Photo: Chris Duan, Pexels
Illinois no longer issues the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL). From July 1, 2024, people who used to qualify for a TVDL can apply for a standard four-year Illinois driver’s license marked “Federal Limits Apply.” This guide is for people moving to Illinois from abroad or from another state: which license to apply for, the tests and the deadlines.
Key facts
- TVDLs stopped being issued on July 1, 2024, under a 2023 law (HB 3882).
- Replacement: a four-year standard license printed with “Federal Limits Apply.”
- Existing TVDL holders can renew or replace online or at a DMV facility.
- Moving from another state or country: you can drive on your valid license for 90 days, or until it expires if that comes first.
- Vehicles: new residents have 30 days to transfer title and registration.
What replaced the Illinois TVDL?
The TVDL was for non-citizens with temporary legal entry, living in Illinois and not eligible for a Social Security number. It carried a purple TVDL marker and the words “Not Valid for Identification.” The new standard license drops both, and carries “Federal Limits Apply” instead.
Who can apply for a standard license under the new rules
The Secretary of State says applicants who would have qualified for a TVDL must:
- have lived in Illinois for more than a year
- provide a passport or consular card (the SOS accepts consular cards only from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico)
- provide proof of residency and proof of insurance
- pass the vision, written and behind-the-wheel tests
The SOS document chart says a Visa/Non-Visa license applicant does not present a Group C Social Security document, and signs a declaration of not being eligible for a number instead.
First-time applicants must go to a DMV facility in person with their documents. Holders of an employment authorization document, DACA documents or a green card may qualify under different document rules. Check the SOS non-citizen guidance before your visit.
Moving to Illinois from another state
- Drive on your valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days after becoming a resident, or until it expires if that comes first.
- Visit a full-service Secretary of State DMV facility. Express facilities do not process out-of-state transfers.
- Surrender all out-of-state licenses and ID cards.
- Pass a vision screening and the written exam. A driving exam may also be required.
- Bring identity and residency documents from the SOS checklist. Choose standard or REAL ID: REAL ID guide.
- Transfer your vehicle’s title and registration within 30 days.
If you are 18 to 20 and moving from another state, you don’t need the adult driver education course. More on swapping licenses: transferring your license to a new state.
Moving to Illinois from another country
Plan on taking the full set of tests (vision, written and road), as for a first Illinois license, and confirm with the SOS whether any test can be waived for your license. Visitors who keep a home-country license should read driving in the US on a foreign license. Then prepare with the Illinois permit test and road test guides.
Who can drive on a license from elsewhere?
- Visitors and people driving through, with a valid license from their home state or country.
- Out-of-state students at an Illinois college or university, plus their spouse and children, with a valid home license.
- Active-duty US Armed Forces members, plus their spouse and dependent children living with them, with a valid home-state license.
- Illinois residents returning from service abroad, as military or as civilian Armed Forces or Department of Defense staff, plus their spouse and dependent children: for the first 120 days back, if they got a license deferral beforehand.
Under 18 and new to Illinois?
Illinois GDL rules apply to you: driver education, the instruction permit and 50 practice hours. See Illinois GDL rules.
Common questions
Can I still get a TVDL in Illinois?
No. New TVDLs have not been issued since July 1, 2024. Apply for a standard license instead.
Can I use the “Federal Limits Apply” license as ID to board a plane?
A license marked “Federal Limits Apply” is not a REAL ID. For federal purposes such as domestic flights you need a REAL ID or another accepted document such as a passport.
How long is the new license valid?
Four years. The old TVDL was valid for 4 years or until your authorized stay ended, whichever came first.
I have an expired TVDL. What do I do?
The SOS says TVDL holders can renew or replace online through its TVDL page, or at a DMV facility.
Do I need insurance to apply?
Yes. Proof of insurance is listed for applicants under the former TVDL route, and every vehicle registered and driven in Illinois must have liability insurance. See car insurance for new drivers. Main guide: learning to drive in Illinois.
Sources
- Illinois Secretary of State, “2026 Illinois Rules of the Road” (DSD A 112, July 2026), Chapter 1 and Acceptable Identification Documents (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Temporary Visitor Driver’s License” (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, news release, July 1, 2024 (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, news release, June 21, 2023 (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Non-Citizen and TVDL Illinois Driver’s License Information” DSD TVDL 22 (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “New Residents: How Do I?” (ilsos.gov)
- Illinois Secretary of State, “Adult Driver Education FAQs” (ilsos.gov)