Document compliance for driver’s licenses and state IDs requires verification before the REAL ID Act deadline approaches. Without the necessary symbol, your driver’s license or state ID may create severe problems. Read on to discover all essential information about the REAL ID identification marker on your license, together with the procedures for acquiring your security identification if it is not in your possession already.
State residents must understand how the upcoming REAL ID deadline affects them according to current requirements.
As of May 7, 2025, REAL ID has become mandatory for certain activities because federal officials established it as an approved form of identification. Under Illinois Secretary of State regulations, all persons must utilize a REAL ID for domestic air travel and entry into protected federal sites. National identification standards and improved security measures are among the goals of the initiative.
The REAL ID Act received congressional approval in 2005, and its full deployment has progressed since then. The specified legislation requires states to implement basic security criteria for their issued identity cards while blocking federal institutions from processing unauthorized identification. Your ID security verification must be completed before the deadline because standards have become more vital.
A gold star symbol on your ID is essential for entering domestic flights and federal buildings.
Verify if your driver’s license or state ID has REAL ID compliance by examining the top right corner for a gold star. A tiny symbol on your ID indicates that the document meets all requirements established by the REAL ID Act.
A REAL ID must show a gold star on the top right corner of your ID document because its absence makes your document non-compliant and ineligible for domestic flights and federal facility entry. NBC Chicago reveals that the star symbol is the primary evidence that measures up to federal standards. A REAL ID gold star on your ID is critical because you will require an alternative federally recognized identification or need to update your current license.
No star? Follow the below instructions to obtain your REAL ID before the specified deadline.
People without the gold star on their ID must go to Secretary of State Drivers Services facilities for their REAL ID. Numerous papers, such as Social Security number residency documentation and signature verification, serve as identification proof to authenticate your identity. Follow these steps:
- Proof of Identity and U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Status: Provide an original or certified U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or another acceptable document.
- Proof of Full Social Security Number (SSN): Bring your Social Security card, W-2, or another document displaying your SSN.
- The acceptable residency documents include utility bills alongside rental agreements and mortgage statements.
- When you show your current state driver’s license or Illinois state ID, a signature on your credit/debit card must be accompanied by canceled checks.
The REAL ID is $30, the same price as a traditional driver’s license and state ID card. Users seeking to validate their appropriate documents for REAL ID should access the REAL ID Interactive Checklist on the Illinois Secretary of State website to confirm their selection.
Flying soon? There is a requirement to update your ID before May 7, 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security will enforce new federal regulations beginning May 7, 2025, which require all adults older than 18 to present REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses, state IDs, or alternate accepted documents to access domestic flights or federal facilities. The national security initiative includes these standardization requirements for all official identification programs.
The REAL ID is required to fly domestically, yet passengers without it must bring either a valid U.S. passport or passport card. Having a REAL ID streamlines your traveling processes and your access to secure spaces, although other documents provide similar acceptance. You should double-check the standard compliance status of your ID ahead of time and not leave it for the last minute.
Your driver’s license or state ID compliance verification for the REAL ID requires immediate attention before the May 7, 2025, deadline. The gold star in the top right corner indicates your compliance with REAL ID standards. Those who do not have a symbol on their ID should follow the necessary procedures to get a REAL ID. Check your identification today before your flight departures to safeguard your federal facility access. Update your ID if needed.
