Quick Answer
Yes — since July 1, 2024, Illinois issues a standard driver's license to residents without an SSN under HB 3882. The old TVDL no longer exists. To get one:
- Show a valid passport or consular ID plus proof you've lived in Illinois for at least 1 year (or a valid temporary visa).
- Pass the vision, written knowledge, and road tests at a Secretary of State facility.
- Pay $30 for a 4-year license if you're 21 to 68.
The card is marked "Federal Limits Apply", so it is not a REAL ID and can't be used to board domestic flights.
Can You Get a Driver's License in Illinois Without an SSN?
Yes. Since July 1, 2024, Illinois issues a standard driver's license to residents who lack a Social Security number, under HB 3882, signed in 2023. The law replaced the Temporary Visitor Driver's License (TVDL), which more than 300,000 Illinoisans held. You still pass every driving test and show valid identity and Illinois residency documents.
The new license looks like any other Illinois standard license. The purple TVDL marker and the words "Not Valid for Identification" are gone, so the card works as everyday photo ID. If you still hold a TVDL, you move to the standard license when you renew. Details are on the Illinois Secretary of State TVDL page.
Is the Illinois License a REAL ID?
No. A license issued without an SSN or proof of lawful status is a standard Illinois license marked "Federal Limits Apply" at the top. Since May 7, 2025, TSA checkpoints and secure federal buildings accept only REAL ID or another federal document, so carry your passport to fly. The marking doesn't reveal your immigration status.
- For air travel, bring your valid foreign passport or another TSA-accepted ID. See our guide to flying with an ITIN.
- Many U.S. citizens also carry a standard "Federal Limits Apply" card instead of a REAL ID, so the marking says nothing about where you were born.
What Documents Does Illinois Require Without an SSN?
Without an SSN, Illinois offers 2 identity routes: a valid temporary U.S. visa, or proof you've lived in Illinois for at least 1 year plus a passport or consular ID. Passports and consular IDs are accepted if they expired within the past 2 years. You also bring proof of your current Illinois address.
- 1Identity — a foreign passport or consular ID that is valid or expired within the past 2 years, or a valid temporary U.S. visa.
- 21 year of Illinois residency — documents from the past 12 months showing you lived in Illinois (needed for the passport or consular ID route).
- 3Current address — 2 documents with your name and Illinois address, such as a utility bill, lease, or bank statement.
- 4Social Security — if you have never had an SSN, you sign a statement on the application that you aren't eligible for one.
- 5Insurance — proof of insurance for the car you use on the road test.
Bring originals, and bring a translation for any document that isn't in English.
How Much Does an Illinois Driver's License Cost?
An original Illinois driver's license costs $30 for a 4-year term for drivers ages 21 to 68, under state law. Drivers ages 18 to 20 pay $5, and drivers ages 69 to 80 also pay $5. The fees are the same whether or not you have a Social Security number.
| Driver's age | Original license fee |
|---|---|
| 18–20 | $5 |
| 21–68 | $30 (4-year term) |
| 69–80 | $5 |
Fees come from Illinois's driver's license fee law, 625 ILCS 5/6-118; confirm current amounts with the Secretary of State before you go.
How Do I Apply for an Illinois License Step by Step?
Applying takes 5 steps at an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility: gather identity and residency documents, complete the application, pass the vision test, pass the written knowledge test, and pass the road test in an insured car. You pay the fee, usually $30, and the card arrives by mail.
- Step 1: Gather your passport, consular ID, or visa, plus your residency and address documents.
- Step 2: Visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility and complete the application, including the SSN statement if you've never had one.
- Step 3: Pass the vision screening and the written knowledge test.
- Step 4: Pass the road test in an insured vehicle.
- Step 5: Pay the fee and receive a temporary paper license until your card arrives by mail.
What Can You Do With an Illinois "Federal Limits Apply" License?
An Illinois standard license lets you drive legally, register and insure a car, and show state photo ID wherever federal ID isn't required. Since July 2024 it no longer says "Not Valid for Identification." Since May 7, 2025, it can't be used to board domestic flights or enter secure federal buildings.
- Drive legally anywhere in Illinois and buy auto insurance — see car insurance without an SSN
- Show it as photo ID for everyday purposes
You cannot use it to:
- Board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal building
- Prove immigration status or eligibility to work
- Register to vote — the Secretary of State keeps these applicants out of automatic voter registration
Out of state, Wyoming treats any license or privilege card issued to an undocumented immigrant as invalid, Florida and Tennessee restrict some of them, and Georgia bars drivers without lawful status. See which states restrict these licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a TVDL. What happens now?
Your TVDL stays valid until it expires. When you renew, Illinois issues a standard license marked "Federal Limits Apply" instead, without the purple TVDL marker or the "Not Valid for Identification" wording.
Does the Secretary of State share my information with immigration?
Under HB 3882, the Secretary of State may not share driver information with immigration officials unless they present a court-issued warrant, order, or subpoena.
Can I use an expired passport or consular ID?
Yes, if it expired within the past 2 years. Applicants using a passport or consular ID also need proof that they have lived in Illinois for at least 1 year.
Can I fly with an Illinois "Federal Limits Apply" license?
No. Since May 7, 2025, TSA accepts only REAL ID or another federal document. Use your foreign passport or another TSA-accepted ID to fly.
Does the license show my immigration status?
No. "Federal Limits Apply" also appears on the standard licenses of U.S. citizens who don't get a REAL ID, so it doesn't reveal your status.
Which Nearby States Also Issue Licenses Without an SSN?
Illinois is one of 19 states, plus Washington, D.C., that issue driver's licenses or permits without proof of lawful status. In the Midwest, Minnesota has offered standard licenses to all residents since October 1, 2023, while Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kentucky do not. Documents and fees differ by state.
Compare every state's law, documents, and limits in the full driver's license guide →