AMERICA

IMPORTANT FOR TRAVELERS FROM ILLINOIS: A regular driver’s license is no longer enough for domestic flights, here are the documents that are accepted!

by Serbian Times18. September 2026.18. September 2026.

Passengers over the age of 18 flying on domestic routes in the U.S. must present valid identification at the TSA security checkpoint. The REAL ID rule has been in effect since May 7, 2025, but many travelers are still unsure what this means for their driver’s licenses.

For Illinois residents, the most important thing to know is this: if you have a regular driver’s license or State ID without the REAL ID star, that document is no longer sufficient on its own at the TSA checkpoint.

An ordinary driver’s license is not enough

An Illinois driver’s license without the REAL ID designation is still valid for driving and other purposes, but it is not sufficient as the sole document for passing through the TSA checkpoint.

The REAL ID version is identified by a gold star in the upper-right corner of the document.

If your license does not have a star, that does not mean you have to get a new one immediately. There is another option.

Your Serbian passport will do the job

Illinois travelers who have a valid Serbian passport can use it at the TSA checkpoint for a domestic flight.

TSA accepts foreign passports, so a person living in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois does not need a REAL ID if they already have a valid Serbian passport.

A U.S. passport and passport card, Green Card, U.S. work permit, as well as certain Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI cards are also accepted.

In other words, REAL ID is not the only way to get through airport security.

What if you have neither a REAL ID nor a passport?

That is where the situation becomes more complicated.

TSA may refer you for additional identity verification, during which officials will attempt to confirm who you are. As of February 1, 2026, a $45 fee applies to this procedure.

However, paying the fee does not automatically mean you will be allowed through security.

If TSA is unable to confirm a passenger’s identity, they will not be allowed to pass through the security checkpoint.

Look at the upper-right corner of your driver’s license or State ID card.

A gold star means you have a REAL ID.

If there is no star, bring another document accepted by TSA for a domestic flight, such as a valid passport.

Illinois residents who want to obtain a REAL ID must apply in person at an appropriate DMV facility. Documents are required to verify identity, date of birth, Social Security number and Illinois residency, including two proofs of address.

For Chicago residents, there is also a REAL ID Supercenter at 191 N. Clark St.

Don’t let them turn you away at the checkpoint

If you are traveling by air from Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois soon, check your identification before departure.

A REAL ID or another document from the TSA-approved list can get you through security. An ordinary Illinois driver’s license without a star is no longer sufficient on its own.

TSA also warns that the list of acceptable documents may change, so it should be checked before traveling.