Driving Tests

Foreign Driver's License in Arkansas: Countries Exempt From Testing

informational·how to guide·Published October 5, 2026

Can I exchange my foreign driver's license in Arkansas without tests?

Only if your license comes from one of five places on the Arkansas exempt list: the Canadian province of Manitoba, Germany, France, Taiwan or South Korea. Because of a reciprocal agreement, these applicants are not required to test, and the Arkansas State Police study guide refers them to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). A license from any other country is not on the list.

Where the Arkansas foreign license facts come from

The exempt list, the 30-day rule, the vision rule, the appointment types and the license steps come from the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide of the Arkansas State Police (ASP), October 2026. The exam documents come from the ASP 1-2-3 Checklist for applicants age 18 and older and from the ASP checklists for applicants under 18, for H-2A workers and for the skills test. The license documents come from the DFA Proof of Legal Presence list, the DFA driver services FAQ, the DFA REAL ID page and a 2025 DFA news release on appointments. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services (dfa.arkansas.gov) and the Arkansas State Police before you drive.

Is your license on the Arkansas exempt list?

Is your license on the Arkansas exempt list?
Where your license comes from	On the exempt list?	Where you start
Manitoba (a Canadian province)	Yes	DFA
Germany	Yes	DFA
France	Yes	DFA
Taiwan	Yes	DFA
South Korea	Yes	DFA
Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia or another Canadian province	No	Not exempt: contact ASP or DFA to confirm your tests
Any other country	No	Not exempt: contact ASP or DFA to confirm your tests

What "exempt from testing" means in Arkansas

The Arkansas list is a short section of the study guide called Countries Exempt from Testing. Applicants from the five listed places are not required to test because of a reciprocal agreement, and they may be issued an Arkansas driver's license. Each of these applicants is referred to DFA for further help. If your license comes from one of these places, contact DFA before you book an ASP test.

When must you get an Arkansas license after you move?

Arkansas Code § 27-16-606, printed in the study guide, sets two deadlines. A new resident must get an Arkansas driver's license within 30 calendar days of becoming a resident. A nonresident who has been physically present in Arkansas for six months must also get one. To get a license, you must legally reside in the United States.

Steps to an Arkansas Class D license if your country is not exempt

1
Book the knowledge exam
The study guide gives these steps for a person who does not have an Arkansas driver's license. Your country is not on the exempt list, so contact ASP or DFA before you book to confirm the steps for your license. Book an ASP appointment online and choose the Driver's License/Motorcycle Instruction Permit Test type. A non-citizen with immigration documents should choose this type, because it gives more time with the examiner. Not all locations offer this immigration documents feature, so check the location when you book.
2
Pass the knowledge exam and the vision test
A person without an Arkansas license must get an Instruction Permit to practice driving. To get the permit, pass the knowledge exam and the vision test. Each written exam costs $5.00, and the fee is added to the cost of your license. See our free question on the Arkansas written exam fee.
3
Practice and pass the skills test
With the permit, you may drive with a licensed driver age 21 or older in the seat beside you. For the skills test, you provide your own vehicle, current proof of insurance and current vehicle registration. A licensed driver who is 21 or older must ride in the front passenger seat.
4
Get the license at a Revenue Office
Take your Instruction Permit, which shows that you completed the knowledge exam, the vision test and the skills test, to a State Revenue Office. At 18 or older, you get the Class D license, the non-restricted license. Walk-ins are possible at all offices; an appointment is not required.

Documents for the ASP knowledge exam at age 18 or older

Bring two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary document.
Primary: a foreign passport with a U.S. visa and an I-94. You can print the I-94 online.
Primary: a Permanent Resident Card (I-551, I-151, AR-3, AR-3A or AR-103).
Primary: an Employment Authorization Card, only together with your Social Security card.
Bring all your immigration documents each time you visit a testing site.

Documents for the license at the Revenue Office

DFA keeps its own list. For the license, bring your proof of legal presence and your Social Security card. For a non-citizen, proof of legal presence is a foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and I-94, a valid Permanent Resident Card (I-551) or a valid Employment Authorization document (I-766). It must be an original or a certified document. For REAL ID, add two proofs of Arkansas residency, such as a gas, water or electric bill. If you also hold a license or ID from another U.S. state, the Arkansas license cancels it. Our guide to Arkansas license and REAL ID documents gives the full lists.

Rules for students, foreign military and applicants under 18

You are a college or exchange student who is a nonresident under the tuition rules

The study guide lists you among the people age 16 or older who may drive with "a valid license from another state". Our guide to driving in Arkansas as an international student explains your options.

You are a member of a foreign military on temporary duty with the U.S. Armed Forces

The same list includes you, if you are 16 or older and have a valid license from another state. Confirm with ASP or DFA how this applies to your license.

You are under 18 and not a U.S. citizen

For the knowledge exam, present a passport with a U.S. visa and current I-94, a Permanent Resident Card, an Employment Authorization Card, a Naturalization Certificate or a Certificate of Citizenship. If a parent signs the ASP-33 form, also bring a copy of your document application or another USCIS document that shows your parent's name, or a translated foreign birth certificate from your home country.

Key takeaways

Five places are exempt from testing: the Canadian province of Manitoba, Germany, France, Taiwan and South Korea. Applicants from them go to DFA.
A license from any other country, or from another Canadian province, is not on the list. Contact ASP or DFA to confirm your tests before you book.
A new resident must get an Arkansas license within 30 calendar days.
Keep two lists apart: ASP documents for the exams and DFA documents for the license.
Next step: practice in English on the free Arkansas Class D practice test before your ASP knowledge exam.

Arkansas foreign license: common questions

Is Canada exempt from driver testing in Arkansas?

Only one part of Canada is: the province of Manitoba. A license from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta or any other province is not on the Arkansas exempt list. If your license comes from Manitoba, contact DFA. If it comes from another province, contact the Arkansas State Police or DFA to confirm which tests you need.

Do I still need a vision test if my country is exempt?

Plan for one. Arkansas law, printed in the study guide, says every applicant must pass a vision test before a license or instruction permit is issued. An unrestricted license needs at least 20/40 vision without glasses. With glasses or contact lenses, the minimum is 20/70, for a restricted license that requires them when you drive. A vision referral form must come from an Arkansas optometrist.

Can I use my foreign birth certificate for the Arkansas knowledge exam?

No. At age 18 or older, the ASP checklist accepts no foreign birth certificates. Use a primary document such as a foreign passport with a U.S. visa and I-94, or a Permanent Resident Card. Under 18, translated birth certificates are not accepted as primary documents either; a non-citizen teen uses a passport with a U.S. visa and current I-94 or a Permanent Resident Card.

What does an H-2A farm worker need for the Arkansas knowledge exam?

H-2A workers have their own ASP checklist. Bring a foreign passport with a U.S. visa and an I-94; you can print the I-94 online. Add one secondary document: a letter of employment with your full name as on your immigration document, date of birth, current address and length of employment, or a state ID. You complete a signature affidavit with the examiner.