Arizona Driver’s License for Non-U.S. Citizens: Documents and Fees

A non-U.S. citizen can get an Arizona driver’s license by proving that their presence in the country is authorized under federal immigration law, then completing the same application, testing, and fee process as any other applicant. Arizona law prohibits the Motor Vehicle Division from issuing or renewing a license to anyone who cannot document lawful status, so the paperwork is heavier than it is for citizens, and the license you receive may expire sooner than a standard Arizona license.¹

Who Qualifies

Eligibility turns on one question: can you prove your presence in the United States is authorized under federal law? If yes, you can apply. If not, Arizona will not issue you a license. The requirement comes from ARS 28-3153, which directs the department to refuse a license to anyone who fails to submit satisfactory proof of authorized presence,¹ and from Proposition 200, which independently requires proof of legal presence for state-issued benefits including driver’s licenses.²

The following non-citizens qualify: lawful permanent residents (green card holders), visa holders with valid nonimmigrant status such as H-1B, F-1, and L-1, refugees, asylees, those with Temporary Protected Status, people with approved or pending asylum applications, those with pending adjustment-of-status applications, and individuals with approved deferred action status, including DACA recipients.³ Arizona initially refused to issue licenses to DACA recipients, but federal courts struck that policy down, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Arizona’s appeal.

How Long Your License Will Last

If your immigration status is temporary, you will receive a limited-term license. It expires when your authorized stay ends or when your employment authorization expires, whichever comes first. Permanent residents typically receive a standard-duration license.

Driving on Your Foreign License Before You Apply

You do not need to visit the MVD on your first day in the state. Arizona generally allows non-residents to drive on a valid foreign license. Once you have been in Arizona for seven months or more in a calendar year, though, the state considers you a resident and expects you to obtain an Arizona license.⁴ An international driving permit can accompany your foreign license during that transition, but it does not replace getting an Arizona license if you stay.

Your foreign license will not satisfy federal REAL ID requirements. As of May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID-compliant credential or a U.S. passport to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings.⁵ If you plan to fly domestically, factor that into your timing.

Documents to Bring

Arizona’s document requirements are strict. Bring originals or certified copies of everything; the MVD will not accept photocopies. Every document must be in English, and documents in another language need a certified English translation before your appointment.⁶

You need three categories of documents.

First, one primary identity document proving lawful presence. Accepted options include an unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and I-94 form, a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), or a Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571). Visa Waiver Program participants using a passport with I-94 alone are not eligible through that document.⁶

Second, your Social Security number. You must provide it on the application for verification. If you are not eligible for one, bring documentation from the Social Security Administration confirming your ineligibility.⁶

Third, two proofs of Arizona residency. These must be mailed documents from a business, organization, or government agency showing your name and physical residential address. Utility bills, rental agreements, bank statements, and mailed MVD documents all qualify.⁶

If the name on your primary document does not match your current legal name, bring proof of the legal name change. You also need to update your name with the Social Security Administration at least 24 hours before visiting the MVD.

How SAVE Verification Works

The MVD verifies immigration status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database operated by USCIS. For some documents, such as an I-94 submitted without a passport, SAVE validation is mandatory before the MVD can proceed.⁶ Most checks complete within seconds at the initial stage. When they don’t, the case moves to additional verification, which takes roughly 20 federal workdays as of early 2026.⁷

If your case goes to additional verification, the MVD cannot deny your application based solely on the initial SAVE response while further verification is still pending. The agency must follow the full process before making a final decision.⁸ In the meantime, the MVD may issue a temporary driving permit while verification completes.¹

Tests You Need to Pass

Three tests stand between you and a license: a vision screening, a written knowledge exam, and a behind-the-wheel road test.

The vision screening requires 20/40 acuity in at least one eye, and you can wear glasses or contacts.⁹ If you fall short, you will need a vision exam from a physician or optometrist before the MVD can proceed.

The written knowledge test covers Arizona traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. You need 80% or higher to pass.¹⁰ It’s available in English and Spanish at any MVD office or an authorized third-party location.¹¹ Questions draw directly from the Arizona Driver License Manual, and free practice tests are available online through AZDOT.

The road test evaluates lane changes, turns, parking, and traffic signals. You must bring a vehicle that is properly registered and insured, and the MVD limits you to one attempt per day.¹²

One shortcut exists: if you hold a valid out-of-state U.S. license, or one that expired less than a year ago, the MVD may waive the testing requirements entirely.⁶ A foreign license does not qualify for this waiver. You will need to take both tests.

