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Our offices will be closed on Monday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. We will re-open on Tuesday, July 5th. For online services, click here.
Out of Country New Resident
Obtaining your Driver License or Identification Card
English Video Guide Playlist: How to get a Driver License or Identification Card
Spanish Video Guide Playlist: How to get a Driver License or Identification Card
Immigrant
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Document Requirements to Obtain Your Driver License Or ID Card
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Prove your identity and legal presence
- Prove your social security number
- Two proofs of your residential address
Important note: All of your documents must have the alien number and we only accept original documents.
Step 1: Prove Your Identity and Legal Presence
There are several categories within the classification of immigrants. In this section we will present each one so that you know what documents to bring to prove your identity and legal presence.Permanent Resident
If you are a permanent resident you must present one of the following options:
Green card, up-to-date passport with I-551 stamp, or up-to-date passport with I-551 notation on your VISA.Asylee
If you applied for asylum in the United States, you must present one of the following options:
Passport up to date with the judge’s order or receipt of your approved I-589
application.Note: If you bring the permanent resident card, the passport is not necessary.
Refugee
If you are a refugee, you must submit one of the following options:
Support with your I-94 form with the corresponding stamp or Letter from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) verifying your status.
Note: If your case does not fall into any of these categories, please email us at this address: [email protected]
(Your documents contain confidential information about you. Please do not send photos or copies of your personal documents.)
Step 2: Submit your Social Security Number
This number is required for all immigrants, without exception.
Acceptable documents include Social Security card, Form W-2, or Form 1099 with complete number.
The name, surname and date of birth will be verified in our offices. US citizens must notify the Social Security Administration of any name change at least 24 hours before reporting to our offices.
Permanent residents and nonimmigrants must report and receive acknowledgment from USCIS of any name change. In addition, they must report the new name to the Social Security Administration at least 24 hours before appearing at our offices.
Step 3: Show Evidence of Your Residential Address
Applicants must submit two (2) documents in their name showing their residential address.
The address must include the property number, full street name, apartment or unit number (if applicable), city, state, and ZIP code number. Some examples of accepted documents include, but are not limited to:
- Property registration documents or property rental contract
- Mortgage statement
- Voter registration (card)
- Vehicle registration or title in the state of Florida
- U.S. Postal service change of address receipt
- Bills for services such as cable, water or electricity, or the connection
order for these services
If you only have one document under your name:
If the applicant can only present one document that shows their name and residential address, they can provide at least one document in their name and fill out the form called “Certification of Address”. Click here to access the form.
If you live with family or friends:
If the applicant is unable to provide documents showing their name and residential address, they may provide two (2) documents in the name of the person with whom they reside, along with a document showing family relationship (birth or marriage certificate).
If the resident of the dwelling is not an immediate family member, the applicant can print the “Certification of Address” form, which must be signed by both people and notarized.
Our employees can also authenticate such a document, as long as both people present themselves at our office with acceptable identification (driver’s license, identification card or passport, up to date).
Click here to access the “Certification of Address” form.
Non-Immigrant
-
Document Requirements to Obtain Your Driver License Or ID Card
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Prove your identity and legal presence
- Prove your social security number
(Note: If your non-immigrant status does not authorize you to work, you will not be required to present your social security number) - Two proofs of your residential address
People who have immigrated to the United States must have an established case with USCIS and an ALIEN number (identification number assigned to an alien by USCIS). Required documents may vary. If the applicant does not have a pending case or immigration status, they must seek assistance on their own.
If you have immigrated to the United States, the license and identification card systems communicate electronically with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which determines whether your credential can be issued in our offices for the period of time indicated.
If the system does not issue the credential during your visit, verification will take place at another level from the headquarters in Tallahassee and could take up to 60 days to receive.
Applicants in the non-immigrant category will receive their credential with TEMPORARY status and its validity is determined by the expiration date of the document presented, or one year.
This also means that you will need to present identification documents and USCIS documents at our offices each time you apply for a replacement or renewal, until you have become a permanent resident.
I-797 NOTICE OF ACTION receipts provided by USCIS are issued to notify you of the receipt or approval of a case. For purposes of applying for a driver’s license or identification card, the date of receipt indicated in these letters may
not be greater than 3 years.Step 1: Prove Your Identity and Legal Presence
There are several categories within the classification of non-immigrants. In this section we will present each one so that you know what documents to bring to prove your identity and legal presence.
Visitors, Foreign Entrepreneurs, and Athletes
If you are a visitor, foreign entrepreneur, or athlete, you must present the
following documents:- Original passport up to date (except for Venezuela with no more than 5 years expired)
- Valid I-94, and with at least 60 days before the expiration date. Find your I-94 here.
