Quick Answer
No. Florida law (§322.033) bars licenses for anyone who can't prove lawful presence, and an ITIN doesn't count. Since July 1, 2023, Florida also treats out-of-state license classes issued only to undocumented immigrants as invalid; Connecticut's and Delaware's are on the state's list. Visitors can drive on a valid license from their home state or country, unless it's a class issued only to people without lawful presence (see the list below).
Can You Get a Driver's License in Florida Without Legal Status?
No. Florida Statutes §322.033 says the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) may not issue a driver license or ID card to anyone who can't prove lawful presence in the United States. An ITIN is a tax number from the IRS, not an immigration document, so it doesn't qualify.
Florida has no driving privilege card or other license category for residents without status. Read the statute: Florida Statutes §322.033.
Who Can Get a Florida Driver's License?
Citizens, green-card holders and people with documented lawful presence can get a Florida license. That includes an unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which covers DACA recipients, plus a foreign passport with an I-94, asylum or refugee grants and some pending immigration cases. Licenses based on an EAD or nonimmigrant papers last up to 1 year or until the document expires.
- U.S. birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad
- Green card (permanent resident card)
- Unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD), including DACA
- Unexpired foreign passport with an I-94 or federal stamp showing lawful presence
- USCIS notices for pending asylum, adjustment of status or other relief
The full list and the 1-year limit are in Florida Statutes §322.08(2)(c).
What Changed in Florida in 2026?
Since February 6, 2026, every Florida driver license knowledge and skills exam is given in English only, with no interpreters or printed tests in other languages. The lawful-presence rule itself dates to Senate Bill 1718 of 2023, which also made certain out-of-state licenses issued to undocumented immigrants invalid in Florida.
The English-only policy covers every license class, including oral exams. See the FLHSMV announcement shared by the Duval County Tax Collector.
Can I Drive in Florida With a License From Another State?
Only if it isn't a class issued just to people without lawful presence. Since July 1, 2023, Florida treats those licenses as invalid, and police cite the driver for driving without a license. FLHSMV lists Connecticut's drive-only license and Delaware's driving privilege card as invalid, and says 18 other jurisdictions' non-REAL ID licenses may be invalid too.
- Invalid in Florida: Connecticut licenses marked "DO - Not for Federal Identification" and Delaware licenses marked "Driving Privilege Only - Not Valid for Identification."
- May be invalid if the driver isn’t lawfully present: non-REAL ID classes from California, Colorado, D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
See FLHSMV’s list for visitors.
Can I Drive in Florida With a License From My Country?
Yes, if you're a nonresident visitor. Florida Statutes §322.04 lets a nonresident aged 16 or older drive with a valid license issued by their home state or country. Once you live in Florida, that exemption no longer fits, and FLHSMV won't issue you a Florida license without lawful presence.
An International Driving Permit only translates your license; carry it with the original. Source: Florida Statutes §322.04.
What Are Your Options in Florida Without a License?
Florida licenses only people with lawful presence, and a first conviction for driving without a license under §322.03 is a second-degree misdemeanor, with up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine; a third conviction brings a mandatory 10 days in jail. Short of an EAD-backed status or a move north, the remaining choice is not to drive.
- Know the penalty. Under Florida Statutes §322.03, a second conviction becomes a first-degree misdemeanor.
- Moving is the only licensing route. Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and D.C. are the closest places that license residents regardless of status, but Florida itself treats Delaware's card and other undocumented-only classes as invalid, so it can't be used to drive here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can undocumented immigrants get a driver's license in Florida?
No. Florida Statutes §322.033 bars FLHSMV from issuing a license or ID to anyone who can't prove lawful presence in the United States, and Florida has no driving privilege card.
Can I use an ITIN to get a Florida driver's license?
No. An ITIN is an IRS tax number. FLHSMV accepts only the citizenship and immigration documents listed in Florida Statutes §322.08.
Is a Connecticut or Delaware license valid in Florida?
Not if it's Connecticut's drive-only license or Delaware's driving privilege card. Since July 1, 2023, Florida treats those classes as invalid, and police cite the driver for driving without a license.
Can I take the Florida driving test in Spanish?
No. Since February 6, 2026, FLHSMV gives every knowledge and skills exam in English only, without interpreters.