Illinois residents still can use existing stateissued cards for boarding. The special license unit will receive your results and, if you pass, mail you your restricted local driver s license. If you dont see one, it means your license wont be accepted as id before you step on an airplane after oct. Tsa to stop accepting some states drivers licenses in. Illinois begins issuing drivers licenses that comply with federal real. The enhanced driver license has been available to new york state residents since 2008 and also looks similar to a standard drivers license. A stateissued enhanced drivers license edl provides travelers not only a license to drive but also a proof of identity and citizenship when exiting and reentering the united states borders.
If your driver s license doesnt have one, you can add replacing it to your todo list. Illinois will continue to issue standard id cards and driver s licenses that do not have the real id gold star, but they will not get you through airport security starting oct. An enhanced driver license edl works doubleduty as a drivers license and a passport. Expiration dates for driver s licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations and other transactions and document filings will be extended at least 90 days after driver services facilities reopen. Beginning october 1, 2021, every traveler must present a real idcompliant driver s license, stateissued enhanced driver s license, or other acceptable forms of identification, such as a valid passport or u. Current illinois driver s licenses or id cards will continue to be accepted at airports, military bases and secure federal facilities until oct. The upgraded drivers license and id card contain a variety of enhanced security features that take advantage of new developments in technology, white said. Without an approved form of identification, you may not be allowed to pass through airport security or board your flight. If your drivers license lacks a star, you might need to. Tsa to stop accepting some states drivers licenses in 2018. Illinois rolls out real idcompliant licenses, id cards. Review the complete list of acceptable identification. Illinois drivers licenses are compliant with the act as of jan.
An enhanced driver license also known as a passport card eases your ability to travel in and out of the united states by land and sea, doubling as a drivers license and passport. What you need to know about upgrading to a real id. Residents in the remaining states were to obtain passports, enhanced driver s licenses and other forms of acceptable identification if they wished to travel within the country and abroad. Beginning october 1, 2020, every air traveler ages 18 and older will need a real idcompliant driver s license, stateissued enhanced driver s license, or another acceptable form of id to fly within the united states. Illinois real ids have a gold star in the top right corner.
With it you can enter the united states by land or sea from canada, mexico, or the caribbean without needing any other proof of identification. Fees for a new illinois driver s license are as follows. An enhanced drivers licence in canadian english, enhanced drivers license edl in u. Department of homeland security extended the real id deadline an additional year to oct. After years of delays, residents across illinois will be able to get new driver s licenses and state ids beginning monday that comply with post911 federal requirements aimed at making. Real id enforcement deadline extended to october 2021. As the name suggests, an enhanced drivers license edl is a driver license with a few extra perks. Thats the day tsa will stop accepting your standard drivers license or id card as identification to board domestic flights, military base entry. People in indiana applying for a new driver s license, learners permit or id card are being encouraged to go ahead and upgrade to a real idcompliant version at the indiana bureau of motor vehicles. But minnesota, illinois, missouri, new mexico, washington state and american samoa have not moved to make their driver s licenses. After years of delays, all illinois residents will be able to get new drivers licenses and state ids beginning monday that comply with post911.
Central issuance drivers licensestate id card illinois secretary of. Renew a driver s license the driver services department issues licenses to more than 8. Although illinois is currently operating under a real id waiver, the illinois secretary of states office estimates it will be able to begin issuing new licenses and state ids next year. We use cookies on this site to enhance your experience and improve. All illinois secretary of state offices and driver services facilities are closed to the public due to the covid19 outbreak. You can keep your current drivers license, which will work just fine for you. Individuals who are unable to verify their identity will not be permitted to enter the tsa. How to get a real id in illinois and why you might need one. An enhanced driver license also known as a passport card eases your ability to travel in and out of the united states by land and sea, doubling as a driver s license and passport with it, no other documents are needed for proving citizenship and identity when entering the u. Illinoisans can now get drivers licenses and state id cards that comply with. An enhanced driver s licence in canadian english, enhanced driver s license edl in u.
Drivers licensestate id card illinois secretary of state. English, or enhanced id in other common usage, is a card which. Real idcompliant drivers licenses or state ids will be required for air travel. Illinois begins issuing drivers licenses that comply with. Youll need whats called a federal real id or an enhanced license if you dont want to carry. Starting in october 2020, youll no longer be able to fly in the u. For example, an edl resembles a passport card in that it.