As the deadline to obtain a Real ID nears and demand to get one spikes, the Illinois Secretary of State's Office will soon open a downtown Chicago, walk-in "Real ID supercenter" in a recognizable location.

The supercenter, set to open Wednesday, March 12, will be located at 191 N. Clark Street, which also acts as the city's Voting Supersite during elections. The center will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for walk-ins only, officials said. More information about the site is expected to be revealed Tuesday during a press conference held by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

The Real ID supercenter comes the Illinois Secretary of State's office announced a slew of initiatives around getting a Real ID in Illinois, including additional hours at DMVs , as well as an online portal to help determine which residents may need one.

Real ID appointment interest has skyrocketed in recent weeks, Giannoulious office has said. For the first 24 days of February, 860,000 people attempted to make appointments, according to officials, adding to the "unprecedented" demand.

After multiple delays and date changes, the deadline to obtain a Real ID comes May 7, 2025. After May 7, residents will need Real ID-compliant identification cards to fly on domestic flights in the United States, though U.S. passports can also serve as documentation for those flights, according to officials. After the deadline passes, TSA agents are expected to adopt Real IDs in phases.

How do you know if you need a Real ID?

Beginning May 7, a Real ID-compliant form of identification will be required to board flights within the U.S. and enter certain federal facilities. Contrary to misinformation, a Real ID won't be needed to drive, Alexi Giannoulias said at a recent news conference .

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"We want Illinoisans to make sure that they truly need a Real ID before coming to a facility" Giannoulias said, touting the state's new Real ID portal. "For instance, it will ask you if you have a U.S. passport, global entry card, or military ID. If you respond yes for any of them, it informs you that you do not need a Real ID. And even if you don't have one of those and you are not flying on a commercial airline on May 7 or in early summer, you also do not need a Real ID. If you've gone through the portal and determined that you need a Real ID, it will present you with DMV walk-in options and let you know how you can schedule an appointment at a facility near you."

The Illinois Secretary of State describes Real IDs are "optional" on its online portal. More information can be found here .

Illinois Real ID requirements

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the cards will cost $30, the same cost for a regular Illinois driver’s license or identification card.

Illinois Real ID appointments

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has a section of their website that allows residents to make appointments to get their Real ID-compliant licenses and cards, and also details circumstances when the new cards will be required.

But beware, officials say. Real ID appointments may be hard to get.

"Due to the federally-mandated Real ID requirements, our facilities and website have been overwhelmed with requests for Real IDs," a message on the Illinois Secretary of States website said. "As a result, we’re asking everyone to make sure they really need a REAL ID before booking an appointment or visiting a facility. The May 7th date is NOT a final deadline and everyone can travel with a valid U.S. Passport. Thank you."