Driver Privilege Card

A driver privilege card is a driver’s license for non-US citizens. It gives Virginia residents who are not citizens the opportunity to be a legal driver, without requiring proof of legal presence or U.S. citizenship.

Who Can Get a Driver Privilege Card?

You may be eligible to obtain a driver privilege card if you meet the following requirements:

You are a non-US citizen who is a resident of Virginia
You have reported income from Virginia sources or are claimed as a dependent on a tax return filed in Virginia in the past 12 months
Your driving privilege is not currently suspended or revoked in Virginia or any other state, and you do not have any insurance-related infractions
You are 16 YEARS and THREE months or older
Note: You may be eligible for a learner's permit if you are at least 15 years and six months.

A driver privilege card is not REAL ID-compliant, so it cannot be used as identification to board a flight or enter a secure federal facility. Driver privilege card applicants are not eligible for a commercial driver's license.

How To Get a Driver Privilege Card

If You Have Held a License

If you hold a driver’s license or a driver privilege card issued by Virginia, another U.S. state, jurisdiction, territory or foreign country, you may be able to EXCHANGE that license for a driver privilege card.

If your license has been expired more than one year, then you must retake the vision screening, the two-part knowledge exam and the road skills test.

To exchange a foreign license, see Exchange a Foreign Driver’s License for additional requirements.

If You Have Never Held a License

If you are UNDER age 18 and have never held a driver’s license or a driver privilege card issued by Virginia, another U.S. state, jurisdiction, territory, foreign country, or cannot show proof you previously held one, you must show proof you have:

Completed a state-approved driver education program
Held a learner's permit for nine months
Passed the knowledge exam

If you are age 18 or OLDER and have never held a driver's license or driver privilege card issued by Virginia, another U.S. state, jurisdiction, territory, foreign country or cannot show proof you previously held one, you must show proof you have either:

Completed a state-approved driver education program, or
Passed the knowledge exam and held a learner's permit for at least 60 days before passing the DMV road skills test

Knowledge Exam Location

The two-part knowledge exam can be taken at any DMV customer service center or in classrooms at participating high schools. It is available in several languages.

Translator Assistance

Translators may be used for the two-part knowledge exam administered at a DMV customer service center if:

DMV does not offer the examination in your primary language, and
You cannot complete and comprehend the examination without the use of a translator.

Translators may also be used for the road skills test if you cannot complete and understand the test without the use of a translator.

DMV does not provide translator or interpreter services. Should you need a translator, you must provide one. All translators are required to provide a photo identification document listed on the DMV 141.

Make an Appointment at DMV

Application and Documents

All driver privilege card applicants must complete the Driver and Identification Privilege Card Application. You can complete it before or during your appointment at DMV.

When filling it out, remember:

Use your full legal name. Abbreviations and nicknames will not be accepted.
If you are UNDER age 18, your parent or legal guardian must provide written consent by signing your application. A court order showing you are an emancipated minor is acceptable in place of written consent.

Along with your application form, you must present all the following documents to prove your eligibility:

Two proofs of identity
Two proofs of Virginia residency
Proof of your Social Security number (if you have been issued one) or your individual taxpayer identification number
Tax return documentation

To determine which documents are acceptable, see the Document Guide or Get a Driver Privilege Card or Identification Privilege Card.

Helpful Document Tips

Documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation by a professional translator.
Your proof of reported income and deductions from Virginia sources will be verified electronically with the Virginia Department of Taxation before your driver privilege card is issued. Visit tax.virginia.gov for Virginia income tax return filing information.
All documents must be ORIGINALS and will be subject to verification. Print-outs of online residency documents listed on Obtaining a Driver Privilege Card or Identification Privilege Card are acceptable as proof of residency.
Temporary documents and photocopies of documents will not be accepted. DMV will not accept a document as proof of identity, legal presence, residency or Social Security number when there is reason to believe it is not legitimate.
Documents accepted by DMV as proof of identity, Virginia residency, and Social Security number may change without prior notice. DMV may also require additional documents. If you have official documentation not yet listed that you believe meets DMV requirements, please present it to your local DMV office for review.
Upon issuance of a driver privilege card in the Commonwealth of Virginia, any driver's license, driver privilege card, commercial driver's license or identification card previously issued by another state must be surrendered and will be canceled by the issuing state.

Additional Requirements

If you are under age 18 and completing a driver education program, your parent, guardian or foster parent must list their driver's license, driver privilege card or state-issued identification card number and sign the driver education certificate of completion to certify that you have driven at least 45 hours, 15 of which occurred after sunset, and that the statements made and the information submitted on the certificate are true and correct. Certifying false statements can result in prosecution.

If you previously have been found not innocent of any offense by a juvenile and domestic relations court in Virginia or any other state, you must get approval to be licensed from that court, or a court in the city or county where you live, to be eligible for a driver privilege card.

If you or your spouse are in the military and live in on-post housing, you must provide a valid U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mailing address. If this is your dwelling and mail cannot be delivered to your dwelling address, you may also provide DMV with an alternate mailing address. Some on-post housing, such as military barracks, may not be recognized by the USPS. If you are unsure, please check with your Unit Official Mail Manager.

Duration and Fees

Your first driver privilege card will expire on your birthday in the second year of the card’s validity.

If you renew your card before the expiration date, it will stay valid for another two years from the date of issuance.
If you don’t renew your card before your expiration date, you’ll have to start the application process over to get a new card.

All cards issued after your first card will be valid for two years from the date of issuance. This includes replacement cards.

It is $50 for your first driver privilege card and $50 for each renewal. A combined driver privilege card and permit is $53. See our Fee Chart for additional fees and details.

Receiving Your Driver Privilege Card

Once you pass your required testing and your application is approved, you will receive a TEMPORARY driving permit and your driver privilege card will be mailed to you.

If you have moved, notify DMV right away, as USPS does not forward driver privilege cards. Mail delivery times vary. Please allow up to 15 days to receive your new card.

If you are under age 18 when your your driver privilege card is issued, you may be required to attend a court licensing ceremony with your parent or guardian to receive your license. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in your jurisdiction will mail you a notice if you are required to attend. If the court does not require the ceremony, your privilege card will be mailed to you. See list of courts/jurisdictions requiring juvenile licensing ceremonies for more information.

If you are under age 18 when the driver privilege card is issued and are required to attend a court licensing ceremony, and you turn 18 before your ceremony you must still attend the ceremony, but your parent or guardian does not need to accompany you.

DMV can deny or suspend driving privileges for persons UNDER age 18 if the juvenile meets one or more of the conditions below.

The juvenile is found delinquent by a court
The juvenile is in need of supervision
The juvenile is involved in an alcohol or drug-related offense
The juvenile needs court-assigned services or programs such as counseling

Additional Information

Medical Requirements
If you are under age 18, you, a parent, or a legal guardian can submit a signed physician statement requesting indicators be placed on your driver privilege card as a means of identifying a condition/impairment to law enforcement personnel. A "9" will display in the restriction field on the face of the license and will be decoded on the back as follows:

Insulin-dependent diabetic
Speech impairment
Hearing impairment
Intellectual disability (IntD will display)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD will display)
Traumatic brain injury

For questions about driver fitness, see Medical and Mental Requirements.

Blood Type Designation

Consider displaying your blood type on your driver privilege card.