Illinois REAL ID Deadline Changed, Again

ILLINOIS— Illinois residents will have another 19 months to apply for a REAL ID card. The Department of Homeland Security postponed the requirement again on Tuesday.

The deadline is now May 3, 2023. Originally, the Secretary of State's office pushed the deadline to October 2021. The pandemic has made it difficult for residents to get to any of Illinois' Department of Motor Vehicles buildings, especially as the agency is operating at limited capacity.

What's more, fewer than 50 percent of Americans have been able to obtain their REAL ID.

"Extending the Real ID full enforcement deadline will give states needed time to reopen their driver's licensing operations and ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card," DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

While REAL IDs are optional, you'll need some form of acceptable identification to board flights within the United States and gain access to federal buildings like courthouses. A U.S. passport or military ID will also be accepted.

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. Due to backlogs in many federal systems, Illinois and other states received several extensions to implement the requirements.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White praised the newest postponement.

"This is the proper and necessary action in response to the pandemic," White said in a statement.

White has also extended all driver's license and ID card expiration dates until August 1. The extension does not apply to commercial driver's licenses or commercial learner's permits.

A REAL ID has a one-time fee of $30, plus a renewal fee.

The current renewal fee is $30.50 for a four-year, non-commercial driver's license, $31.50 for a photo ID.

There are three ways to get a REAL ID:

• If you've been pre-verified, you can order your REAL ID online and receive it in the mail within two weeks.
• You can visit one of Illinois' Driver's License Centers, have your documents verified, and pay the one-time fee.
• You can visit one of the 12 REAL ID Centers across the country to have documents verified, pay the one-time fee, and receive the REAL ID over the counter at that time.

To get a REAL ID you'll need the following documents:

• Proof of identity: Original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics with a raised seal/embossed or valid, unexpired, U.S. passport
• Proof of Social Security Number: Social Security card, in current legal name
• Two proofs of current, physical Illinois address: Current, unexpired Illinois driver's license or identification card, vehicle registration or a utility bill with the same name and address
• Proof of all legal name changes (if applicable): Certified marriage certificate(s) issued by the County Court for each marriage, court order(s) approving a change in legal name, or amended birth certificate issued by the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics

More information on REAL IDs in Illinois can be found here.