Driver’s License for International Students 

Are you an international student looking to get your US driver's license? In this article, we discuss a step by step guide to obtaining your driver's license as an international student on an F1, J1 or M1 student visa. 

Can International Student's Get a Driver's License in USA

International students on an F1, J1 or M1 student visa are eligible to obtain a Driver's License in the US state where they reside during the course of their studies.

Driver's licenses are issued at the State level by state agencies whose exact name varies from state to state. 

Some states - like New York and California - call this state agency the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

While states like Texas and Illinois call this agency the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Secretary of State Office respectively. 

When to Apply for a Driver's License

Here are the typical steps you can expect when applying for a driver's license on an F1, J1 or M1 visa in all US states. 

First Time Driver's License Applicant

1. Check out the website of the agency that issues driver's licenses in your state

On this website, you would find instructions to complete an application form for a . 

In some states, this application form could be completed and submitted electronically.

But in many states, you will be required to complete this form in ink and submit the form to the state agency's office. 

You will also find information on the acceptable documents you must provide to obtain a driver's license in the state. 

Depending on your state of residence, you might be required to schedule an in-person appointment before visiting the office.

So it's best to find out if walk-in appointments are available before visiting your state agency in person. 

2. Visit the local office of your state agency that issues driver's licenses

At the local office of the licensing agency, you would pay a non-refundable application fee and provide original copies of supporting documents needed to obtain your driver's license.

The driver's license application fee varies across the different US states and also depends on the age of the applicant. As of 2022, the driver's license fee across all US states ranges from $10 - $89.

Also, a photograph will be taken for your driver's license, as well as a digital scan of your fingerprint and your electronic signature. 

Generally, for international students on the F1, J1, and M1 visa, the required documents for your driver's license application fall under these categories...

• Proof of identity and age
• Proof of US legal presence 
• Proof of state residency
• Proof of social security number

Proof of Identity and Age

To prove your identity and age when applying for your driver's license as an international student, it is best to provide a valid passport. 

Proof of US legal presence

Most states in the US require foreign persons to provide documents verifying that they entered the United States legally before a state driver's license can be granted. 

As an international student, you can satisfy this requirement by providing

1. An original copy of your signed Form I-20 (for F1 and M1 students) or a signed Form DS-2019 (for J1 students)
2. Your electronic Form I-94, which could be obtained from the US Customs and Border Protection website
3.  Your F-1, J-1, or M-1 student visa (expired visas are acceptable)
4.  Your employment authorization document (EAD) if you're on OPT or STEM OPT

A state official at the license agency will use the information contained on your I-20 or DS-2019 to verify your status in the US before your driver's license can be issued. 

Furthermore, the end date shown on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 or EAD, will be used to determine the expiration date of your driver's license. 

Proof of State Residency 

You can prove your state residency by providing documents containing your full name and your residential address located in the state. 

These could be documents such as your tuition bill, rental lease agreement, utility bill, bank statements, a pay stub, or a proof of rental insurance. 

Proof of Social Security Number

In some states, you are required to provide a social security number (SSN) card or a Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement containing your SSN.

Currently, there are 12 states that do not require an SSN to obtain a driver's license. These states are...

California, Colorado, Delaware, Connecticut, New York, Utah, New Mexico, Maryland, Illinois, Vermont, Washington, and Hawaii. 

If you do not reside in these states, you might be allowed to obtain a driver's license if you can present a social security number letter of ineligibility. 

3. Pass a vision test and a knowledge test 

At your state licensing agency office, you will be required to take and pass a vision test and a knowledge test.

On this knowledge test, you will be tested on your understanding of driving conditions and traffic signs.

The content of this knowledge test varies from state to state, so to be well prepared for this test, it's best to find study materials applicable to your state. 

You can take the driving knowledge test multiple times, so don't worry if you do couldn't pass the test on the first trial. 

After you pass your vision and knowledge test, you could request a temporary learner's permit.

