Illinois REAL ID Supercenter Serves Over 1,100 Residents During Expanded Saturday Hours
On Jan. 22, 2026, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias reported that more than 1,100 Illinois residents obtained their REAL ID credentials during the first Saturday of expanded hours at the state’s new REAL ID walk‑in Supercenter in downtown Chicago. The Secretary of State’s office processed 1,123 REAL ID applications that day, while the Cook County Clerk’s office issued 412 vital records – the birth certificates and name‑change documents required to prove identity when applying for a REAL ID. The extended Saturday hours launched Jan. 17 and were scheduled to run through the end of the month. They were added because the Transportation Security Administration’s new $45 penalty for passengers who fail to present a REAL ID or U.S. passport at airport security checkpoints takes effect on Feb. 1. The penalty means that travelers without a REAL ID or passport will pay an additional fee when flying domestically; state officials want residents to avoid the fee by securing their documents now.
Secretary Giannoulias partnered with Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon to offer Saturday service at both offices. The Secretary of State’s REAL ID Supercenter at 191 North Clark Street is a walk‑in facility that issues REAL IDs only; it does not require appointments during the expanded hours. To get everything done in one trip, customers can also stop by the Clerk’s Vital Records Department two blocks away at 118 North Clark Street, which opened on the same Saturdays to issue certified birth certificates and other vital documents needed for REAL ID applications. Giannoulias said the heavy turnout on the first Saturday shows how much demand there is for extended hours. He urged people who still need their updated ID to act now before the penalty begins. "We’re making it easier than ever with expanded Saturday hours, hundreds of new appointments and our partnership with the Clerk’s office — delivering less hassle, less time and no surprise fees at the airport," he said.
In addition to the downtown locations, Giannoulias announced that his department is adding more than 500 additional appointments at 15 Chicago‑area DMVs that are already open every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Those appointments will allow more residents to get REAL IDs and driver’s license services before the Feb. 1 penalty deadline. The expanded Saturday hours and extra appointments will continue for the next two weekends. After Feb. 1, the REAL ID Supercenter will revert to weekday service, but Giannoulias said the successful pilot shows there is strong public demand for weekend hours.
Illinois began issuing REAL ID driver’s licenses and identification cards in 2020, but adoption remained slow until the Secretary of State launched the Get REAL Illinois initiative last year. According to the office, 1.5 million REAL IDs were issued in 2025 alone, bringing the statewide total to more than 5 million; compliance increased from 29% the previous year to nearly 44%. The state expects that number to climb as residents hurry to meet the federal deadline. REAL ID credentials can be used for domestic air travel and to enter federal buildings once enforcement begins. To apply, Illinois residents need to bring proof of identity, Social Security number, and two documents proving Illinois residency, along with the standard fee.