To meet the unprecedented demand for REAL IDs, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced expanded service across Illinois with Wednesday’s opening of its REAL ID Supercenter in Chicago’s Loop and its REAL ID Saturdays program offering weekend hours statewide through May 10.
 
“We’re monitoring REAL ID demand on an hour-to-hour basis and adjusting our service infrastructure to efficiently accommodate the unprecedented REAL ID demand caused by confusion surrounding the federal guidelines,” said Giannoulias, noting the supercenter was not experiencing any lines Wednesday morning. “Most Illinoisans do not need a REAL ID before May 7 and they can still get one after that date. Before visiting the supercenter or any of our DMVs, I urge you to confirm that you actually need a REAL ID by visiting realid.ilsos.gov.”
 

  • The REAL ID Supercenter, equipped with 30 individual service counters, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 191 N. Clark St. in Chicago. The supercenter offers non-appointment, walk-in services Monday through Friday
     
  • The ‘REAL ID Saturday’ facilities are open on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Chicago West (5301 W. Lexington Ave.) and the following suburban facilities: Addison, Aurora, Des Plaines, Elgin, Joliet, Lake Zurich, Melrose Park, Plano, St. Charles, Waukegan and Woodstock. These DMVs offer non-appointment, walk-in services on Saturdays.
     
  • Six DMV appointment-only locations have expanded Saturday hours to 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Chicago North (5401 N. Elston Ave.), Deerfield, Lombard, Naperville, Schaumburg and Springfield (Wabash Avenue). Appointments at these facilities must be made in advance.
     
  • Nine appointment-only facilities are operating from 7:30 a.m. to Noon on Saturdays: Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago South (9901 S. Martin Luther King Dr.), Granite City, Marion, Midlothian, Peoria, Rockford (Central) and Silvis. Appointments at these facilities must be made in advance. 

Giannoulias is encouraging Illinoisans to use the office’s designated multilingual “Get A REAL ID” portal on its website – realid.ilsos.gov – to determine: 1) if they need a REAL ID before the May 7 federal enforcement period begins; and 2) how to find a walk-in location or schedule an appointment near them.
 
Individuals applying for a REAL ID must do so in-person at an Illinois DMV and are required to present:

  1. A U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Naturalization Certificate, Report of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, an employment authorization document, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport with an approved I-94 form is also acceptable. If you’ve changed your name, you’ll need to provide name change documents.
  2. Proof of a full Social Security number (SSN). Examples include: a Social Security card, a W-2 or a pay stub with your full SSN.
  3. Two current residency documents that list your full name. Examples include: a utility bill, rental agreement, deed/title or a bank statement.
  4. Proof of your signature. Examples include: a signed credit or debit card, canceled check, or current state driver’s license or state ID.

Illinois residents can go online to access an interactive checklist to make sure they have
the documents they need before heading to a DMV.