Illinois REAL ID Star Recognition
Illinois REAL ID cards feature a gold star silhouette at the top-right corner.
Enhanced Driver License vs Standard REAL ID
Illinois does not issue Enhanced Driver's Licenses.
Documents You Must Bring to the Office
To upgrade, you must visit a local customer center in person with these original papers. Photocopies or digital scans are rejected:
- Proof of Identity (1 Document): US Passport, Certified Birth Certificate, or Permanent Resident Card.
- Proof of Social Security (1 Document): Original Social Security Card, printed W-2, or 1099 form displaying your full SSN. The document must not be laminated.
- Proof of State Residency (2 Documents): Printed utilities bills, credit card statements, bank statements, or rental leases dated within 60 days.
Cost of a REAL ID in Illinois
A REAL ID costs thirty dollars, identical to the standard Illinois driver's license fee.
REAL ID FAQs
Yes. TSA checkpoints enforce these guidelines for all domestic flights. Without a gold star license, Enhanced ID, or a valid US passport, you will be blocked from security checkpoints.
Some states permit pre-application online uploads to speed up in-person checkins, but you must still bring your physical original papers to your branch office appointment for validation.