 on a repeat offense.
Manufacturing, selling, or duplicating fraudulent ID cards: Class 3 felony, escalating to Class 2 on a repeat offense.
Advertising or distributing materials that promote fake IDs: Class A misdemeanor.

A Class 4 felony carries one to three years in prison, a Class 3 carries two to five, and a Class 2 carries three to seven.

1
National Archives. Soundex System
2
Illinois State Police. LEADS Operating Manual – Drivers License Inquiry
3
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 15 ILCS 335/2
4
eCFR. 6 CFR 37.29 – Prohibition Against Holding More Than One REAL ID Card or More Than One Drivers License
5
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 15 ILCS 335/8 – Expiration
6
Illinois Secretary of State. Temporary Visitor Driver’s License
7
Illinois Secretary of State. Document Requirements to Obtain a Drivers License/State ID Card
8
Illinois Secretary of State. Acceptable Documents for REAL ID
9
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
10
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
11
Illinois Secretary of State. Central Issuance
12
Illinois Secretary of State. Drivers License and State ID Card Information
13
Illinois Secretary of State. Drivers License/State ID Card Fees
14
Illinois Secretary of State. Drivers License and State ID Card Renewal
15
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 15 ILCS 335/14B