Driving Tests

Georgia Learner's Permit Documents: What to Bring to the DDS

informational·how to guide·Published September 7, 2026

What documents do you bring to the Georgia DDS for a learner's permit?

Bring 1 proof of identity, such as a U.S. birth certificate with a raised seal or an unexpired U.S. passport, and 2 proofs of Georgia residency from separate sources. If you are under 18, also bring proof of school enrollment and an adult who signs for you. Submit the online License/ID/Permit Form first; it stays on file for 60 days. All documents must be in English.

Where the Georgia permit document facts come from

The document lists come from the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) page on how to get a learner's permit. The responsible adult rules come from the DDS Drivers Manual and the DDS License Requirements Overview. The star on the card comes from the DDS REAL ID page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (dds.georgia.gov) before you drive.

Submit the online License/ID/Permit Form first

Before you visit a DDS Customer Service Center (CSC), submit the License/ID/Permit Form online. The form is required for a visit, and your full Social Security number goes on it. Your information stays on file for 60 days. After that, submit the form again before you go.

What identity document do U.S. citizens bring?

U.S. citizens bring 1 of these:
A U.S. birth certificate, original or certified copy, with a raised seal from the Bureau of Vital Statistics or a State Board of Health.
An unexpired U.S. passport or passport card.
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240, FS-545 or DS-1350).
A certified copy of a Certificate of Naturalization or a Certificate of Citizenship.

Do you need your Social Security card?

Not at first. You give your full Social Security number (SSN) on the online form. Bring SSN proof only if the number fails to verify. Accepted proofs include your Social Security card (original or copy), a W-2 or 1099 form, a pay stub, or a federal or state tax return that shows your name and full SSN. If these do not fix the problem, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Which 2 residency documents count?

Bring 2 documents from the categories in the table below. They must come from separate sources or separate accounts, and each must show your name and your current residential address. A P.O. Box does not prove residency. Black out (redact) the account numbers.

Georgia residency documents and their date rules

Georgia residency documents and their date rules
Category	Examples	Date rule
Utility bills	Water, sewer, gas, electricity, cable or satellite TV, internet, phone or cell phone, garbage, for service at your home	Within the past 6 months
Financial statements	Bank, credit union, investment, credit card or loan statement	Within the past 6 months
Rental papers	Rental contract, or a rent receipt for a home, apartment, mobile home, dorm or extended-stay motel	Within the past 6 months
U.S. mail	Any physical mail with a USPS postmark	Within the past 6 months
Home papers	Mortgage, signed lease, deed, property tax bill, homeowners insurance	Current or preceding calendar year
Vehicle papers	Registration, title, insurance policy or insurance card that shows your address	Current year, or within the past 6 months
School records	School record or transcript, report card, form DS-1	Transcript: current or prior school year
Employer, medical or government papers	Pay stub, W-2, health insurance statement, tax return, voter registration card	Current or preceding calendar year

What do non-citizens bring?

Non-citizens bring 1 document for identity and 1 document for lawful status, if the status needs one. DDS issues a license only in a name that exactly matches your original immigration documents. The table shows common cases; the DDS permit page lists the other statuses.

Common non-citizen documents from the DDS table

Common non-citizen documents from the DDS table
Status	Identity document	Lawful status document
Permanent resident	I-551 (green card), or an I-551 stamp with photo on an I-94	Not required
Student or exchange visitor (F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2)	Unexpired foreign passport with U.S. visa	I-20 (F and M) or DS-2019 (J), and a valid I-94 or I-797A Notice of Action
Status A, B, E, H, I, L, O, P, Q, R or S	Unexpired foreign passport with U.S. visa	Valid I-94 or I-797A Notice of Action

Are translated documents accepted?

No. DDS does not accept translated documents, and all documents must be in English. Each document must also show your first and last name.

What proof of school enrollment do teens bring?

