Driver's License in the USA: Foreign Licenses, Tests, REAL ID and No-SSN Options

A driver's license in the USA is issued by each state through its own motor vehicle agency (the DMV or its equivalent), not by the federal government. That is why the rules for someone arriving with a Russian, Ukrainian or Kazakh license differ between New York, California, Florida and Washington. One thing is common: once you move to a state, you have 10 to 60 days to get a local license, and in most cases a foreign license cannot be swapped for a US one without tests.

Driving on a foreign license as a visitor

While you are a visitor, you usually can. California lets visitors over 18 drive on a valid license from their home country for as long as it stays valid. The New York DMV says plainly that you can drive in the state with a valid license from another country, and that you only need a New York license if you become a New York resident. The one exception it lists: DMV road test areas.

Moving changes that. States give new residents a short window:

Deadlines and rules checked October 28, 2026 on each state's official DMV site.

Each state decides who counts as a resident. In New York, living in the state for 90 days is presumptive evidence of residency. In California, voting in a state election, paying resident tuition or claiming the homeowner's property tax exemption makes you a resident. A lease also serves later as proof of address; see our guide to renting an apartment in the USA.

International driving permit and translations

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation of your national license, not a license on its own. You carry it together with the original.

In New York it matters at the road test. If your license is printed in a language other than English, you must bring an IDP or a certified translation. A consulate, the US Department of State or another official government agency can certify it, and it must show your name, date of birth, the license expiration date and the vehicle types you may drive. After you pass, New York requires you to hand your foreign license to the road test examiner, so plan ahead if you still need it for trips home.

Exchange foreign license: where it works

In New York, California and Washington, a Russian license cannot simply be exchanged. New York exchanges only licenses from another US state or territory, a federal district or a Canadian province. For that exchange you pass a vision test at the DMV (or bring an Eye Test Report, form MV-619), and the license must carry your photo, have been issued at least 6 months before you apply, and be valid or expired less than 24 months.

California requires both knowledge and driving tests from foreign license holders. Florida's new resident page says some applicants may get a license without written or road tests but does not list the conditions. Washington waives tests only for a few places (Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and British Columbia); Russia is not on the list, so its license holders complete every step of a first license. Pennsylvania says an IDP is not required to drive there and is not valid on its own. Before booking, check your own state's DMV page for any agreement with your country.

Driving test and the usual steps

The sequence is similar everywhere:

1. Written knowledge test, based on the state's Driver's Handbook. California offers the AB 60 knowledge test in more than 40 languages.
2. Vision test at the DMV office.
3. Course. New York requires a five-hour pre-licensing course before the road test. Illinois requires a six-hour adult course for applicants aged 18 to 20 without a valid license.
4. Learner permit. In New York, a permit holder without a valid foreign license must drive with a supervising driver aged 21 or older who is licensed for that vehicle.
5. Road test. Illinois asks for proof of insurance for the car you will use. California also requires proof of insurance and an accompanying driver to and from the test; tests are by appointment only, and a retest costs $7.

If the car needs work before the test, our auto repair directory lists shops with Russian-speaking mechanics.

What a license costs: the Florida example

States set their own fees. Florida lists them on its new resident page:

Fees checked October 28, 2026 on flhsmv.gov.

New York, California and Washington point to separate fee pages. Check yours before the visit, since you pay on the day.

REAL ID: which license gets you on a plane

REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025. According to TSA, you need a REAL ID compliant card to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. Compliant licenses carry a star (or flag) or say "Enhanced". A passport works instead. Travelers without acceptable ID pay a $45 fee, and DHS said such passengers may be sent to additional screening.

At a minimum, TSA says a REAL ID applicant shows:

Requirements checked October 28, 2026 on tsa.gov. States may ask for more.

Visa holders and others with temporary status get limited-term cards. Their validity cannot exceed the authorized stay, or one year if the stay has no end date. Florida, for one, first issues non-citizens applying for an original license a 60-day paper permit without a photo, and the card is mailed within 60 days. Cards that are not REAL ID compliant must say on their face that they are not acceptable for official purposes. The TSA pages are about flying and federal buildings; they say nothing about driving.

License without SSN or proof of lawful status

The Washington and California DMVs ask for your Social Security number. Our SSN guide covers how to get one. Some states license people without one:

• Illinois TVDL (Temporary Visitor Driver's License): for non-citizens in the US legally, living in Illinois temporarily and ineligible for an SSN. Valid four years or until the authorized stay ends, whichever comes first. A non-visa version requires a passport (valid or expired up to two years), proof of 12 months of Illinois residency and SSN ineligibility. Vision, written and road tests apply.
• California AB 60: for people who cannot prove lawful presence but can prove identity and California residency. Knowledge and drive tests apply. The California DMV says AB 60 applicants are not eligible for REAL ID; the card reads "Federal Limits Apply" and cannot be used to board domestic flights.
• New York Green Light law: New Yorkers aged 16 and older can apply for a standard license or learner permit regardless of citizenship or lawful status. If you were never issued an SSN, you sign an affidavit saying so. Such a license does not comply with REAL ID and is marked "NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES". The law limits data sharing with agencies that mainly enforce immigration law and requires DMV to tell license holders when those agencies request their data.

If your status is complicated (overstay, an asylum denial, a pending case), talk to an immigration attorney before applying. Our lawyers directory lists Russian-speaking attorneys.

Your first step: find your state DMV's new resident page and book an appointment within its deadline: 10 days after moving in California, 30 in New York, Florida and Washington.

Questions people ask

How long can I drive on a foreign license after moving to a new state?

The state sets the deadline. California requires a local license within 10 days of becoming a resident, Florida and Washington within 30 days. New York gives 30 days and Pennsylvania 60 days to holders of out-of-state licenses. As a visitor, the New York DMV lets you drive on a valid license from another country.

Do I need an international driving permit in New York?

The New York DMV lets visitors drive on a valid license from another country. For the road test, though, if your license is not in English, you must bring an International Driving Permit or a translation certified by a consulate, the US Department of State or another official agency.

Can I get a REAL ID on a temporary visa?

Yes, if your status is lawful. Under TSA rules the card is limited-term: it cannot be valid past your authorized stay in the US, and if the stay has no end date, it is limited to one year. The card shows on its face that it is temporary.

What happens at the airport without a REAL ID?

Since May 7, 2025, TSA requires a REAL ID or another acceptable document such as a passport. A traveler without acceptable ID pays a $45 fee, and DHS has said such passengers may be directed to additional screening.