Fees and the Travel ID Choice

When you apply, Arizona will ask you to choose between two license types: a Travel ID (REAL ID-compliant) or a standard non-travel driver’s license. A Travel ID carries a star marking and can be used to board domestic flights, enter military bases, and access restricted federal buildings. A standard non-travel license cannot do any of those things after the May 2025 REAL ID enforcement date; you would need a U.S. passport or other federal ID instead.⁵ Federal standards require states to verify lawful status and use SAVE before issuing any REAL ID-compliant credential.³

Standard license fees follow an age-based sliding scale:¹³

Ages 16–39: $25
Ages 40–44: $20
Ages 45–49: $15
Age 50 and older: $10

A Travel ID costs a flat $25 for the original and each renewal, regardless of age. A duplicate license to replace one lost or damaged costs $12, and an instruction permit is $7.¹³ Payment can be by credit card, debit card, check, or money order, and cash is accepted at in-person MVD locations. If you are under 40, the two options cost the same, so there is little reason not to get the Travel ID unless you cannot meet its document requirements.

Renewing a Limited-Term License

If your license is tied to temporary immigration status, it expires when your authorized stay ends. Renewing means showing the MVD updated documentation proving your status has been extended or renewed, such as a new I-94 or a reissued EAD. The MVD will run your documents through SAVE again before approving the renewal.

If you have applied for an extension of your immigration status but have not yet received a decision, a Form I-797 Notice of Action showing USCIS received your extension request can bridge the gap. The MVD uses these receipts as evidence that your status has not lapsed, though the license issued may be shorter in duration until a final decision comes through.

Do not let your license expire and try to sort it out later. If there is a significant gap between expiration and renewal, the MVD may require you to start over with the full application, including retaking the written and road tests. Begin gathering your renewed immigration documents well before your expiration date, because USCIS processing delays can easily push past it.

When a License Can Be Denied or Revoked

The most common reason for outright denial is failure to prove lawful presence. If your documents are expired, appear inconsistent with federal databases, or are missing entirely, the MVD will not issue a license. Individuals with expired visas, denied asylum claims, or final removal orders are ineligible.

The legal-presence requirement is ongoing, not a one-time hurdle. Your license can be revoked if your immigration status is later terminated or you receive a final removal order. Separately, Arizona law lists serious mandatory-revocation triggers that apply to all drivers, including vehicular homicide, any felony committed using a vehicle, hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, making a false statement under oath to the MVD, and repeat DUI offenses within an 84-month window.¹⁴

If you receive a notice of revocation or suspension, you may be entitled to a hearing through AZDOT’s Executive Hearing Office.¹⁵ Act quickly, because driving on a suspended or revoked license is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Arizona.¹⁶

How Driving Offenses Can Affect Your Immigration Status

A traffic violation that would be a headache for a U.S. citizen can become an immigration problem for a visa holder or green card applicant.

A standard first-offense misdemeanor DUI is generally not treated as a deportable offense on its own. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Leocal v. Ashcroft, a typical DUI does not qualify as a “crime of violence” or an aggravated felony for immigration purposes. But “not automatically deportable” is a long way from “no consequences.” A DUI conviction can raise questions about good moral character during naturalization, complicate visa renewals, and trigger additional screening when you re-enter the country.

Many immigration forms, including the I-485 (adjustment of status), require you to disclose your full criminal history, including arrests that did not lead to conviction. Failing to disclose a DUI or other arrest when asked is treated as willful misrepresentation, which carries its own immigration penalties that can be worse than the underlying offense.

More serious driving offenses such as vehicular manslaughter, extreme DUI, or a felony DUI could cross the line into crimes involving moral turpitude or aggravated felonies, either of which can trigger deportation proceedings. If you are a non-citizen charged with any criminal driving offense in Arizona, consult an immigration attorney before entering a plea.

1
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-3153 – Driver License Issuance Prohibitions
2
Arizona Secretary of State. Arizona Proposition 200 – Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act
3
Department of Homeland Security. REAL ID Act – Title II
4
Arizona Department of Transportation. Driver Licenses for Foreign Applicants
5
Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Travel ID
6
Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona DL/ID Requirements
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. SAVE Verification Response Time
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. SAVE User Reference Guide – 9.2 Additional Verification
9
Legal Information Institute. Arizona Admin Code R17-4-503 – Vision Standards
10
Arizona Department of Transportation. Practice Tests – Arizona Travel ID Document Guide
11
Arizona Department of Transportation. Authorized Third Party Driver License Locations
12
Arizona Department of Transportation. Road Tests
13
Arizona Department of Transportation. Driver License Fees
14
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-3304 – Mandatory Revocation
15
Arizona Department of Transportation. Requesting a Hearing
16
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-3473 – Driving on a Suspended, Revoked or Canceled License