Applicants visiting Illinois driver services facilities will no longer be issued a new permanent driver's license or identification card at the end of the application process. Instead, they will leave the facility with a temporary paper driver's license, which is valid for 45 days.
According to a news release, for air travel, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it will accept the temporary document in conjunction with the old ID to board an aircraft until the permanent card arrives in the mail.
Meanwhile, the applicant's information will be sent off for fraud checks. The Secretary of State's office says a higher quality, more secure license will be printed and sent in the mail within 15 business days to the applicant's address.
This new process meets REAL ID requirements mandated by federal government.
The transition to central issuance will take place in phases. Beginning May 17, 2016, Safe Driver Renewal applicants will receive by mail their new driver's license with the upgraded security features. Beginning in late June 2016, through a gradual rollout, Driver Services facilities throughout the state will implement central issuance with the new card design. By the end of July 2016, all Driver Services facilities will have transitioned to central issuance.