Under 18: bring one of these as proof of school enrollment.
A notarized Certificate of School Enrollment Form (DDS-1; the Drivers Manual calls it DS-1) from school staff.
A transcript from your most recent school. It does not have to be certified.
Your most recent progress or grade report.
A current school ID card issued by the school or school system.
Home-schooled: a Certificate of Enrollment from the Georgia Department of Education, or a Declaration of Intent To Utilize a Home Study Program filed with that department.
Not in school: a high school diploma, GED, special diploma, certification of high school completion, or proof of enrollment in a GED program or a post-secondary school.

Who must come with a teen, and what shows the relationship?

You are under 18

Bring a parent or guardian, a responsible adult, or an authorized driver training instructor. This person signs the License/ID/Permit Form and a Responsible Adult Affidavit. See the free Georgia question on who signs for a minor.

The signer is a parent or legal guardian

Show the relationship with school or military documents, tax information, or a driver's license, permit or ID card.

The signer is another responsible adult

Bring paperwork that shows the relationship to you. A social worker or a homeless shelter employee shows an employee ID or a letter from the agency or the shelter. A stepparent can also sign.

The signer is a driver training instructor

The instructor must have notarized papers that let them act for your parent, guardian or responsible adult.

You are not sure how old the signer must be

The Drivers Manual says 18 or older. The DDS License Requirements Overview (form date 12/2024) says 21 or older, with a valid driver's license. A signer who is 21 or older with a valid license meets both.

The REAL ID star on Georgia cards

All Georgia driver's licenses and IDs issued after 2012 are REAL ID-compliant and have a gold or black star in the upper right corner. Only one card, your license or your ID card, can carry the star. You need REAL ID-compliant identification to board domestic flights. TSA does not accept temporary paper licenses or IDs.

How to get ready for your DDS visit, step by step

1
Submit the online form
Fill in the License/ID/Permit Form with your full Social Security number.
2
Pick your documents
Choose 1 identity document and 2 residency documents from separate sources. Check the names and dates.
3
Add the teen papers
Under 18: bring proof of school enrollment and the adult who signs, with paperwork that shows the relationship.
4
Bring old cards
Bring any out-of-state license, permit or ID card to surrender. If it was lost or stolen, bring that state's driving record (MVR), dated within the last 60 days.
5
At the center
Show your documents, pass a vision exam and a knowledge exam, take a photo and pay the $10.00 permit fee. For exam fees and retakes, see the Georgia permit test cost guide.

Key takeaways

Submit the online License/ID/Permit Form first. It stays on file for 60 days.
Bring 1 identity document, 2 residency documents from separate sources, and the $10.00 fee. A P.O. Box does not count.
Bring Social Security proof only if your number fails to verify.
Under 18, bring proof of school enrollment and an adult who signs. After the visit, the Georgia learner's permit rules tell you who must ride with you.
Next step: practice on the free Georgia Class C practice test.

Georgia DDS permit documents: common questions

Can I use a photocopy of my birth certificate?

No. DDS accepts a U.S. birth certificate only as the original or a certified copy with a raised seal from the Bureau of Vital Statistics or a State Board of Health. If you do not have one, an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card also proves identity for a U.S. citizen.

Can I use a phone bill as proof of residency?

Yes, if it is a bill for phone or cell phone service at your residential address, dated within the past 6 months, with your name on it. Black out the account number. Your second document must come from a different source.

Can a college student use a dorm as proof of residency?

Yes. A rent payment receipt or rental contract for a dorm counts if it is dated within the past 6 months. A school record or transcript for the current or prior school year can be the second document.

What if my name is different from my birth certificate?

Bring documents that show each name change. DDS accepts a U.S. passport or passport card, or a certified copy of a marriage certificate or license, a divorce decree that states the name change, a court order for a legal name change, or a court adoption document.

Can I black out numbers on my documents?

Yes. DDS asks you to redact account numbers on residency documents, such as bank statements and utility bills. On Social Security proof documents, you can also cross out financial figures and other details, but your name and full SSN must stay visible.