Yes. Undocumented immigrants in Illinois can get a state ID card, and it looks the same as the one issued to any other resident. Public Act 103-0210, effective July 1, 2024, opened the standard Illinois Identification Card to any resident of the state regardless of immigration status, with no immigration-related markings on the card and no requirement to prove lawful presence.1Illinois General Assembly. Public Act 103-0210
The law replaced the old Temporary Visitor Driver’s License, which had carried a notice on its face stating it could not be used as proof of identity. That notice effectively flagged the holder every time the card came out of a wallet. The current card carries no such notice.
Who Qualifies
The core requirement is residency in Illinois. The statute sets no minimum residency period for the state ID (that’s different from the driver’s license, which requires a year). You need to show that you currently live in the state.
You cannot hold a valid driver’s license or state ID from another state. If you have one, surrender it or let it expire first.1Illinois General Assembly. Public Act 103-0210
There is no minimum age. Parents can apply on behalf of children. Applicants without a Social Security number follow a slightly different paperwork step, but the card issued is identical to everyone else’s.
Documents to Bring
Bring one document from each category below. Make sure the name on your residency document matches the name on your identity document. Mismatches are one of the most common reasons applications get delayed.
Identity and Date of Birth
A valid foreign passport or a consular identification card from your home country works. Either can be expired, but only if it expired within the last two years. If your passport expired more than two years ago, renew it through your consulate before applying.2Legal Information Institute. Illinois Admin Code Title 92, Part 1030, Appendix B
Social Security Number or Affidavit
If you have an SSN, bring your card or another document showing the number. If you don’t have one and aren’t eligible for one, you’ll sign a declaration form at the facility stating that. That signed affidavit replaces the SSN requirement.
Illinois Residency
For a standard (non-REAL ID) card you need one document showing your current Illinois address. A utility bill dated within 90 days works (electric, gas, water, phone, or cable), as do a lease agreement, a bank statement dated within 90 days, or official mail from a government agency showing your name and address.
How to Apply
Apply in person at a Secretary of State facility. Some locations require appointments; others take walk-ins. Check the Secretary of State’s website or call before making the trip.3Illinois Secretary of State. Appointments
At the facility, staff review your documents, have you sign the SSN affidavit if it applies, capture your electronic signature, and take your photograph. You won’t leave with the finished card. You’ll receive a temporary paper document valid for 90 days, and your permanent card arrives by mail after a centralized fraud review, typically within 15 business days.4Illinois Secretary of State. Driver’s License and State ID Card Information
What It Costs
A standard Illinois ID card is $20. Facilities accept cash, credit cards, and money orders.5Illinois Secretary of State. Basic Fees
Several groups pay nothing:
- Adults 65 and older, for original and renewal cards. Duplicate card fees are also waived at age 60 and older if the card was lost or stolen.
- People experiencing homelessness, with a signed affirmation from a qualified service provider confirming that status.
- Veterans in a state home or hospital.
- Former foster youth ages 16 to 21 who were in DCFS care, for the first card issued.
- People released from state custody, for the original card issued upon release from the Department of Corrections or Department of Juvenile Justice.
Anyone whose card was stolen can also get a free duplicate by presenting a police report.6Illinois General Assembly. Public Act 100-0827
Privacy Protections That Matter for Undocumented Applicants
Public Act 103-0210 built specific walls between your application data and federal immigration enforcement. This is the part of the law that undocumented applicants should understand before walking into a facility.
Every document you submit — identity documents, the SSN affidavit, residency proof — is classified as confidential. The Secretary of State cannot share your photograph or provide facial recognition search services to any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws.1Illinois General Assembly. Public Act 103-0210
The Secretary of State also cannot release your personal information to any immigration agent unless compelled by a judicial warrant signed by a judge, a lawful court order, or a subpoena issued by a federal or state court. When forced to comply, the office can only hand over the specific documents requested, and must notify you that your records were disclosed.1Illinois General Assembly. Public Act 103-0210
On top of that, the office cannot enter any data-sharing agreement unless all parties certify the information won’t be used for civil immigration enforcement.
Where the Card Works and Where It Doesn’t
The standard Illinois ID is valid identification for everyday purposes in the state: opening a bank account, interacting with police, proving identity for healthcare, picking up prescriptions, enrolling children in school. It works for any purpose that doesn’t trigger federal REAL ID rules.
It is not REAL ID-compliant. Since REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025, a standard Illinois ID cannot be used to board a domestic commercial flight or to enter most federal buildings. TSA will not accept it at airport checkpoints.7Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
Some federal-facility interactions are carved out. You do not need a REAL ID to access health or life-preserving services, apply for or receive federal benefits like Social Security or veterans’ benefits, vote or register to vote, enter a police station, or request law enforcement help.8Department of Homeland Security. ID Requirements for Federal Facilities If you have a valid foreign passport, you can use it at airports and federal buildings where the standard Illinois card is not accepted.
If You Need to Drive
Illinois offers a standard driver’s license through the same pathway, but with more requirements. You must prove at least one year of Illinois residency, pass a vision screening, a written knowledge test, and an on-the-road driving exam, and show proof of auto insurance. The identity and SSN rules are the same as for the state ID, and the license carries the same privacy protections under Public Act 103-0210.1Illinois General Assembly. Public Act 103-0210 Like the state ID, it is not REAL ID-compliant.
Renewal
A standard Illinois ID card is valid for five years from your next birthday after issue. Renew in person at a Secretary of State facility. If your address has changed, bring a current residency document. The renewal fee is the same $20, with the same waivers.
Cards issued to people ages 15 through 20 expire three months after the holder’s 21st birthday rather than following the five-year cycle. Cards issued to residents 65 and older who choose the non-REAL ID version are permanent and never need renewal.