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Illinois license transfer

How to transfer your Illinois real estate license to a new brokerage

In Illinois you file the transfer yourself in the IDFPR Online Services Portal and pay $25. Your new managing broker then approves it.

See the Illinois stepsWhat to sort out first

Process checked against the Illinois IDFPR's own forms and portal on September 19, 2026. Boards change forms, so confirm there before you file.

IL transferChecked September 19, 2026
5 steps to move your license 1 2 3 4 5
Fee
$25
Can you work?
Once your new managing broker approves

01At a glance

The Illinois transfer, at a glance.

Who files, where, and your old broker's part. Fee and timing are up top.

Who filesYou file it online, your new broker approves
WhereIDFPR Online Services Portal
Old brokerYour old broker's part: nothing to sign.

02Step by step

How the Illinois transfer works

The Illinois IDFPR process, step by step.

  1. 1Tell your current sponsoring broker you are leaving.

    Then go online.

  2. 2Sign in at the IDFPR Online Services Portal.

    Register first if you have never used it.

  3. 3Choose Transfer Active License to New Brokerage Firm.

    It is under Online Services, then Licensure Options, then Start.

  4. 4Search for the new firm by its license number.

    Searching by number is more reliable than by name.

  5. 5Pay $25 and tell your new broker.

    They approve the transfer on their side.

03Watch out

Where Illinois transfers get stuck

Search by number

Firm names often have near-duplicates. The license number finds the right one.

04Before you move

What to sort out before you switch

The state filing is the easy part. These are the things that cost agents money when they skip them.

Read your contract with your broker

Your independent contractor agreement sets your notice period, any fees you owe on the way out, and how deals that close after you leave get paid.

Listings stay with the brokerage

A listing agreement is a contract between the seller and the brokerage, not you. You can only take a listing with your old broker's written release and your seller's agreement.

Pending deals

Deals under contract usually close with your old brokerage, and your agreement decides how you are paid on them. Get it in writing before your last day.

MLS and association

Move your MLS and REALTOR® association membership to your new office so your access does not lapse.

Update every ad the same day

Signs, your website, social media and business cards must show your new brokerage once you move. State ad rules require the brokerage name.

CE and E&O

Several states will not complete a transfer while your continuing education is overdue or your errors and omissions cover has lapsed. Check both first.

05If you are looking

What changes if you move to AXEN

No commission split. You keep 100% and pay a flat fee per closing instead.

No commission split100%of your commission stays yours. You pay a flat fee per closing instead.
File fee on Pro$500a closing, capped at $6,000 a year.
Admin fee$295on every sale, even after the cap.
Platform fee$50/moor $500 a year.
Released pendings$0if your old brokerage releases a pending deal to AXEN.
Rev share5 levelsNo quota to unlock one. Not a promise of income.
Every AXEN fee, in fullFile fee, small sales, leases, admin, platform, pendings and rev share.
  • File fee: $500 a closing on Pro, capped at $6,000 a year. $1,000 on Elite, capped at $12,000. After the cap it is $0 until your AXEN anniversary.
  • Small sales: under $2,500 of commission, the file fee is 10% of it instead.
  • Leases, rentals and referrals: 10% of the commission, never more than $500 on Pro or $1,000 on Elite, plus a $50 admin fee.
  • $295 admin fee on every sale, even after the cap. Most of it pays your Deal Desk coordinator and state broker.
  • Platform fee: $50 a month, $500 a year, or $600 taken from your first closing.
  • Released pendings: if your old brokerage releases a pending deal to AXEN, AXEN charges $0 on it.
  • Rev share: 5 levels, no quota to unlock one. Not a promise of income.

These are costs, not an earnings claim. Your income depends on your own sales.

See every AXEN fee, compare the math on AXEN vs eXp vs Real fees, or look inside the AXEN portal for free. Our Illinois broker handles the new-broker side of this for agents joining AXEN. See the Illinois guide.

06Straight answers

Illinois license transfer questions

Short answers. Tap a question to open it.

How long does it take to transfer an Illinois real estate license?

You can start working with your new brokerage once your new managing broker approves. How fast that comes depends mostly on how quickly both brokers act.

How much does it cost to transfer an Illinois real estate license?

The fee is $25.

Does my old broker have to do anything in Illinois?

No signature is needed from your old broker, but give them notice before you file.

What happens to my listings when I change brokerages?

Listings belong to the brokerage, not the agent. You can only take one with your old broker's written release and the seller's agreement.

How much does it cost to transfer an Illinois real estate license?

$25, paid online in the IDFPR portal.

Can I transfer my license to AXEN?

Yes. AXEN is licensed in Illinois, and our Illinois broker handles the new-broker side of the transfer. Start at axenrealty.com/join.

Moving your license to AXEN?

Our Illinois broker handles the new-broker side of this for agents joining AXEN. Look inside the portal first. It is free.

Look inside the AXEN portal for free See every AXEN fee Illinois guide

AXEN Realty, LLC. Commissions are negotiable and are not set by any brokerage. These are costs, not an earnings claim. Your income depends on your own sales.