Applying for an Illinois Drivers License or ID Card

              Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. May 2005 — 10M — DSD A 175.1
Unacceptable Identification Documents
✗ Bond Receipt or Bond Card
✗ Business Card
✗ Check Cashing Card
✗ Club or Fraternal Membership Card
✗ College or University ID Card
✗ Commercially-produced (non-state or unofficial) ID Card
✗ Firearms Owner ID (FOID) Card
✗ Fishing License
✗ Handwritten ID or Employment Card
✗ Hunting License
✗ IDPA (Public Aid) Card
✗ Instruction Permit/Receipt
✗ Insurance and/or Bail Bond Card
✗ Library Card
✗ Temporary Driver’s License
✗ Traffic Citation (arrest ticket)
✗ Verification by family member other than father, mother or
legal guardian
✗ Verification by non-family member other than high school
driver education instructor or Secretary of State personnel
✗ Video Club Membership Card
✗ Wallet ID
✗ Unlicensed Financial Institution Loan Papers
Applying for a Social Security Card
To obtain a new or replacement Social Security card or
change the name on your card, you must complete Form SS-
5, visit your local Social Security office or call 800-772-1213.
If you live outside the United States, you must complete an
Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5-FS)-Foreign
Service. The form is available at www.socialsecurity.gov.
• New card — To obtain a new card, documents that show
age, citizenship or lawful alien status, and who you are
(i.e., birth certificate and school record) are required.
• Replacement card — To obtain a replacement card, one
identifying document is required.
• Name change — To change your name, documentation
showing old name and new name is required.
Photocopies of identification documents and notarized
copies are not accepted. Original documents or copies
certified by the custodian of the record must be submitted.
If you were born outside the United States, you also must
show proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status.
Obtaining Other Documents
Following these guidelines can assist you in searching for
and obtaining identification documents.
• 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
span of years you wish 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
For contact information for other state’s Departments of
Vital Records and Secretaries of State, please visit:
Applying
for an
Illinois
Driver’s
License
or ID Card
Jesse White
Secretary of State