Driving Tests

Driving in Alaska With a Foreign License: 90 Days, IDP, Students

informational·how to guide·Published May 13, 2026

Can I drive in Alaska with my foreign driver's license?

Yes, for up to 90 days. Under Alaska law, a nonresident who is at least 16 and holds a valid license from another state or country may drive in Alaska, but must get an Alaska license by the end of 90 days after entering the state. Alaska does not require an International Driving Permit (IDP). If your license is not in English, carry a translation.

Where these Alaska rules come from

The 90-day rule is in Alaska Statutes AS 28.15.021. The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) explains the IDP and translation rules on its international driving permit page and the immigration rules on its new to Alaska from another country page. The DMV visiting page, FAQ page, road test page, license fee page, license types page, AS 28.15.101 and the Alaska Driver Manual (REV. 10/2025) support the other details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.alaska.gov) before you drive.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Alaska?

No. The State of Alaska does not issue International Driving Permits and does not require them to drive in Alaska. If you still want an IDP, you can apply for one through AAA.

What if my foreign license is not in English?

Carry a translation of your license. The DMV says it should be an official translation from your embassy. Keep the translation and the license with you: the 90-day exemption covers a nonresident who has a valid license from another state or country in their possession. Once you hold an Alaska license, the practice question on what a licensed driver must carry covers the same duty.

Which Alaska rule fits you?

You are visiting, you are 16 or older and your license is valid

You may drive on your foreign license until 90 days after you enter Alaska. After that, you need an Alaska license.

You are moving to Alaska

You need an Alaska license once you establish residency. Follow the steps below.

Your admittance class is on the DMV's not-eligible list, such as the Temporary Visa Waiver (WT/WB)

You cannot get an Alaska license, permit or ID card until you are granted an eligible admittance class.

What happens if I drive after 90 days without an Alaska license?

The 90 days run from the day you enter the state. If you need an Alaska license and do not have a valid one, the violation is an infraction under AS 28.15.011. A manual check of your immigration status can take about 8 weeks, so start your application early. If you are new to the state, the guide to moving to Alaska and your driver's license covers the move step by step.

How to get an Alaska license with a foreign license

1
Check your admittance class
Your U.S. immigration admittance class decides whether you can get a license, permit or ID card. If your class is on the DMV's eligible list, you can apply. If it is on the not-eligible list, you may apply after you are granted an eligible class.
2
Gather original documents
All documents must be original, valid and unexpired. Bring a foreign passport with your immigration status forms from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and proof of your residence address (not a PO box). For a class that needs an I-94, print a copy from the CBP I-94 website. Put your Social Security number on the application. If you have none, bring documentation from the Social Security Administration that no number was issued.
3
Pass the written test and the vision test
Alaska gives the written test to each applicant who is not currently licensed in Alaska, and a vision test before any license is issued. The written test covers only the Alaska Driver Manual: traffic laws, safe driving practices and sign recognition. You can attempt it once per day, so a failed test waits until the next day.
4
Take the road test unless you qualify for a waiver
No road test is required if you hold, or held in the last 5 years, a license from a U.S. state, a U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea. Surrender that license, or bring a certified driving record if you lost it.
5
Pay the fee
A non-commercial Class D license (passenger vehicles and trucks) costs $20 (U.S. dollars), or $40 for the REAL ID version, as of 2026.

Do I need a road test with a foreign license?

If you have not held a license from a U.S. state, a U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea in the last 5 years, the no-test rule does not apply, so plan for a road test. The DMV road test fee is $15 and third-party testers set their own fees. Bring a currently registered vehicle with proof of insurance. Road test fees are non-refundable, but you may reschedule 24 hours before your appointment at no fee. The DMV asks you to schedule online. The Alaska road test guide walks through the test itself.

Documents the DMV lists for common admittance classes

Documents the DMV lists for common admittance classes
Admittance class	What the DMV lists
Permanent resident	One of: a valid I-551 card, a passport stamped "Approved/processed I-551", a passport with re-entry permit I-327, or a passport with an I-94 stamped "processed for I-551"
F-1, F-2 or F-3 (students)	Valid passport, U.S. visa, most current I-94, and SEVIS or DS-2019 form (F-3 students from Canada or Bermuda need no U.S. visa)
B-1 or B-2 (visitors)	Valid passport, U.S. visa and most current I-94

How does the DMV check my immigration status?

The DMV uses the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. When you apply for an original or renewal license, be ready to show your USCIS/DHS immigration documents. SAVE may confirm your status at once. If it cannot, a USCIS staff member reviews your documents by hand, and you return to the DMV after a positive result.

How long is an Alaska license for a foreign national?

Under AS 28.15.101(d), the DMV issues the license for the period of your authorized stay in the United States, so it can be valid for less than 8 years. If your authorized stay is indefinite, the license can be valid for up to 8 years.

Key takeaways

You may drive in Alaska on a valid foreign license for up to 90 days after you enter the state if you are at least 16.
Alaska does not issue or require an International Driving Permit. Carry an official translation if your license is not in English.
If you move to Alaska, you need an Alaska license once you establish residency: a written test, a vision test and your immigration, identity and residence documents.
No road test applies if you held a license from a U.S. state, a U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea in the last 5 years. Other countries: plan for a road test.
Next step: practice the Alaska rules of the road on the free Alaska Class D permit practice test.

Foreign license in Alaska: common questions

Can I drive in Alaska with a Canadian driver's license?

Yes. As a visitor, you may drive on a valid Canadian license for up to 90 days after you enter Alaska. If you move to Alaska and you hold, or held in the last 5 years, a Canadian license, you need no road test. Surrender the Canadian license, or bring a certified driving record if you lost it, and pass the written and vision tests.

Can an international student get an Alaska driver's license?

Yes, if you hold an F-1, F-2 or F-3 admittance class, which is on the DMV's eligible list. Bring a valid passport, U.S. visa, your most current I-94 (print it from the CBP website) and your SEVIS or DS-2019 form. F-3 students from Canada or Bermuda need no U.S. visa. The license runs only for the period of your authorized stay.

What do I do when my visa is extended or my status changes?

To renew an Alaska license, permit or ID card, you must show proof of your authorized stay in the United States. That proof can include I-797 forms that extend your stay. If your immigration status changed, bring the updated original documents to the DMV. If you became a U.S. citizen, you can bring an unexpired U.S. passport, passport card or Certificate of Naturalization.

Can a 15-year-old visitor drive in Alaska on a foreign license?

Not on the foreign license alone. The Alaska law exemption for nonresidents covers only drivers who are at least 16 and hold a valid license from another jurisdiction. Any other driver needs a valid Alaska driver's license for the type of vehicle driven, unless another exemption in the law applies.

What if my immigration status cannot be verified at the DMV?

You get a SAVE case number and a fact sheet. A USCIS staff member then reviews your documents by hand, which can take about 8 weeks. You can check the case on the public SAVE Case Check site or with the DMV Call Center at 907-269-5551. After a positive result, return to the DMV with your original immigration documents.