Real ID appointments are filling up "super fast," officials with the Illinois Secretary of State's office said, and with the deadline fast approaching, the number of people looking to book is growing.
"Appointments for Real ID [are] growing in numbers every day," Irene Paterno with the Illinois Secretary of State's office told NBC Chicago.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said last year that his office was stepping up efforts to ensure that residents get REAL ID-compliant identification prior to the May 2025 deadline, but acknowledged there are "tremendous concerns" about what will happen as the deadline arrives.
“We feel pressure ... Our facilities will swell up, and it will be a problem if people don’t get out and get their REAL ID’s," he said at the time.
According to state data, as of Dec. 31, 2024, the office has issued 3,295,078 Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state IDs. This represents just 25.34% of all currently valid driver’s license and state IDs.
Experts fear there will be a last-minute rush this spring.
Even the Transportation Security Administration in September proposed delaying full enforcement of the deadline over concerns of a surge in people needing REAL ID's, which would then lead to a back-up from state facilities, as well as issues at security checkpoints. Whether or not that proposal will be approved remains uncertain.
Starting May 7, 2025, you will need a Real ID to board an airplane, even if you're not leaving the country. You may also need one if you want to visit a military base or visit a secure federal facility. However, you won't need a Real ID if you can show a passport or passport card.
So what can you do if you're looking to book your appointments, but the slots keep filling up?
How to make a Real ID appointment
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Illinois residents can make an appointment online at ILSOS.gov. If you already have a driver's license or state-issued ID, go to the "DMV Appointments" section and click on the "Replace my Driver's License or ID Card" section. And then "Make an Appointment."
What do you need to bring to get your Real ID?
As you make your appointment, you’ll also find a checklist of items you must bring to your appointment at the DMV. They include: original, hard copies of various documents including a birth certificate, valid US Passport or a permanent resident card. Other items you may need include: proof of your Social Security number and two documents that contain your address, such as a bank statement, credit card statement or homeowner's or renter's insurance policies. Images from cell phones and photocopies are not accepted.
The documents you can use to prove your address must have been issued within the past 90 days, and your passport or state ID cannot be expired.
Tip for getting an appointment
The website for Secretary of State's office notes that new appointments are made available daily at 6:30 a.m. so booking your appointment early can help.
Or for those not looking to make an appointment, there is an alternative coming up.
You can also get a REAL ID at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show at the McCormick Place next month - without an appointment.
Running from Feb. 8-17, the Chicago Auto Show is once again offering residents the ability to receive their REAL IDs with proper documentation at the event's Secretary of State booth.