How Lawful Permanent Residents Can Get A Texas Driver's License

Texas driver's licenses are issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety to Texas residents. To qualify for a license, you must show lawful presence. Lawful presence is not the same as lawful status. Individuals who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees can present one of the following documents for verification through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): a valid, unexpired U.S. passport book, a Permanent Resident Card, or a Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa.

Lawful presence verification

To obtain a Texas driver's license, applicants must provide proof of lawful presence in the United States. This is a requirement for all applicants, regardless of citizenship status. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for verifying lawful presence through the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program. The SAVE Program verifies the applicant's lawful presence and determines the validity period of their driver's license.

To show lawful presence, individuals must present immigration documentation with an alien or I-94 number. This can include a Form I-797 indicating a pending I-485 or pending application for adjustment of status. Green card applicants can demonstrate lawful presence with an I-485 receipt notice, while those without a Social Security card or number must provide proof of ineligibility. Additionally, all documentation must include the applicant's name and date of birth.

For U.S. citizens, acceptable documents for verifying lawful presence include a valid, unexpired U.S. passport book or card, or an original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a State Bureau of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency. U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees can present a valid, unexpired U.S. passport book or card with the specified endorsement, or a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). Expired documents may be accepted in certain cases.

It is important to note that lawful presence verification does not guarantee the issuance of a driver's license, as applicants must also meet other requirements, such as providing proof of Texas residency. Applicants are encouraged to initiate the renewal process at least 30 days before their current license expires to account for potential delays in the verification process. The status of the verification process can be checked through the Texas DPS website or by contacting them directly.

Texas residency requirements

Texas Residency for Higher Education

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has established rules and regulations governing Texas residency for higher education. To be classified as a Texas resident for higher education purposes, a person must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States, be at least 18 years old, have lived in Texas for 12 consecutive months, and have been gainfully employed within the state prior to enrolling in an institution of higher education.

For international students, non-U.S. citizens, or permanent residents, Texas residency can be established by graduating from a Texas high school or receiving a GED in Texas, living in Texas for 36 consecutive months before high school graduation, and living in Texas for the 12 months immediately before the census date of the semester in which they enroll at a university.

Texas Residency for Driver's License or ID Card

To obtain a Texas driver's license or ID card, an individual must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or other lawful presence. This can include a valid U.S. passport, birth certificate, or Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). In addition, individuals must verify Texas residency by providing two printed documents that contain their name and Texas residential address, such as a utility bill, rental agreement, or tax form. One of the documents must verify that the individual has lived in Texas for at least 30 days.

Texas Residency for Other Purposes

Documentation needed

To obtain a Texas driver's license, you must provide documentation to verify your identity, U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the country, and Texas residency. Here is a detailed list of the documentation you may need:

Proof of Identity:

• Texas driver's license or ID within two years of expiration
• U.S. citizenship certificate
• Foreign passport
• Unexpired passport
• Unexpired military photo ID card
• Original or certified copy of an abstract (shortened) birth certificate issued by a State Bureau of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia
• Original or certified copy of a marriage license or divorce decree (with a certified translation if not in English)
• Veteran's ID card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• School records (e.g., report cards, photo ID cards)
• Unexpired U.S. military dependent identification card

Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence:

• Valid, unexpired U.S. passport book or U.S. passport card
• Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a State Bureau of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency from a U.S. territory or District of Columbia
• Original or certified copy of Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) (Form FS-240) or Certificate of Report of Birth (DS-1350 or FS-545) issued by the U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Citizenship Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization with identifiable photo (N-550, N-560, N-561, N-570, or N-578)
• U.S. Citizen identification card (Form I-179 or I-197)
• Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
• Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa with temporary I-551 language and ADIT stamp
• Employment Authorization Card, I-94, or US Travel Document

Proof of Texas Residency:

• Provide two documents from different sources to prove you have been a Texas resident for at least 30 days.
• Examples include utility bills (electric, water, gas), mortgage or deed documents, insurance policies or statements, medical or health cards, and current-year W-2 or 1099 forms.

Please note that the documents must be original or certified copies, and expired documents may be accepted unless otherwise noted. Additionally, if there are discrepancies in the information on your documents, you may need to provide additional documentation or speak with a License and Permit Specialist for assistance.

Testing and education requirements

To obtain a Texas driver's license, applicants must meet the testing and education requirements. These requirements vary depending on the age of the applicant and whether they are first-time drivers.

For applicants under the age of 24, an approved driver's education course must be completed before receiving a license. This can be done through a Texas drivers education online parent-taught course, which requires students to be at least 14 years old prior to starting and allows them to test for a learner's permit at 15. Alternatively, a six-hour adult driver education course is mandatory for first-time drivers between the ages of 18 and 24. This requirement is waived for new residents aged 18 or older who hold a valid, unexpired driver's license from another state.

The State of Texas mandates that approved driving courses cover topics such as traffic, warning signs, and the importance of traffic safety. After completing the required education, applicants must pass both a written test and a practical driving skills test to demonstrate their understanding of traffic laws and safe driving practices. The written test can be completed at a Driver License Office or with a Third-Party provider. The practical driving skills test can be completed with a Department of Public Safety officer at a local DPS office.

In addition to the standard testing and education requirements, individuals applying for a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) should be aware that this professional license entails more stringent testing. To verify their eligibility for a Texas driver's license, applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence. Lawful permanent residents can present a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or a Machine Readable Immigrant Visa with a temporary I-551 language and ADIT stamp. To establish Texas residency, applicants must present two printed documents verifying their name and residential address, one of which confirms that they have resided in Texas for a minimum of 30 days.

Temporary license

Lawful permanent residents can obtain a Texas driver's license. However, they must first meet the requirements for Texas residency and present documents verifying their lawful presence status.

Texas issues temporary paper licenses to new residents while they wait for their permanent hard copy license to arrive. This is because it can take a long time to print and mail out the permanent license. The temporary license is valid for use as ID, but some people have reported issues using it for certain services, such as car rental.

The processing time for a license is probably a couple of hours, plus a couple of days in the mail. However, it can take much longer. In Texas, you must obtain a Texas license within 30 days of moving to the state. This means that there is a risk of the temporary license expiring before the permanent one arrives.

In the past, some states would punch a hole in the old license or clip the corner to mark it as invalid, but still usable as ID. This is no longer the case, and some people are left without a valid photo ID while they wait for their new license.

Texas is not the only state to issue temporary paper licenses. California also provides them, and Alabama issues temporary paper versions at the time of a state transfer.

Frequently asked questions