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Florida requires applicants to prove lawful presence to obtain a learner's permit. Lawfully present non-immigrants may still qualify when they meet Florida's identity and Social Security documentation rules.
No. Florida law requires proof of legal presence in the United States to obtain any driver's license or learner's permit. There is no equivalent to California's AB 60 or New York's Green Light Law in Florida. Undocumented immigrants cannot get a Florida driver license or learner permit under any current state program.
| Status | Eligible? | Required Documents |
|---|---|---|
| No lawful status (undocumented) | No | N/A |
| F-1, M-1, J-1 student/visitor visa | Yes | Passport, I-94, I-20 or DS-2019 |
| Employment Authorization (EAD) | Yes | EAD card (Form I-766) |
| Permanent Resident (Green Card) | Yes | I-551 card |
| Asylee or Refugee | Yes | Approval letter, I-94 |
Licenses issued to non-U.S. citizens are marked TEMPORARY and expire with immigration documents. If no expiration date exists on the documents, the permit is issued for a maximum of one year.
Download the HSMV 71142 parental consent form for minors before your visit. Get the Certification of Address (HSMV 71120) for residency issues. Review the full document checklist in the Florida Driver Handbook.
FLHSMV looks at the immigration documents you can present, not only the name of the immigration program. A valid Employment Authorization Document or other accepted DHS proof can support an application when your lawful presence can be verified. Bring the original immigration documents that match your current status.
Non-immigrant credentials can be limited by the period of authorized stay that FLHSMV can verify. If your DHS documents are close to expiring, be prepared for extra verification or a credential with a shorter validity period.
Yes, but only if you are a non-immigrant whose status does not authorize work and you are genuinely ineligible for an SSN. U.S. citizens and immigrants must provide an SSN.
For non-immigrants not authorized to work, you must prove SSN ineligibility.
Required Documents for Non-Immigrants Without an SSN:
Dependents can apply if they meet Florida's identity, lawful-presence, residency, and Social Security documentation rules. Bring your valid passport, I-94, and the supporting status document FLHSMV requires for your classification. If you have been issued an SSN, use it; if you are not eligible for one, follow FLHSMV's accepted alternative-document process.
Do not use the "not eligible for an SSN" route simply because the physical card is still in the mail. If SSA has already assigned you a number, use the assigned SSN and bring one of the Social Security proofs FLHSMV accepts, or confirm the acceptable alternative before your appointment.
Florida examiners check immigration status documents carefully. Missing a single required form-I-94, SSN proof, or the SSA denial letter-results in immediate rejection and a required rebooking.
At the Miami Tax Collector's office in Doral, a student at FIU on an F-1 visa without work authorization applied for an SSN, received an SSA-L676 denial letter, completed the TLSAE course, and passed the knowledge exam. She brought her passport, I-94, I-20, the SSA letter, and her apartment lease. She received her learner's permit after paying the $48 state fee plus a $6.25 service fee.
Florida's name mismatch rule caught a Tampa applicant off guard. An Americanized name on the SS card didn't match the legal birth name on the birth certificate-the mismatch was flagged and the SSA correction appointment was required before reapplication. Use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your birth certificate across every document. Under Florida SB 2-C (effective February 2025), non-citizens must update their driver's license or permit within 30 days of any change in immigration status. After approval, you receive a temporary paper permit to carry alongside valid photo ID for up to 60 days while the hard card arrives. In-office knowledge testing cuts off at 3:00 PM daily, do not arrive hoping to test after that.
One Miami applicant found out the hard way: DeShawn's birth certificate was from a military base hospital-never filed as a FL state vital record. Not accepted; an FDOH certified copy was required, with a 2-week processing wait. Military base BCs require separate FDOH certification to qualify in Florida.
See the full Florida learner's permit requirements at shoro.ai Florida Learner's Permit guide.
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