Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that the REAL ID Supercenter at 191 N. Clark St. will close at the end of business on Monday, December 28, 2026.
The Loop location’s employees will be reassigned to other DMV facilities around Illinois. Applicants will still be able to seek a REAL ID at those offices.
The secretary of state’s office said demand has fallen to more manageable levels. That prompted the closure.
The office handled a rush in applications. Now the state is redirecting its staff.
The downtown office issued more than 175,000 IDs
The center processed more than 175,000 REAL IDs for Illinois residents during its operation. Across the state, officials had issued more than 5.7 million REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state identification cards by late October 2026.
The office opened in March 2025, two months before the federal REAL ID deadline of May 7, 2025. It was designed to reduce confusion and wait times as residents sought compliant identification.
The facility had 30 individual service counters and accepted applicants without appointments, including walk-ins. Giannoulias described the center as a response to an unusually busy period for the secretary of state’s office.
“The REAL ID Supercenter is an example of what government can accomplish when we recognize a challenge and act decisively to put people first,” Giannoulias said in a statement. “We faced an extraordinary moment at one of the busiest times in the office's history and instead of allowing residents to face long lines, confusion and frustration, we developed an innovative and efficient solution that became a model for the nation.”
Applicants must bring identity, Social Security and address records
Illinois requires applicants to appear in person at a DMV facility. The application calls for several kinds of records, and the state says the process can take longer because federal rules require multiple documents.
Applicants can prove identity with a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Naturalization Certificate, Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Citizenship. Non-U.S. citizens may present an employment authorization document, permanent resident card, or foreign passport with an approved I-94 form.
A name-change record is needed when the applicant’s current name differs from the name on the identity document. Someone whose name has changed more than once must bring documents covering each change. A certified marriage certificate is one example.
Applicants must also provide proof of their full Social Security number. Acceptable examples include a Social Security card, a W-2 or a pay stub showing the full number.
Two current residency documents must list the applicant’s full name. The state gives utility bills, rental agreements, deeds or titles, and bank statements as examples.
Proof of signature is required, too. Applicants can use a signed credit or debit card, a canceled check, or a current state driver’s license or ID.
Bring valid, hard-copy documents. Photocopies and images displayed on a cell phone are not accepted, though applicants may print an image, such as a bank statement, and submit the printed page. The secretary of state’s document checklist can help applicants prepare before visiting a Driver Services facility.
Travelers without a REAL ID face an airport identity fee
A REAL ID or U.S. passport is needed to pass through airport security and enter most federal buildings. Travelers without either document have faced a separate airport procedure since February 1, 2026.
They must pay a $45 fee to confirm their identity before passing through TSA checkpoints. The Loop office’s closure does not end REAL ID services statewide; other DMV facilities remain available.
Illinois directs residents seeking help to call 833-503-4074. The state’s online checklist lets applicants check which records to bring before going to a facility.
