The REAL ID Supercenter at 191 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s Loop will close on Dec. 28, 2026. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office cited declining demand for REAL ID documents as the reason for the decision. People who need the document after the facility closes will still be able to get it at other DMV offices across the state.
More Than 175,000 REAL IDs Issued
The supercenter opened in March 2025, shortly before federal REAL ID requirements took effect. The facility was intended to help handle increased demand for the document, which is required for, among other things, airport security checks.
More than 175,000 REAL IDs have been issued there since it opened. According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, the special facility has fulfilled its purpose, and demand has returned to a level that standard offices can handle.
The supercenter will cease operations after closing on Monday, Dec. 28. Employees will be reassigned to other DMV locations in Illinois.
How to Get a REAL ID in Illinois
The supercenter’s closure does not mean the end of options for getting the document. Applications will still be accepted in person at the remaining DMV offices.
Applicants should bring documents proving identity and legal status, their full Social Security number (SSN), two documents proving residency, and a document proving their signature.
Acceptable proof of identity includes a U.S. birth certificate, a passport or naturalization papers. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens can present appropriate immigration documents, such as a permanent resident card or a work authorization document. Anyone whose name has changed must also bring documents showing the change.
An SSN can be verified with, for example, a Social Security card, a W-2 form or a pay stub showing the full number. Proof of residency can include utility bills, a lease or a bank statement. A document proving a signature can be, among other things, a signed payment card or a current driver’s license.
REAL ID and Air Travel
REAL ID is a document that complies with federal security standards. It is needed, among other things, at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at airports for travelers who do not use another accepted document, such as a U.S. passport.
Under the rules as presented, beginning Feb. 1, 2026, travelers who have neither a REAL ID nor a passport must pay $45 for an additional identity verification procedure before going through TSA security screening.
Chicago residents planning to get a REAL ID should therefore take the supercenter’s closure into account and check the required documents and service options at other DMV offices well in advance.
Source: Polski.FM
