Dear Friend,

Starting May 7, 2025, anyone over 18 years old will be required to present a REAL ID, or another acceptable form of identification, like a valid U.S. passport, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities or military bases. Implementing REAL ID standards nationwide was pushed back for years, but it is now taking effect.

You do NOT need a REAL ID in order to drive, vote, enter state-owned buildings, or enter federal buildings that do not require REAL IDs. 

REAL IDs are a post-9/11 initiative aimed at improving security at their required locations. They require additional documentation to obtain and incorporate features that make them more difficult to counterfeit. They look just like past driver's licenses, but have the addition of a yellow star in the top right-hand corner:

Illinois Secretary of State website

If you are planning on flying on a plane or entering a secure federal building or military base after May 7 and you do not have a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification, you may want to schedule an appointment to obtain your REAL ID. Secure federal facilities and military bases have the authority to set their own identification requirements, so be sure to verify requirements prior to your visit.

The Illinois Secretary of State website has been overwhelmed with requests for REAL IDs due to the approaching deadline. Before booking an appointment or visiting a facility, confirm whether you actually need a REAL ID. Remember, May 7 is NOT a final deadline, and anyone with a valid U.S. passport can still travel.

You can schedule an appointment at your local DMV HERE. You can also find walk-in DMV locations open on Saturdays where you can obtain a REAL ID without an appointment HERE. Make sure you complete the REAL ID document checklist before arriving at the DMV. 

My office is here to work for you. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the numbers listed below. 

Sincerely,

Bill Foster
Member of Congress