Authorized for Employment
If you are authorized for employment, you must present the
following documents:- Current work permit card (I-766)
Note: If the work permit has expired, but USCIS accepted the renewal application before the current permit expired, also submit the I-797 I-765 Application Receipt letter. Otherwise, you must wait to receive the new card (for TPS, read the corresponding section).
Parole
If you are in parole, you must present the following documents:
- Original passport up to date (except for Venezuela with no more than 5 years expired)
- I-94 with parole stamp, or I-94 with DT category (find your I-94 here)
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
If you are under temporary protected status, you must present the following documents:
- Original passport up to date (except for Venezuela with no more than 5 years expired), or Valid work permit with categories A12 or C19. If the permit has expired, you must also present an up-to-date passport when you first apply
- I-797 letter Receipt for I-765 application and I-821 application, or approved I-821 application (not required if you have a work permit card)
Notice of Hearing
If you are under a notice of hearing, you must present the following:
- Original passport up to date (except for Venezuela with no more than 5 years expired), or original birth certificate
NOTE: Letter from an immigration court (Notice of Hearing) scheduling a hearing on the pending proceeding
Pending Political Asylum
If you are in a pending political asylum process, you must present the following documents:
- Original passport up to date (except for Venezuela with no more than 5 years expired)
- Letter I-797 Receipt of application I-589
Non-Immigrant Married to a U.S. Citizen
If you are an alien married to a U.S. Citizen, you must present the following documents:
- Original passport up to date (except for Venezuela with no more than 5 years expired)
- I-94 (accepted expired)
- Letter I-797 Receipt of application I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
- Letter I-797 Receipt of application I-485 (Adjustment to permanent resident)
- Original marriage certificate
- Proof of spouse’s citizenship (for example, copy of current US passport, or US birth certificate, or naturalization certificate)
U Visa
If you have a U Visa, you must present the following documents:
- Original passport up to date (except for Venezuela with no more than 5 years expired)
- Letter I-797 Receipt of application I-918, copy of Supplement B
- If you are not the principal, you must present proof of family relationship with the victim (marriage certificate for spouses, or birth certificate for parent/child relationship)
Students
If you are a student, you must present the following documents:
- Original passport up to date (except for Venezuela with no more than 5 years expired)
- I-94 up to date
- Form I-20
- Present the work permit if you already obtained one
Step 2: Submit your Social Security Number
Persons in nonimmigrant classification are not required to present a social security card. However, they will be required to present a secondary document, and issued by a government agency, which proves their identity. These include, but are not limited to:
- Birth certificate
- Foreign passport, driver license or identification card issued by a government agency
- Marriage certificate
- Record from your school indicating your date of birth and signed by the school authority
These documents must be original, legible, and in good condition.
Note: If you are a non-immigrant and at some point you were issued a social security card and it never came in the mail or was lost, you need to make sure you get your social security documents and present them to our office.
Step 3: Show Evidence of Your Residential Address
Applicants must submit two (2) documents in their name showing their residential address.
The address must include the property number, full street name, apartment or unit number (if applicable), city, state, and ZIP code number. Some examples of accepted documents include, but are not limited to:
- Property registration documents or property rental contract
- Mortgage statement
- Voter registration (card)
- Vehicle registration or title in the state of Florida
- U.S. Postal service change of address receipt
- Bills for services such as cable, water or electricity, or the connection
order for these services
If you only have one document under your name:
If the applicant can only present one document that shows their name and residential address, they can provide at least one document in their name and fill out the form called “Certification of Address”. Click here to access the form.
If you live with family or friends:
If the applicant is unable to provide documents showing their name and residential address, they may provide two (2) documents in the name of the person with whom they reside, along with a document showing family relationship (birth or marriage certificate).
If the resident of the dwelling is not an immediate family member, the applicant can print the “Certification of Address” form, which must be signed by both people and notarized.
Our employees can also authenticate such a document, as long as both people present themselves at our office with acceptable identification (driver’s license, identification card or passport, up to date).
Click here to access the “Certification of Address” form.
Steps to Obtain a Driver License
Examinations and Tests
Driving in the State of Florida is a privilege, not a right. All applicants must have adequate physical and mental capabilities to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways of the State.
Important Note:
The state of Florida recognizes the driver licenses of some countries, validating the general knowledge and driving tests.
- If you have a driver license from Canada, France, Republic of Korea (South Korea), or Republic of China (Taiwan), bring it with you when you arrive at one of our offices and our representatives will check your vision and hearing
- If you have a German driver license, on the driving test is validated. You will have to complete the general knowledge test.
