Applying for a Social Security Card For Illinois residents who fly domestically, effective May 7,

To obtain a new or replacement Social Security card or 2025, the federal government will require you to use a valid
change the name on your card, you must complete
Form SS-5, visit your local Social Security office, or call
U.S. passport or obtain a REAL ID from the Illinois Secretary of
State’s office. Not every person needs a REAL ID card, which
Applying
800-772-1213 or 800-325-0778 (TTY).
If you live outside the United States, you must complete an
Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5-FS)-
is why we offer you a choice. You decide if you need a REAL ID
or standard DL/ID. for an
Foreign Service. The form is available at The application process for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s
[Link].
• New card — To obtain a new card, documents that
license/identification card requires enhanced security
measures that meet mandated federal guidelines. Even if you
Illinois
show age, citizenship or lawful alien status, and who
you are (i.e., birth certificate and school record) are
required.
already have a standard DL/ID, you must provide documentation
confirming your identity, Social Security number, residency and
signature.
Driver’s
• Replacement card — To obtain a replacement card, one
identifying document is required.
• Name change — To change your name, documentation
showing your old name and your new name is required.
If you want to apply for a REAL ID, please come prepared
with the necessary documents. Please visit our website at
License
[Link] and use the interactive document checklist
Photocopies of identification documents and notarized
copies are not accepted. Original documents or copies
to help ensure you bring in the right documents to the Driver
Services facility. In addition, please be patient as the process
or ID Card
certified by the custodian of the record must be submitted.
takes longer at the facility due to the multiple documents
If you were born outside the United States, you also must
show proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status. required by the federal government.

Obtaining Other Documents

Following these guidelines can assist you in searching for For other states’ Departments of Vital Records
and obtaining identification documents. and Secretaries of State, please visit:
• Make your letters concise and to the point. DO NOT
include more than one or two requests at a time.
• Do not write confusing details of your family lines.
• Provide complete information on why you need the
documents. Include all names that may have been used,
including nicknames, alternate spellings, etc. List dates
and types of events as completely and accurately as
possible. If you do not know the exact date, specify the
years you want searched and be prepared to pay for
searches that span several years.
• Always provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.
• When requesting a birth certificate, include the following:
- date of request - relationship to party
- date and place of birth - requestor’s name,
- father’s name address, driver’s
- full name of person license number, state
- reason record is needed and signature
- mother’s maiden name ALEXI GIANNOULIAS
Secretary of State

Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. February 2023 — 1 — DSD A 175.7

 ACCEPTABLE IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS
PHOTOCOPIES ARE NOT ACCEPTED
All acceptable documents presented for verification or proof must be valid (current and not expired). One document may satisfy more than one Group.
Documents marked with an [*] are accepted for Real ID.

Group A — Written Signature Group B — Date of Birth Group C — Social Security Number Group D — Residency Unacceptable Documents

