Illinois is preparing to join the growing roster of U.S. states offering digital driver’s licenses, with plans to implement the technology in Apple Wallet by 2025. The initiative, established through House Bill 4592, will make Illinois the 12th state to adopt mobile driver’s license technology, following successful implementations in states like Maryland and West Virginia.
The digital ID system will work alongside traditional physical identification documents, providing residents with an additional method of identity verification via their smartphones. The implementation will comply with ISO 18013-5 standards for mobile identification, ensuring interoperability and security across different platforms and jurisdictions. The standardization proves particularly important as more states adopt digital ID solutions and federal agencies like the TSA expand their acceptance of mobile credentials.
Starting May 7, 2025, Illinois residents aged 18 and older will need to present either a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, passport, or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses issued by participating states will serve as acceptable alternatives to Real ID-compliant cards. The schedule matches the TSA’s broader REAL ID implementation schedule, which maintains the 2025 deadline for individual compliance while extending full implementation to 2027.
The Secretary of State’s office initiated the development of digital driver’s licenses and state ID cards on January 1, 2025. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’s office is conducting rigorous testing and implementing robust security measures to protect residents’ sensitive information and privacy, following security protocols established by early adopter states and federal guidelines.
The digital ID initiative represents part of a broader modernization effort within the Secretary of State’s office, joining a nationwide trend toward digital identification solutions. While specific rollout timing details have not been announced, the implementation follows similar successful deployments in other states, where mobile IDs have already gained acceptance for various identification purposes, including TSA security checkpoints. The program marks a significant step in Illinois’s digital transformation strategy, supporting the growing national movement toward secure, standardized mobile identification systems.
Sources: Mobile ID World, Apple Magazine, NBC Chicago
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