Do you need a REAL ID by the spring deadline? Here’s how many IL residents have one
Travelers across the U.S. will soon need a REAL ID to fly domestically and to access certain federal facilities, but most Illinois residents haven’t gotten one yet.
The REAL ID requirement is set to go into effect Wednesday, May 7, although the deadline has been extended several times. The original deadline was in 2008. Federal agencies may use a phased approach to enforcement, according to a new rule from the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).
A passport can be used as an alternative to a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state identification card, and those traveling internationally will still need a passport. Standard driver’s licenses that are not REAL ID-compliant will still be sufficient for driving and for general identification purposes, according to the Illinois Secretary of State.
How many Illinois residents have REAL IDs?
As of Dec. 31, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office had issued 3,295,078 REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state IDs, spokesperson Max Walczyk wrote in a Jan. 15 email to the News-Democrat.
That number represents 25.34% of valid driver’s licenses and state IDs in Illinois.
How can you get a REAL ID in Illinois?
People who have a valid U.S. passport or don’t fly domestically, access federal facilities or enter nuclear power plants can continue to use regular state identifications in lieu of getting a Real ID.
Illinois residents who need a REAL ID will need to follow this process to get one, according to the secretary of state:
Visit a Secretary of State Driver Services Facility and take your picture and any required exams.
Provide proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, passport, employment authorization document, permanent resident card or foreign passport with an approved I-94 form. Name-change documents will be required for applicants whose birth certificate name is not the same as their current name.
Proof of full Social Security number, such as your Social Security card, W-2 or paystub that shows the whole number.
Provide two current residency documents with your name, such as a utility bill, lease agreement, deed/title or bank statement with visible account numbers.
Proof of signature, such as current Illinois ID, credit or debit card or a canceled check.
After providing these documents, you’ll receive a temporary paper ID which will not be accepted by the TSA and federal agents. Your REAL ID will be mailed within 15 business days.
It will appear similar to a normal license or ID, but include a small star in the corner denoting it as a REAL ID.
Illinois driver’s license fees vary based on age, but are the same for a standard or REAL ID. The fee is $5 for people ages 18 to 20 and 69 to 80, $30 for ages 21 to 68, $2 for ages 81 to 86 and free for people who are 87 or older.
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