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Living in Illinois prompts the need for a state ID to verify residency and age, and to access various government services. Follow these steps to acquire an Illinois state ID:
Key Steps
Document Collection
Ensure Documentation: Obtain your Social Security card, military record, or driver's license record to prove your social security number, which is essential for applying. Original documents are required, copies are not accepted.
Prepare your birth certificate, passport, or high school records. Non-U.S. documents are accepted if they accurately display your birth date. Alternatively, high school transcripts can verify your age and date of birth.
Provide proof of residency. Options include utility bills, government-issued letters, bank statements, or university documents with your address. Ensure the address is within Illinois, as residency is a requirement for obtaining an Illinois state ID.
Show evidence of your signature with a credit card or court order. Alternatively, a driver’s license or government-issued document bearing your signature is acceptable.
Visit a Driver Services office or Secretary of State facility. Locate the nearest office or facility online through the Illinois DMV website. Secretary of State facilities are available in various cities across Illinois.
Submitting Payment
Submit the appropriate fee based on your age group. Fees vary depending on your age: $10 USD for individuals under 18, $20 USD for those aged 18-64. Payment can be made using cash, check, money order, or credit card.
Obtain the ID at no cost if you are 65 years or older. Proof of age is required. Individuals aged 65 and above are eligible for a complimentary ID card that never expires.
No fee is required for individuals experiencing homelessness. Complete the homeless status certification form, available at: https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/homeless-status-certification. The form must be signed by a homeless services provider and notarized before submission.
Receive a free ID card if you have a disability. Complete the Application for a Person with a Disability Card and bring it to the state ID application process.
Obtain a complimentary ID card if you have been incarcerated. Individuals released from prison or juvenile centers in Illinois qualify for a free ID card. Bring the necessary documents to a Secretary of State facility within 30 days of release.
Receiving the ID
Wait for the ID card to arrive by mail. After submitting required documents and payment, the ID card will be sent to the provided address. Allow several business days for delivery.
- If homeless, the card will be mailed to the homeless service provider's address.
Renew the ID card upon expiration. The card is valid for five years from the application date. You'll receive a renewal notice before expiry. Visit your local Driver Services office or Secretary of State facility with the notice, current ID, and renewal fee to renew.
- For those 65 and older, the ID never expires.
- Disability ID cards are valid for 10 years.
Replace a lost or stolen ID card. Report to the local police and apply for a replacement in person at a Driver Services office or Secretary of State facility, bringing necessary documents.
- A police report copy waives the replacement fee.
- Without a police report copy, replacements cost $10 USD for under 18s and $20 USD for adults.