Applicants holding a license from another state, US territory will be required to surrender their license. Those presenting the Canadian license will also have to present it, unless they choose to take the general knowledge and driving tests.
When a driver’s license has expired for more than 12 months, the applicant must pass the State of Florida General Knowledge test.
If you do not have one of these driver’s licenses, you must meet the following requirements.
Course on Traffic Laws and Substance Abuse (Alcohol and Drugs)
If you do NOT have a driver’s license from another country, you must pass the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse course before obtaining a driver’s license. If you have a license from your country, this course will NOT be required. Show your license at the time of being assisted in our offices. Your license must be legible, and photocopies of your license will not be accepted.
Note: We cannot accept licenses that have been issued digitally, such as licenses from Venezuela that were delivered by email. There are several schools that provide the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse class, either online or by attending in person. Our organization does not offer this class.
For a list of licensed providers, click here.
General Knowledge and Traffic Signs Test
The class E license is the license that allows you to drive vehicles with a maximum of 26,000 pounds of gross weight, with a maximum of 16 people including the driver, and recreational vehicles.
The Class E exam is based on the Florida State License Handbook, which can be found on the Florida Department of Vehicle and Highway Safety website here.
Our offices frequently have manuals in Spanish (except for the AAA office).
The theoretical exam is offered in most of our offices, as well as in private schools. You will do the theoretical exam on a computer and you will have 60 minutes to complete it. It consists of 50 questions about laws and traffic signs and a minimum of 40 correct questions is required to pass it.
Vision and Hearing Screening
Your vision (distance) and hearing will be tested. If you wear glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids, please remember to bring them.
Glasses you wear only for reading or looking up close will NOT work for you on this test as we will be testing your ability to see from a distance.
If you do not pass the vision screening, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist or optometrist for a medical exam. The doctor must complete a form that must be presented in our office.
If you have passed the vision test with glasses or contact lenses, you must wear them while operating a vehicle. You can get a ticket if you don’t use them.
Physical and Mental Requirements
You must indicate any physical or mental problems that may affect your ability to drive during your license application, such as epilepsy, fainting spells, dizziness, or any other medical condition that may affect your ability to drive.
Learner's License (Restricted License)
If you don’t know how to drive, or want to practice on public roads before going for your driving test, once you have passed the knowledge test you will need to obtain a “Learner’s Permit” (known as a restricted license).
Our office does not offer driving lessons; you will need to locate an instructor on your own.
People who have established domicile in the state will NOT be able to drive with the license of another country.
While you have this type of license you must drive with a person next to you. This person must be at least 21 years old, possess a valid driver’s license, and who will be in charge of monitoring you in the vehicle sitting in the front passenger seat while driving. The first three months that you will use this license you will only be able to drive during the day.
Persons over the age of 18 are not required to obtain a learner’s license. If you already know how to drive, you can schedule the driving test once you have completed the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse class and the general knowledge test.
Note: Under 18 Years Old
Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a biological parent or legal guardian to obtain a learner’s license. If the parents cannot accompany the minor to the office, they must submit form 71142, previously authenticated by a notary, in which they give consent for the minor to drive. You can access this form here.
Minors must hold the license for a minimum of one year (no points), or until they turn 18 if they got it at age 17. For the complete list of underage driving
restrictions, click here.
Driving Test Procedure
The purpose of the Driver License Road Test is to:
- Ensure you know the FL driving rules
- Ensure you have the skills and experience to drive safely.
Helpful tip: Get an in-depth look at the road test and what to expect in our helpful video here (English version) or here (Spanish version). You can also get more information in the Florida Driver License Manual here.
Remote Road Test Procedure:
The representative of our office is referred to as the examiner. The examiner will conduct the test from outside of the customer’s vehicle.
Communication with the tester will take place via a hands-free cellular device (Bluetooth or speakerphone) between the examiner and the tester. Customers taking the remote driving test must be accompanied by a licensed driver, 21 years or older, sitting in the passenger seat closest to the driver. No other passengers or pets are allowed in the vehicle during the test.
The examiner will have a whistle. Should they blow the whistle during the test, the tester will need to immediately come to a stop and wait for further instructions from the driver license examiner.
Road Testers will need to bring the following for their road test:
- A valid vehicle registration
- Current Florida insurance for the vehicle
- A licensed driver 21 years or older (not a driving school instructor)
- A cell phone device (hands-free, Bluetooth or speakerphone or passenger may hold the phone)
- Highly encouraged to wear a mask
Driver License Road Tests are administered at the following locations:
- Brandon – 3030 North Falkenburg Road, Tampa, Florida 33619
- East Tampa – 2814 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33610
- Plant City – 4706 Sydney Road, Plant City 33566
For more information about the road test, click here.