Illinois Driver's License and State ID

TEMPORARY VISITOR’S DRIVER’S LICENSE OR TVDL (WITHOUT AN SSN)

The Secretary of State’s Office issues a “Temporary Visitor’s Driver’s License” (TVDL) for noncitizens of the United State who have been granted temporary, legal entry into this country and are temporarily residing in the State of Illinois and ineligible for a Social Security Number. Note: TVDL is not an ID card. You will be asked whether you want to register to vote, you MUST decline.

Who is eligible for a TVDL?

A non-citizen, lawfully admitted to the United States
Have resided in the State of Illinois for more than 12 months
Residing in the state of Illinois
Ineligible for a Social Security Number

Requirements for a TVDL

Most recent i-20 (valid for at least one year with not less than 6 months remaining)
Passport and visa
Denial letter issued by the Social Security Administration indicating your ineligibility for a Social Security Number (not more than 90 days old)
$30 fee; $5 fee for ages 18-20 years old
Proof of address
- If living on campus, ask one from the Office of Residence Life
- If living off campus, acceptable documents would be the following:
  - Lease agreement, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or click this

Steps for applying TVDL

Call DMV before going to make sure they accept TVDL application for international students
Make sure your I-20 is valid for at least one year from the date you intend to apply for the driver’s license with at least 6 months remaining.
Request a letter of ineligibility (denial letter) from the Social Security Office.
Obtain acceptable documents to verify your current address in Illinois.
Prepare for your vision test, written test, and road test (you will need to supply your own vehicle for the road test).

For additional information, refer to the Secretary of State “Cyber Drive Illinois” website below:

ILLINOIS STATE DRIVER'S LICENSE (WITH SSN)

If you already have an SSN (Social Security Number) or you are eligible for an SSN, you can apply for a “regular” driver’s license and/or state ID. You will be asked whether you want to register to vote, you MUST decline.

To be eligible, you must have the following:

Social Security Number (SSN)
Total program length on i-20 of at least one year
More than 6 months remaining on your program at the time you apply
Successfully completed a 6-hour adult driver education course through a certified provider (only if you are 18-20 years old)

Requirements for Illinois State Driver’s License:

Social Security card
Most recent i-20 (valid for at least one year with not less than 6 months remaining)
Passport and visa
$30 fee; $5 fee for ages 18-20 years old
Proof of address
- If living on campus, ask one from the Office of Residence Life
- If living off campus, acceptable documents would be the following:
  - Lease agreement, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or see Group D on the last page of this document for other acceptable documents

Steps for applying Illinois State Driver’s License:

Go to to locate your preferred DMV office.
Schedule an appointment online.
Make sure your I-20 is valid for at least one year from the date you intend to apply for the driver’s license with at least 6 months remaining.
Obtain acceptable documents to verify your current address in Illinois.
Prepare for your vision test, written test, and road test (you will need to supply your own vehicle for the road test).

Acceptable Identification Documents

See acceptable ID’s
Photocopies are not acceptable
All acceptable documents presented for verification or proof must be valid (current and not expired).
One document may satisfy more than one Group.
Documents marked with (*) are accepted for REAL ID.
To ensure you have all the documents required for a ,