Undocumented immigrants can now apply for Illinois driver's license under new law

Starting Monday, Illinois residents without U.S. citizenship can receive a standard driver's license or state ID. This development follows a new law aimed at reducing discrimination by police and providing undocumented immigrants with identification to access essential services.

The standard driver's license will replace the Temporary Visitor Driver's License (TVDL), which had a purple banner and the words "Not Valid for Identification," marking an individual's immigration status.

In a news conference on Monday, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said the law will reduce discrimination against migrants and make roads safer:

"This is an important step forward in reducing the stigma that our immigrant population is forced to face. It will also make our roads safer by ensuring that more motorists can legally drive – having to pass written and behind-the-wheel driving tests and show proof of insurance – like all other licensed Illinois drivers."

More than 300,000 Illinois residents hold a TVDL, according to the Secretary of State's office, which began issuing these documents in 2013. The stigma associated with the TVDL led many motorists to forgo obtaining a license.

The new standard driver's license is expected to encourage more motorists to obtain a license, thereby improving road safety.

The new four-year standard driver's licenses for non-U.S. citizens in Illinois will feature the words "Federal Limits Apply." These licenses do not qualify holders for a REAL ID or voting in elections. The measure to replace the TVDL with a standardized state driver's license for undocumented immigrants was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker last year.

Unlike the TVDL, the standard driver's license can be used as identification for essential tasks such as filling prescriptions, opening a bank account, or applying for an apartment. The new law also restricts Illinois from sharing driver information for immigration enforcement purposes.

First-time applicants must visit a DMV facility with required documents, including a passport or consular card, proof of residency, and proof of insurance. Applicants eligible for a standard driver's license must have lived in Illinois for more than a year. Those seeking to renew or replace their existing TVDLs can apply online or visit a DMV facility.