Driving Tests

Driving in Florida With a Foreign License: Visitors and License Exchange

informational·how to guide·Published May 8, 2026

Can I drive in Florida on a foreign license?

Yes, as a visitor. You must carry a valid driver license issued in your name by your country of residence. Florida law exempts a nonresident aged 16 or older with that license from a Florida license for a Class E vehicle. You must get a Florida license within 30 days after you become a resident, take a job, or put a child in a Florida public school.

Where the facts in this guide come from

The visitor rules come from the FLHSMV Visiting Florida FAQ and from Florida Statutes sections 322.04, 322.031, 322.12, 322.095 and 322.1615. The International Driving Permit and the list of license exchange countries come from the Official Florida Driver License Handbook. The documents come from the FLHSMV What to Bring page for non-immigrants. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (flhsmv.gov) before you drive.

Visitor rule: drive on your home country license

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) says that a visitor who drives in Florida must have a valid driver license, issued in his or her name by the country of residence, in immediate possession. Florida Statutes section 322.04 exempts a nonresident aged 16 or older with a valid noncommercial license from the home country, for a Class E vehicle. For other noncommercial vehicles, the age is 18. This exemption stops when section 322.031 applies to you: then you must get a Florida license (see below).

Do you need an International Driving Permit in Florida?

The handbook names an International Driving Permit (IDP) from your country of residence, but only together with a valid driver license from that country. The visitor FAQ and section 322.04 ask for the valid license from your home country. An IDP can go with your home license, but use it only as an addition. Always carry your home license when you drive.

When you must get a Florida license

You are a visitor with a valid license from your country of residence

You may drive on it, if you carry it and section 322.031 does not apply to you.

You take a job in Florida, or you put a child in a Florida public school, and you drive

Section 322.031 requires a Florida license within 30 days after the job or schooling starts. Check yourself with the free practice question on the 30-day licensing period.

You become a Florida resident

The FLHSMV visitor FAQ says to get a Florida license within 30 days of becoming a resident.

You are a nonresident full-time student at a college or university in Florida

Section 322.031(3) exempts a nonresident full-time student of a qualifying institution of higher learning for the length of the enrollment. The same subsection names a valid license from another state for work-study students, so ask FLHSMV how the rule applies to your foreign license.

When do you count as a Florida resident?

FLHSMV gives two different lists. The visitor FAQ says that you are a resident if you enroll your children in public school, register to vote, file for a homestead exemption, accept employment, or live in Florida for more than six consecutive months. The handbook counts domicile in Florida for more than six consecutive months, voter registration, a statement of domicile, or a homestead exemption. Because the lists differ, count the 30 days from the first event that applies to you.

Can you exchange a foreign license without tests?

Sometimes. Florida Statutes section 322.12 lets FLHSMV waive the knowledge, endorsement and skills tests for an applicant who surrenders a valid license from another state or a province of Canada, or a U.S. Armed Forces license, for a Florida license of an equal or lesser class.
The FLHSMV handbook lists the foreign licenses for which the Class E knowledge and driving skills exams are waived: Canada (you surrender your Canadian license), France, Germany (driving skills test only), the Republic of China (Taiwan) and South Korea. A vision exam is still required. Confirm the list with FLHSMV before you go to a service center.

Which Florida tests you take with a foreign license

Which Florida tests you take with a foreign license
Your license	Tests you take
Canada (license surrendered), France, Taiwan or South Korea	Vision exam; the Class E knowledge and driving skills exams are waived
Germany	Vision exam and Class E knowledge exam; the driving skills test is waived
Any other country	Vision and hearing tests, the Class E Knowledge Exam and the driving skills test

What the Florida Class E exams include

A vision test and a hearing test. A vision test is required for every original license. Try the free practice question on the tests for an original license.
The Class E Knowledge Exam: 50 multiple choice questions on traffic laws and traffic signs. It is available in English only, and our free practice tests are also in English only.
The driving skills test. You must provide the vehicle, and it needs a valid tag, proof of insurance and a passed vehicle inspection.

Do you need a traffic law course with a foreign license?

Two texts differ here. FLHSMV says that persons with licenses from other countries may need a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course, a written exam or a driving test. Florida Statutes section 322.095 requires the TLSAE course for an applicant aged 18 or older, unless the applicant has been licensed in another jurisdiction or completed a Department of Education driver education course. A learner's license applicant must complete an approved driver education course that meets or exceeds Department of Education course 1900300 (section 322.1615). Read our guide to the Florida TLSAE and DETS courses, and ask FLHSMV which rule applies to you.

Documents for non-immigrants in Florida

Primary identification: a valid employment authorization card (DHS form I-688B or I-766), or non-expired proof of non-immigrant classification on DHS form I-94 with the required attachments.
An I-94 must come with a valid passport with a date of entry stamp. F-1 and M-1 classifications need an I-20; J-1 and J-2 need a DS2019.
Proof of your Social Security Number, such as your Social Security card. A non-immigrant without a work visa does not need a Social Security Administration letter that says no number was issued.
Two different documents that show your Florida residential address. Our guide to Florida license documents explains each document type.

Key takeaways

Visitors may drive on a valid license from their country of residence, if they carry it.
The handbook names an International Driving Permit only together with your home license, so always carry your home license.
Get a Florida license within 30 days after you become a resident, take a job, or put a child in a Florida public school.
Some foreign licenses get the Class E knowledge or skills exams waived under the handbook list, but every applicant takes a vision exam.
Next step: practice on the free Florida Class E Knowledge practice test.

Florida foreign license: common questions

How long can I drive in Florida on my foreign license?

As a visitor, you may drive on a valid license from your country of residence while you carry it. After you become a Florida resident, you must get a Florida license within 30 days. A nonresident who takes a job or puts a child in a Florida public school also has 30 days.

Can I rent a car in Florida with a foreign license?

FLHSMV suggests that you ask the rental car company before your visit what it requires. FLHSMV also says that, as far as it knows, rental companies have not changed their rules for a valid driver license from any state, U.S. territory or foreign country.

Can my spouse drive on a foreign license after I start a job in Florida?

Only for a short time. Section 322.031 says that the spouse and the dependent children of a nonresident who takes a job or puts children in a Florida public school must also get a Florida license within the same 30-day period before they drive on Florida roads.

Which countries can swap a driver's license in Florida without tests?

The FLHSMV handbook lists Canada (you surrender your Canadian license), France, Germany (driving skills test only), Taiwan and South Korea. U.S. states, U.S. territories and the U.S. military are on the same list. You still take a vision exam. Confirm the list with FLHSMV before you visit a service center.

How long is a Florida license valid for a non-immigrant?

It is valid for the period on your USCIS document, and not more than one year. When you apply for an original license, you first get a 60-day temporary paper permit without a photo. After FLHSMV verifies your identity and legal status, it mails the license within 60 days.