With this permit, you can get some on-road driving experience to prepare you for the road test. 

Note that across most US states, you can only drive with a learner's permit if you have a licensed adult driver (of at least 21 years of age) sitting beside you. 

4. Pass a road test under the supervision of an agency official

Once you feel well prepared, you can then schedule your road test. 

During this test, you will be judged on your ability to follow traffic signs and follow proper driving etiquette.

Some examples of driving skills you would be evaluated upon are your ability to; drive through an intersection, change lanes, enter and exit a freeway, maintain a safe distance with the vehicles ahead of you.

You would also need to pass an obstacle driving test, where you maneuver around traffic cones. You might also be tested on your ability to parallel park. 

5. Obtain your driver's license

Upon passing your road test, you would be giving a temporary driver's license in the form of a paper. You are allowed to driver with this paper driver's license while your plastic driver's license is being processed. 

Your plastic driver's license should be sent to your mailing address within a couple weeks of obtaining your temporary driver's license. 

Transferring an Out-of-State Driver's License as an International Student

International students with US driver's licenses who move to a new US state might need to obtain a driver's license in their new state of residence.

As most states in the US require newcomers to obtain a state driver's license to establish residency in the state. 

The documents you will provide when transferring your out-of-state driver's license as an international student are the same as those of a first-time applicant.

Typically, international students transferring an unexpired out-of-state US driver's license are not required to take and pass the knowledge test and the road test.

However, if your out-of-state driver's license has expired, you might be required to apply for a driver's license like a first time applicant. 

In this case, you should follow the exact steps described here for a first time driver's license applicant.

Some states might require you to surrender your out-of-state driver's license when requesting a transfer.

While other states let you keep your out-of-state license after punching a hole in the card, to show that it is no longer valid for use in the state. 

Transferring an International Driver's License as an International Student

Many states in the US do not recognize international driver's licenses and thus require foreigners transferring an international driver's license to take and pass the knowledge and road test.

The only exception here are for residents of Canada or Mexico driving in the US with Canadian or Mexican registered motor vehicles. 

Applying for the Real ID Driver's License as an International Student

When applying for your US driver's license, you will be given the option to obtain a Real ID Driver's license or a Standard Driver's License.

Starting May 5th of 2025, Real IDs will be the only form of driver's licenses that can be used to board a US domestic flight or to enter a US federal building. 

International students intending to obtain the Real ID driver's license, should be prepared to present 2 different types of documents showing proof of their residency in the state.

For example, your tuition bill and your rental lease agreement or a tuition bill and your bank statement. Again, these document must contain your full name and a residential address located in the state. 

Applying for Driver's License while Your OPT or STEM OPT Application is Pending

A common scenario international students on F-1 or M-1 visas may find themselves in is renewing or applying for a driver's license while their application for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT is pending with USCIS.

For international students applying for a driver's license while on OPT or STEM OPT, an EAD is commonly needed to determine the expiration date of your driver's license. 

However, while your I-765 application for OPT or STEM OPT is pending with USCIS, you would not have a valid EAD at the time of applying for your driver's license. 

In this scenario, you should provide your I-20 endorsed for OPT or STEM OPT along with your Form I-797 Notice of Action as proof of your legal status in the US. 

Some officials at your state licensing agency may not know that an I-20 endorsed for OPT or STEM OPT can be used to prove your legal status in the US while your EAD is pending. 

So if you encounter any troubles using this document as proof of your legal status, you should kindly ask to speak with a manager or supervisor at your state licensing agency. 

The managers or supervisors at these facilities are usually more knowledgeable about the required documents that international students can provide when applying for a driver's license. 

Driver's License for Dependents on an F-2 or M-2 Visa

Given that dependents on an F-2 or M-2 visa are ineligible to work in the US, they can't obtain a social security number. 

Thus if a dependent on an F-2 or M-2 visa resides in a state where a social security number is required to obtain a driver's license, they must first obtain a letter of social security number ineligibility before applying for a driver's license.