Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that Illinoisans now have the opportunity to apply for a REAL ID card. The REAL ID is a new type of Illinois Driver’s License or ID card, that meets Federal guidelines..Th card will allow the holder to board airplanes for domestic travel or to enter secure Federal facilities, beginning Tuesday, October 1, 2020.
The Federal Government requires REAL ID applicants to provide additional documents to obtain this card. Illinois residents are not required to obtain the new card. They can rather choose to keep their current standard Driver’s License or ID card and use a valid Passport, to board domestic flights after Tuesday, October 1, 2020.
There is no immediate need to apply for a REAL ID card. Current Illinois Driver’s Licenses or ID cards will be accepted for domestic air travel or to enter secure Federal facilities until Tuesday, October 1, 2020. A valid U. S. Passport is an acceptable alternative to a REAL ID card.
The application process for a REAL ID card takes longer at the facility than a standard DL/ID application, because more documents are required by the Federal Government. As a result, the public is asked to please be patient while visiting Driver Services facilities.
“I’m pleased to offer the REAL ID to Illinois residents who want one,” said White. “I encourage residents to know their options and make the choice that is right for them, by choosing between a standard Driver’s License or ID card or a REAL ID card. Although we are now issuing REAL ID cards, current cards will be valid for domestic air travel until Tuesday, October 1, 2020. Therefore, there is no rush to apply for a REAL ID card.”
The U. S. Department of Homeland Security has certified Illinois as fully compliant with the REAL ID Act. The REAL ID Act is a Federal mandate by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, that sets standards for State-issued DL/ID’s, by making identity documents more secure, to combat fraud and identity theft.
REAL ID cards meet security requirements set by the Federal Government and will have a gold star marking in the top right corner. Newly-issued standard DL/ID’s that do not comply with requirements of the Federal REAL ID Act will be marked with the phrase “Federal Limits Apply,” as called for by the Federal law.
Based on Federal guidelines, to obtain an Illinois REAL ID card, all applicants–including those who currently hold a standard Illinois DL/ID–must provide:
• one document proving identity (examples: a U. S. birth certificate, a U. S. passport, an employment authorization document, a Permanent Resident card, or a foreign Passport with an approved I-94 form.) IMPORTANT: Name change documents, such as a marriage certificate, will be required if the applicant’s current name is different than the name that appears on the document used to prove identity, such as a birth certificate.)
• one document proving Social Security Number (SSN) (examples: an SSN card, a W-2, or a pay stub with full SSN)
• two documents proving residency with the applicant’s correct name and address (examples: utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title, or bank statement)
• one document proving signature (examples: a credit/debit card, a canceled check, or a current Illinois DL/ID.)
A full list of approved documents is available at REALID.ilsos.gov. Residents are encouraged to use the interactive checklist at https://realid.ilsos.gov/checklist.html to determine what documents are recommended to bring to the facility, in order to apply for a REAL ID.
For more information on REAL ID, visit REALID.ilsos.gov. For more information on the REAL ID Act, please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website at dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs.