Driver’s Licenses Regardless of Immigration Status: US States

Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have laws that let residents get a driver’s license without proving lawful presence in the US, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). These licenses let you drive legally in the state that issued them, but they are not REAL ID cards, so they can’t be used to board a domestic flight or enter secure federal buildings. You still pass the same knowledge and road tests as everyone else. This guide lists the states, explains what the cards allow, and covers the documents states usually accept, as of November 2026.

Key facts

• 19 states plus DC (NCSL): California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
• Same tests: vision, knowledge and road tests, and the same teen rules.
• Not federal ID: the cards are not REAL ID compliant and are often marked to show it.
• No Social Security number needed: states accept other documents, such as a foreign passport or consular ID, plus proof of in-state residency.
• Laws change. Utah lawmakers considered ending its card in 2026 (see below). Check the state agency before you apply.

Which states give driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status?

NCSL lists 19 states and DC that issue a license when an applicant provides certain documentation, without proof of lawful presence. Each state names and designs its card differently.

Where a row says “check with the state”, the state is on the NCSL list, so ask its licensing agency for the card details. Fees and documents change, so always confirm with the state agency.

What these licenses allow, and what they don’t

• Allowed: driving legally in the issuing state, in the vehicle classes on the card.
• Not allowed: boarding a domestic flight or entering secure federal facilities, because the cards are not REAL ID (Vermont, Virginia).
• Not allowed: use as federal identification (Connecticut, DC, Rhode Island and others).
• Not allowed: voting (Connecticut and Rhode Island say so explicitly).
• Sometimes not allowed: use as state identification. Nevada’s DAC is not valid for state identification, and Delaware’s DPC is marked “Not Valid for Identification”.

Driving in other states

Be careful. Delaware’s DPC is for driving within Delaware only. Florida law goes further: under Florida Statutes section 322.033, a license from a class that another state issues only to people who can’t prove lawful presence is invalid in Florida, and driving on one counts as driving without a license. Check the rules of every state you plan to drive in.

Documents states usually accept

Each state publishes its own list. Common categories:

• Identity and date of birth: a valid foreign passport, a consular ID card, or for Mexico the electoral card (Credencial para Votar). Nevada’s DAC list also includes a foreign birth certificate and a license or ID from another US state.
• In-state residency: usually two documents with your address, such as utility bills, bank records or a lease. Delaware wants them postmarked within 60 days.
• Tax filing: Delaware requires proof you filed Delaware taxes for the previous two years. Virginia requires Virginia-source income or dependent status in the past 12 months.
• Fingerprints: Delaware requires State Bureau of Identification fingerprinting first.
• Translations: Nevada requires full typed translations from a DMV-approved translator for documents not in English.

Bring originals or certified copies. California sends applicants without the correct documents to a Secondary Review.

Teens and new drivers

The licensing steps for teens are the same: permit, supervised hours, driver ed where required, and the road test. California requires driver education for AB 60 applicants aged 15 to 17 and a half. Delaware’s DPC permit holders practice with a licensed driver over 21. Rules by state: US graduated driver licensing compared.

State guides

• California AB 60 driver’s license
• New York Green Light law licenses
• New Jersey standard license without lawful status
• Massachusetts Work and Family Mobility Act licenses
• Washington driver’s license without SSN
• Virginia driver privilege card
• Nevada Driver Authorization Card
• Utah driving privilege card
• DC Limited Purpose driver’s license
• Delaware Driving Privilege Card
• Illinois: what replaced the TVDL

Common questions

Can I get a driver’s license without a Social Security number?

Yes, in the states listed above. Elsewhere, states usually ask for a Social Security number, or proof that you aren’t eligible for one along with lawful status documents. Students on visas: see getting a US driver’s license on an F-1 or J-1 visa.

Will the DMV share my information with immigration authorities?

States set their own privacy rules. Nevada says information used to get a DAC will not be released or used to determine legal presence or immigration status. Read your state’s privacy statement before you apply.

Can I fly with one of these licenses?

No. They are not REAL ID compliant. Use a passport or another document TSA accepts. See REAL ID and your first US driver’s license.

Are the tests different?

No. You take the same vision, knowledge and road tests. California offers the knowledge test in more than 40 languages. See permit tests in Spanish and other languages.

Can I drive in another state with this license?

Sometimes not. Delaware’s card is for driving in Delaware only, and Florida treats these licenses from other states as invalid. Check before any trip.

I have lawful status. Should I get one of these cards?

No. If you can prove lawful presence, apply for a standard or REAL ID license. Delaware, for example, says applicants with lawful presence must apply for a standard license instead.

Start your state’s route at learning to drive in the USA. Costs: driver’s license costs by state.

Sources

• National Conference of State Legislatures, “States Offering Driver’s Licenses to Immigrants” (ncsl.org)
• California DMV, “Assembly Bill (AB) 60 Driver Licenses” (dmv.ca.gov)
• Connecticut DMV, “Drive Only License Program” (portal.ct.gov)
• Delaware DMV, “Driving Privilege Card” and “Delaware Driver Manual” (dmv.de.gov)
• DC DMV, “Limited Purpose Driver License” (dmv.dc.gov)
• Illinois Secretary of State, “Temporary Visitor Driver’s License” (ilsos.gov)
• Nevada DMV, “Nevada Driver’s Handbook (DMV 700, March 2024)” (dmv.nv.gov)
• Colorado DMV, “Standard Licenses and IDs” (dmv.colorado.gov)
• Massachusetts RMV, “Driver’s Manual” (rev. April 2026) (mass.gov)
• Minnesota DVS, “Minnesota Driver’s Manual” (June 2026) (dps.mn.gov)
• New Jersey MVC, “New Jersey Driver Manual” (2026) (nj.gov/mvc)
• New Mexico MVD, “Driver’s License” (mvd.newmexico.gov)
• New York State Senate, S1747B (2019), Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act (nysenate.gov)
• Washington Administrative Code 308-104-014 (app.leg.wa.gov)
• Rhode Island General Assembly, “Chapter 31-10.4: Driver Privilege Cards and Permits” (rilegislature.gov)
• Utah Legislature, “H.B. 287 Immigrant Driving Amendments (2026 General Session)” (le.utah.gov)
• Vermont DMV, “What is a Driver’s Privilege Card?” and “License Comparisons” (dmv.vermont.gov)
• Virginia DMV, “Driver Privilege Card” and “FAQs for Schools Training Driver Privilege Card Applicants” (dmv.virginia.gov)
• Florida Legislature, “Florida Statutes s. 322.033, Invalid out-of-state driver licenses” (leg.state.fl.us)