You can get a driver’s license without a Social Security Number in every state, but the type of license and the paperwork depend on your immigration status and where you live. If you’re lawfully present but not eligible for an SSN, you’ll need a denial letter from the Social Security Administration to apply. If you’re undocumented, about twenty jurisdictions issue a license or driving privilege card regardless of immigration status. Either way, the credential you receive may not be REAL ID-compliant, which affects air travel and access to federal buildings but not your ability to drive.
Which Path Applies to You
Two very different groups end up applying without an SSN, and the process forks based on which one you’re in.
Lawfully Present, Not Eligible for an SSN
Plenty of people are in the country legally but don’t qualify for a Social Security Number. This includes certain dependent visa holders, newly arrived F-1 students who haven’t started on-campus employment, J-2 dependents, and some asylum applicants early in the process. F, M, and J visa holders in lawful status can apply for a license under their state’s rules.1U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Student and Exchange Visitor Program – Applying for a Driver’s License or State Identification Card The license you receive will be a limited-term credential that expires with your authorized stay.
Undocumented Residents
Nineteen states and the District of Columbia issue a license or driving privilege card regardless of immigration status: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Requirements vary. Applicants generally need a foreign passport or a consular identification document plus proof of in-state residency. Some states add tax-filing requirements. Utah requires six months of state residency and a tax identification number. Maryland and Virginia require evidence of state income tax filings for the prior two years, or being claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.
Licenses issued through these programs are not REAL ID-compliant and carry markings that indicate they can’t be used for federal identification. They remain legally valid for driving and for state-level ID.
The SSN Ineligibility Letter
If you’re lawfully present and want a REAL ID-compliant license, most states need proof that the SSA won’t issue you a number. The federal REAL ID standard permits either verification of your SSN or verification that you aren’t eligible for one, and states process that second option through a denial letter.2Department of Homeland Security. REAL ID Act Title II – Section: SEC. 202
The document is called the SSA-L676, or “Refusal to Process SSN Application.”3Social Security Administration. POMS RM 00299.020 – Form SSA-L676 – Refusal to Process SSN Application To get it, go to your nearest SSA field office with your passport and I-94 arrival record. Fill out Form SS-5, the standard SSN application, and write “not work authorized” at the top if that applies to you. The SSA reviews your documents, confirms you don’t qualify, and issues the denial letter on the spot or by mail.4U.S. Department of State. Notice – Social Security Number and Denial Letter Policies and Procedures
One caution: the SSA-L676 only proves that the SSA won’t give you a number. It is not proof of lawful presence or citizenship.3Social Security Administration. POMS RM 00299.020 – Form SSA-L676 – Refusal to Process SSN Application You’ll bring separate documents for that.
What to Bring to the DMV
Every applicant has to satisfy the same basic categories: identity, lawful presence (or in-state residency in states that license undocumented residents), and current address. Specific accepted documents vary state to state, but the list below covers what most DMVs will want.
For identity, a valid foreign passport is the most widely accepted document. Some states also accept a consular identification card.
For lawful presence, expect to bring one or more of the following:
- I-94 Arrival/Departure Record showing your admission date and authorized period of stay.
- Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) if you have work authorization.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Employment Authorization Document
- I-797 Notice of Action from USCIS related to a pending or approved immigration benefit.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-797 – Types and Functions
- SSA-L676 denial letter if your state requires it.
For residency, most states want two documents from different sources showing your current in-state address. Utility bills, lease agreements, bank statements, and official government mail are commonly accepted.
If any of your documents are in a language other than English, most states require a certified translation. Translation services for official documents typically run $20 to $25 per page.
A quick word on ITINs. An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is not a substitute for an SSN, and the IRS has said ITINs are not valid identification outside the federal tax system.7Internal Revenue Service. Additional ITIN Information Some state DMVs still accept ITINs as part of the application process, and the IRS has acknowledged the practice.8Internal Revenue Service. Information for State Departments of Motor Vehicles Whether yours does depends on local policy. Check before you assume.
How Limited-Term Licenses Work
A non-citizen with temporary lawful status receives a limited-term license. Federal regulations require these licenses to expire no later than the end of your authorized stay.9eCFR. 6 CFR 37.21 – Temporary or Limited-Term Driver’s Licenses and Identification Cards If your status has no set expiration, the license is good for up to one year.
To renew, you show the DMV that your status is still valid or has been extended. The DMV verifies through SAVE, an online system run by USCIS that government agencies use to confirm immigration status.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. SAVE You don’t initiate the check; the DMV submits it. Most verifications come back quickly. Cases flagged for additional review can take days or occasionally weeks, so start early when your license is close to expiring.
What Your License Will and Won’t Do
TSA and other federal agencies have enforced the REAL ID standard since May 7, 2025. A license that doesn’t meet REAL ID requirements is no longer accepted for boarding domestic flights, entering most federal buildings, or accessing military bases.11Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025
If your license isn’t REAL ID-compliant, whether because it’s a driving privilege card, a limited-purpose credential, or a standard state license, you’ll need a different federal ID for those purposes. A valid foreign passport works for TSA screening and federal building access. The limitation has nothing to do with your driving privileges. A non-REAL ID license is still fully valid for operating a vehicle and works as identification for state and local purposes like opening a bank account or verifying your age.
If you’re lawfully present and your state offers REAL ID-compliant limited-term licenses, the trip to the SSA for a denial letter is usually worth it. You end up with a credential that works everywhere a standard American license does.