Non-U.S. Citizen Information

Non-US Citizen Driver’s License or Identification Card

In Mississippi, the minimum age to receive a driver's license is 16 years old.

All applicants must provide the following:

A non-US citizen must meet all requirements for obtaining a driver’s license or identification card, i.e., all required documents, knowledge, and eye exam, as applicable. (For more information, view the section regarding a Regular Driver’s License or Identification Card). The license or identification card will be valid as determined by the applicant’s length of stay or no more than four (4) years.       

NOTE: Non-US Citizens must be within 30 days of their expiration date before they can renew their driver license or identification card. Non-US Citizens must appear In-Person at a Driver Service station with all required Homeland Security immigration documents. Non-US citizens are not permitted to renew their driver's license or identification card online. 

The Driver Service Bureau highly recommends all applicants make an appointment at dps.ms.gov/appointment.

Verifying Lawful Status

A driver license or identification card applicant is required to provide documentation of their legal status in the US. The permissible documentation for each sort of applicant attempting to prove legal presence are listed in the table on the following pages. The applicant's name and date of birth must appear on all supporting documents. The applicant must provide supplementary evidence, such as a marriage license, divorce decree, or court order, to support any name changes or other inconsistencies.

Through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the department is required to confirm the appropriate legal presence documentation. The receipt of the driver’s license or identification card may be delayed for up to 30 days if verification by SAVE is not immediate. SAVE will allow for two further phases of verification if it is unable to validate on the first try. Additional paperwork from the applicant may be requested at each level. The applicant will be given instructions on how to proceed with the transaction verbally or via mail after each stage. The applicant should fully and promptly follow the guidelines in order to prevent further delay.

Temporary Visitor/Limited Term Issuance

If a candidate is NOT one of the following: a US citizen, a US national, a lawful permanent resident, a refugee, or an asylee, they may be granted a short-term driver’s license or identification card. An applicant's legal presence, as established by Department of Homeland Security, will cause a limited-term driver’s license or identification card to expire.

The following table describes the acceptable documents for each type of applicant attempting to verify lawful presence.

Category

Acceptable Documents

Lawful Permanent Resident
  • Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
  • Resident Alien Card (I-551) - card issued without expiration date Valid Immigrant Visa and unexpired foreign passport
  • Unexpired foreign passport stamped with temporary I-551 language "Approved I-551," or Processed for I-551"
  • I-94 stamped with temporary I-551 language "Approved I-551," or "Processed for I-551"
  • Re-entry Permit I-327

Note: I-151, the predecessor to I-551, is not acceptable as proof of permanent resident status.

Refugee

Immigration documentation with an alien number or I-94 number indicating this status, which can include but is not limited to:

  • I-94 with annotation “Section 207” or “refugee”
  • Unexpired foreign passport with annotation “Section 207” or “refugee”
  • I-571 Refugee Travel Document
  • I-688B coded 274a.12(a)(3)
  •  I-766 with category A3 or A03

U.S National

 

U.S. passport that indicates that “The bearer is a United States National and not a United States Citizen”

Lawful temporary resident

Immigration documentation with an alien number or I-94 number

A-1, A-2, and A-3

Unexpired foreign passport or I -94

Note: Issuance cannot occur unless applicant presents a letter from U.S. Department of State with original signature indicating ineligibility for Department of State issued driver’s license or identification card

C-1, C-3, D-1, and D-2

Unexpired foreign passport or I -94

Note: The applicant may not be able meet residency/domicile requirements.

F-1 Foreign academic student

F-2 Dependent on F-1

 

Unexpired foreign passport or I-94. Applicant must provide an I-20

Asylee

Immigration documentation with an alien number or I-94 number indicating this status, which can include but is not limited to:

  • I-94 with annotation “Section 208” or “asylee”
  • Unexpired foreign passport with annotation “Section 208” or “asylee”
  • I-571 Refugee Travel Document
  • I-688B coded 274a.12(a)(5)
  •  I-766 with category A5 or A05

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Immigration documentation with an alien number or I-94 number indicating this status or Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (I-766) with category A12 or C19

Applicants for extension of status or change of status

 

Immigration documentation with an alien number or I-94 number. This can include but is not limited to a form I-797 indicating a pending application for an extension of status, change of status, petition for non-immigrant worker, or another pending category.

Immigrant Visa with Temporary I-551 language

A valid Immigrant Visa within one year of endorsement (i.e., stamped by Customs and Border Protection) and an unexpired passport

Employment Authorization Document

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (I-766)

J-1 Exchange visitor (may be student)

J-2 Dependent of J-1

 

Unexpired foreign passport or I-94. Applicant must provide a DS-2019

H-1, H-2a Temporary Agricultural Worker

H-2b Non-Agricultural worker

Unexpired foreign passport or I-94

H-1B (Specialty employment)

H-4- Dependent of H-1B

Unexpired foreign passport; I-94; I-797; or I-797C Notice of Action (receipt notice)

EAD card with code C26