•Canceled Check (within 90 days prior to application)* •Adoption Records •Illinois Driver’s License Record (verified) •Official Electronic Statement (dated within 90 days prior •Bond Receipt or Bail/Bond Card
•Cooperative Driver Testing Program Certificate* •Birth Certificate* •Illinois ID Card Record (verified) to application) •Business Card
•Court Order* •Citizenship Certificate (N560/N561)* •Non-SSA-1099 Form* •Bank Statement (dated within 90 days prior to application)* •Check Cashing Card
•Credit Card/Debit Card (major brand)* •Court Order (Change of birth date) •Pay stub or printed electronic deposit receipt bearing the •Canceled Check (dated within 90 days prior to application)* •Club/Fraternal Membership Card
•Driver’s License/ID Card (current) issued by an agency •Certified Grade/High School/College/University Transcript applicant’s name and SSN* •Certified Grade/High School/College/University Transcript* •College or University ID Card
of the U.S. government* •Consular Report of Birth Abroad* •Social Security Award Letter (primary beneficiary only) •Credit Card Statement (dated within 90 days prior to •Commercially produced (non-State or unofficial) ID Card
•Illinois Driver’s License (current or expired less than •Illinois Driver’s License •Social Security Card (issued by SSA)* application) Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover •DHS Card or documents (Department of Human Services)
one year)* •Illinois ID Card •SSA-1099 Form* •Credit Report (issued by Experian, Equifax or •Fishing License
•Illinois ID Card (current or expired less than one year)* •Naturalization Certificate (N550/N570)* •U.S. Military Driver’s License/ID Card TransUnion, dated within 12 months of application)* •HFS Card (Healthcare and Family Services)
•Medicare Card* •REAL ID Driver’s License/ID Card •U.S. Military Service Record (e.g., DD214) •Deed/Title, Mortgage, Rental/Lease agreement* •Handwritten ID/Employment Card
•Mortgage or Installment Loan Documents* •Social Security Award Letter (primary beneficiary only) •W-2* •Insurance Policy (homeowner’s or renter’s)* •Hunting License
•Out-of-State Driver’s License/ID Card (current)* •U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) •Letter on Official School Letterhead (dated within 90 •Illinois Concealed Carry Card
•Passport (valid U.S. or foreign)* Forms — I-551 (Permanent Resident Card); I-571 Group C documents must contain the applicant’s name days prior to application)* •Illinois FOID Card
•Social Security Card* (Refugee Travel Document); I-766 (Employment and full Social Security number. If using an Illinois •Medical Claim or Statement of Benefits (from private •Instruction Permit/Receipt
•Temporary DL/CLP/ID Card* Authorization Card); I-797A (Notice of Action Status driver’s license or ID record, the Social Security number insurance company or public (government) agency, •Insurance Card
•U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Change); I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) with Valid must have been previously verified with the SSA. dated within 90 days of application)* •International Driving Permit
Forms — I-551 (Permanent Resident Card); I-766 Passport* •Official mail received from a State, County, City or •Library Card
(Employment Authorization Card); I-94 •U.S. Military Driver’s License/ID Card An applicant applying for a Temporary Visitor Driver’s Village or a Federal Government agency (must include •Personal Mail
(Arrival/Departure Record) with Valid Passport* •U.S. Military Service Record (e.g., DD214) License is not required to present documents from Group first and last name of applicant and complete current •Traffic Citation (Arrest Ticket)
•U.S. Military Driver’s License/ID Card* •U.S. Passport or Passport Card (valid with complete C. Instead, the applicant must sign a declaration on the address), may include — Homestead Exemption •Unlicensed Financial Institution Loan Papers
•U.S. Military Service Record (e.g., DD214)* date of birth)* TVDL application that the applicant is, at the time of Receipt; Jury Duty Notice (issued within 90 days of •Vehicle Registration
•U.S. Visa application, ineligible to obtain a Social Security number. application); Selective Service Card; Social Security •Video Club Membership Card
Acceptable major brand credit cards (for signature Annual Statement; Social Security Disability Insurance •Wallet ID
verification only) include American Express, Diners Group B documents must contain the applicant’s full Statement; Supplemental Security Income Benefits
Club, Discover, Mastercard and Visa. name and complete date of birth and must be verifiable. Statement; Voter Registration Card*
To be verifiable, it must be possible to contact the •Pay Stub or Electronic Deposit Receipt*
regulatory authority to confirm the document’s •Pension or Retirement Statement*
authenticity. Documents marked with an [*] are also •Phone Book, produced by a phone book publisher*
accepted to prove legal presence. •Report Card from Grade/High School or College/University*
•Tuition invoice/official mail from college or university,
Birth Certificates must be original or certified by a Board dated within the 12 months prior to application*
of Health or Bureau of Vital Statistics within the U.S. or by •Utility Bill (electric, water, refuse, telephone land/cell,
the U.S. State Department, U.S. territories or Canada. A cable or gas, issued within 90 days of application)*
certified copy is a document produced by the issuing
Group D documents must contain the applicant’s full
jurisdiction with an embossed seal or an original stamped name and residence address. Documents in Groups A, B
impression. Foreign passports and birth certificates are or C that contain the full name and residence address
accepted as proof if accompanied by any other item in also may be used for Group D. Two residency documents
Group B. required for REAL ID.

Documents marked with an [*] are accepted for Real ID.

After review of all identification presented, Secretary of State management has the right to accept or refuse any document.
First-time Illinois Driver’s License/ID Card Applicant or First-time Duplicate Driver’s License/ID Card Applicant Corrected Driver’s License/ID Card Applicant Illinois Driver’s License/ID Card Renewal Applicant
REAL ID Applicant (even if applicant holds or has held a standard Illinois DL/ID) An applicant applying for a duplicate driver’s license or ID card must present: An applicant applying for a corrected driver’s license or ID card must present: An applicant renewing a current Illinois driver’s license or ID card must present:
An applicant applying for a driver’s license or ID card for the first time in Illinois must present:

Standard DL/ID Applicant REAL ID DL/ID Applicant Standard DL/ID Applicant REAL ID DL/ID Applicant Standard DL/ID Applicant REAL ID DL/ID Applicant Standard DL/ID Applicant REAL ID DL/ID Applicant
• One document that satisfies each of • One document that satisfies each • One document that satisfies Group A. • One document that satisfies • One document that satisfies Group A. • One document that satisfies Group A. • One document that satisfies Group A. • One document that satisfies Group A.
Group A, B, C and D. Group A, B, C and two from D. Group A. • One document from Group D if requesting • Two documents from Group D if • One document from Group D if requesting • Two documents from Group D if
. an address change. requesting an address change. address change. requesting an address change.

NOTE: An applicant who requests a change in name, date of birth, Social Security number or gender must provide identification to link the change from the previous information to the new information.