Illinois driver license and state ID — guide for immigrants

As of July 2024, Illinois eliminated its Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL) program so that undocumented immigrants and other non-U.S. citizens can obtain a standard driver license or State ID. You do not need a Social Security number. Here is exactly who qualifies, what to bring, what it costs, and what the card can and cannot do.

Quick answer

  • Undocumented driver-license access: YES — standard license (TVDL retired July 2024)
  • Social Security number required: No (sign a declaration of ineligibility)
  • First-time standard driver license: $30
  • First-time standard State ID: $20
  • Switch from TVDL to standard license: $5
  • Card marking: “Federal Limits Apply” — not a REAL ID
  • Agency: Illinois Secretary of State · Online: ILSOS.gov/TVDL

What changed in July 2024

Illinois “has eliminated its TVDL program to allow undocumented immigrants and other non-U.S. citizens to obtain a standard driver’s license or State ID.” The Temporary Visitor Driver’s License is no longer issued — it has been replaced by the standard driver’s license. If you currently hold a TVDL, you can switch to a standard license for $5 (online at ILSOS.gov/TVDL or in person).

Who can apply

You can apply for a standard driver license or State ID if you are a resident who is ineligible for a Social Security number, including undocumented immigrants and documented immigrants without an SSN. (People with an Employment Authorization card, DACA, a green card, or work-authorized student status follow the standard requirements and provide their SSN where they have one.)

Documents you need

For a first-time standard driver license or State ID, bring:

  • A current or expired (up to two years) passport OR a consular card — accepted only from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, or Brazil — to verify your name, date of birth, and signature
  • Proof you are a current Illinois resident
  • Proof you have lived in Illinois for at least one year
  • For a driver license, also proof of auto insurance

If you are not eligible for a Social Security number, you sign a declaration stating you are ineligible instead of providing one.

What the standard license can and cannot do

The standard Illinois license is marked “Federal Limits Apply” and is not REAL ID compliant. That means:

  • You can legally drive and use the license as state identification.
  • You cannot use it to board a domestic flight or enter secure federal facilities. Carry your passport for those.

How to apply

  1. Gather your passport or approved consular card, Illinois residency proof, one year of residency proof, and (for a license) proof of insurance.
  2. If you are SSN-ineligible, be ready to sign the declaration.
  3. Apply in person at a DMV facility (a TVDL-to-standard switch can be done online at ILSOS.gov/TVDL).
  4. For a driver license, pass the vision, written, and behind-the-wheel tests. A State ID requires no testing.
  5. Pay the fee — $30 for a standard driver license, $20 for a standard State ID.

Last verified: 2026-06-28. Sources: Illinois Secretary of State — Driver’s License / TVDL, the Non-Citizen/TVDL Information sheet (July 2024), and Acceptable Identification Documents.

General procedural information. Secretary of State policies, fees, and document requirements change frequently — verify with the Illinois Secretary of State before visiting. Not legal or immigration advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney.