To get an Illinois state ID, you need to bring original or certified documents from four groups: one proving your signature, one proving your identity and date of birth, one showing your Social Security number, and one verifying your Illinois address. That’s the full list of documents needed for an Illinois state ID if you want a standard card. If you want a REAL ID, everything else stays the same but you need a second residency document.1Illinois Secretary of State. Document Requirements to Obtain a Drivers License or State ID Card
You apply in person at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility. There is no mail or online option for a first-time ID.2State of Illinois. Obtain an Identification Card Staff will review your documents, take your photo, capture your signature, and hand you a temporary paper ID the same day.
Group A: Proof of Signature
One document that carries your signature. Common choices:
- A major-brand credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or Diners Club)
- A canceled check dated within the last 90 days
- A current Illinois driver’s license or state ID, or one expired less than a year
- A court order
Group B: Proof of Identity and Date of Birth
One document confirming your legal name and date of birth. The most common options:
- A certified U.S. birth certificate
- A U.S. passport that is current or expired less than two years
- A Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
- A foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and I-94 record
Foreign passports and birth certificates in a language other than English require a certified English translation. The translator signs a statement confirming fluency in both languages and attesting that the translation is accurate and complete.
Group C: Proof of Social Security Number
One document displaying your full Social Security number:
- Your Social Security card
- A W-2 form
- A pay stub or direct deposit receipt showing your name and full SSN
Group D: Proof of Illinois Residency
One document for a standard ID, two for a REAL ID. Each must show your current Illinois address. Accepted examples 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 lease, mortgage statement, or property deed
- A credit report from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion dated within the past 12 months
For a REAL ID, the two residency documents must come from different sources. Two electric bills from the same provider will not count as two proofs.
Standard ID or REAL ID: How Many Residency Documents?
The choice between a standard ID and a REAL ID changes only one thing on your document list: one residency proof versus two. Since May 7, 2025, the TSA requires a REAL ID-compliant card, or an acceptable alternative such as a passport, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings.3Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7 A standard state ID still works for opening a bank account, proving your age, and dealing with state agencies, but it will not pass a TSA checkpoint. REAL ID-compliant cards carry a gold star in the upper-right corner.4USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel
If You’re Not a U.S. Citizen
Your Group B document changes. Permanent residents can use a valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). Non-immigrants generally need a valid foreign passport plus their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, along with supporting documents tied to visa category: an I-20 for F-1 students, a DS-2019 for J-1 exchange visitors. Refugees and asylees should bring the immigration judge’s order or the I-797 approval notice showing their A-number.1Illinois Secretary of State. Document Requirements to Obtain a Drivers License or State ID Card
Groups A, C, and D stay the same. Immigration documents must be current and unexpired. If your visa or work authorization expires on a future date, your REAL ID will generally be issued with a matching expiration rather than the standard five-year term.
Rules That Get People Turned Away
Every document must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies, notarized copies, and printouts of scanned files will be rejected. This is the single most common reason applicants leave without an ID.
Your name has to match across all four document groups. If your birth certificate shows one name and your Social Security card shows another because of a marriage or divorce, bring the connecting legal document: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order for a name change. Each name change in the chain needs its own document. Married, divorced, and remarried means three connecting documents.
Address documents have to reflect where you live now. A bank statement mailed to a previous address will not work even if the account is active. If you recently moved, update your bank and utility accounts before applying so the statements show your current address.
If You Don’t Have a Stable Address
A completed Homeless Verification Letter, signed by a homeless service provider or attorney and notarized, does two things: it satisfies the Group D residency requirement, and it waives the ID fee entirely. The service provider’s address appears on the card as your address of record. Homeless service organizations across Illinois keep blank copies of the form and can help you complete it.
Fees
The Secretary of State charges $20 for adults ages 18 through 64 and $10 for applicants under 18. The card is free for anyone 65 or older and for individuals with qualifying disabilities who apply using the Person with a Disability ID application.5Illinois Secretary of State. Drivers License and State ID Card Fees Facilities accept credit and debit cards, and all Illinois locations now take contactless payment through Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.