, you’ll need to prove to the Secretary of State that you’re a permanent resident of Illinois. While you’ll provide other ID documents like a state of Illinois identification card or U.S. passport to prove who you are, you also need to furnish documents that verify your Illinois address.

Let's go over what you can—and can’t—use as proof of residency in

Illinois

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What documents can be used as proof of residency in Illinois?

In order to obtain an Illinois driver’s license or

REAL ID

, you’ll need to provide the office of the Secretary of State with identification documents that fall into four groups:

Group A: Written signature (e.g. credit or debit card, passport, or mortgage documents)

Group B: Date of birth (e.g. birth certificate, adoption records, or passport)

Group C: Social Security Number (e.g. Social Security card, W-2, or 1099 form)

Group D: Residency (e.g. bank statements, pay stubs, or utility bills)

For a standard first-time driver’s license, you need one document from each group. To change the address on your license, you’ll need one document from Group A and one from Group D. For a REAL ID application, you need to provide two documents from Group D—i.e., two proofs of residency—in addition to documents from Groups A, B, and C.

The following documents can be used to satisfy the Group D residency requirement:

Official electronic statement dated within 90 days before application

Bank statement dated within 90 days before application

Canceled check dated within 90 days before application

Certified transcript from grade school, high school, college, or university

Credit report from the last 12 months issued by TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax

Residential lease, mortgage, or deed/title to property in Illinois

Homeowners or renters insurance policy

A letter on official school letterhead dated within 90 days of application

Health insurance claim or statement of benefits dated within 90 days of application

Official mail from a state, county, city, village, or federal agency including: Homestead exemption receipt; Jury duty notice from the last 90 days; Selective Service card; Social Security annual statement; Social Security disability insurance statement; Supplemental Security Income benefits statement; Illinois voter’s registration card

Pay stub or electronic deposit receipt

Pension or retirement Statement

Report card from grade school, high school, college, or university

Tuition invoice or official mail from college or university, dated within one year of application

Utility bill (e.g. water, electricity, garbage, phone, gas, or cable) dated within 90 days of application

Any of these documents can be used as proof of residency in the state of Illinois for a driver’s license application. For a REAL ID card, you’ll need two documents from that list—and the only one that doesn’t qualify is an “official electronic statement.”

One more thing to remember: all documents must be original. A photocopy of your state ID or property tax bill won’t satisfy the requirement.

MORE:

How to renew your driver’s license in Illinois

What documents do not qualify as proof of Illinois residency?

Illinois allows residents to use a pretty wide variety of documents as proof of residency, but not every document with your Illinois mailing address counts. For instance, you can’t use any of the documents on this list to satisfy the Group D requirement:

Bond receipts

Business card

Check cashing card

Club or fraternal organization membership card

College or university ID card

Unofficial (i.e. commercially produced) ID card

Department of Human Services (DHS) card

Fishing license

Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) card

Handwritten ID or employment card

Hunting license

Illinois auto registration card

Illinois concealed carry card

Illinois FOID card

Instruction permit or receipt

Insurance card

International driving permit

Library card

Personal mail

Ticket from a traffic citation or arrest

Loan papers from an unlicensed financial institution

Video club membership card

Wallet ID

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What qualifies for proof of identity in Illinois?

Illinois separates proof of identity into three categories: written signature (Group A), date of birth (Group B), and Social Security Number (Group C). Here are the documents that qualify for each:

Group A: Canceled check, cooperative driver testing program certificate, court order, credit or debit card, driver’s license/government ID card (including out-of-state license), Medicare card, mortgage or loan documents, passport, Social Security Card, U.S. citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) forms, military driver’s license or service record

Group B: Adoption records, birth certificate, citizenship certificate, court order for change of birth date, certified school transcript, consular report of birth abroad, Illinois driver’s license or ID card, naturalization certificate, REAL ID card, Social Security award letter, USCIS forms, military driver’s license or service record, passport, U.S. visa

Group C: Verified Illinois driver’s license record, verified Illinois ID card record, non-SSA 1099 form, pay stub including SSN, Social Security award letter, Social Security card, SSA-1099 form, military driver’s license or service record, W-2 form

Any document used for ID for Group B must include your full name and complete date of birth, while documents for Group C must include your name and full Social Security number.

MORE:

Car inspection in Illinois

How to save on Illinois car insurance costs

Whether you’re applying for an Illinois driver’s license for the first time, upgrading to a REAL ID, or just trying to update your address, it’s a good idea to take this opportunity to shop for a new car insurance policy.

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