Driving Tests

Indiana Foreign Driver's License: Tests, Japan, Taiwan, Students

informational·how to guide·Published August 11, 2026

Can I exchange a foreign driver's license for an Indiana license?

Yes, but it is not a plain swap. At a BMV branch you show your foreign license and identity papers, then pass the vision screening, the knowledge exam and the driving skills exam. Only Japan and Taiwan have a reciprocal agreement with Indiana: if you are 18 or older and your license is active or expired less than three years, the BMV waives the skills exam.

Where the Indiana foreign license rules come from

The rules come from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) page on out-of-country licenses, the Indiana Driver's Manual (July 2026) and the BMV page on the SAVE lawful status check. The Japan and Taiwan details come from the BMV reciprocity letters for each country. The document, translation and exam details come from the BMV Real ID, driver's license and knowledge exam pages. This guide is current as of 2026. These pages give no rule for visitors, so ask the BMV how long a visitor may drive on a foreign license. Confirm the rules with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (in.gov/bmv) before you drive.

When do the foreign license rules apply to you?

They apply when you become an Indiana resident and hold a driver's license from another country. When you become a resident, you have 60 days to get an Indiana driver's license. Your foreign license cannot be used as identification at the BMV, so bring separate identity papers. If your license is from another U.S. state, the rules differ; see the guide to the Indiana new resident driver's license.

What Indiana asks for with a foreign license

What Indiana asks for with a foreign license
Requirement	What you do
Your foreign license	Show it in English, with a verifiably accurate English translation, or with your International Driving Permit
Identity documents	Bring proper identification. A foreign passport with a visa and I-94 form proves identity
Residency proof	Bring two printed documents that prove you live in Indiana
Vision screening	Pass it at the BMV branch
Knowledge exam	Pass both parts, traffic rules and road signs, with 80 percent or more on each part
Driving skills exam	Pass it, unless you qualify for the Japan or Taiwan waiver

Do you need an International Driving Permit in Indiana?

To apply for an Indiana license, you do not need one if your license is already in English. For a license in another language, the International Driving Permit (IDP) is one of two ways to show it in English when you apply: bring the IDP together with your license, or bring a verifiably accurate English translation. The IDP goes with your foreign license; it does not replace it.

Steps to get an Indiana license with a foreign license

1
Get your license in a form the BMV accepts
If your license is not in English, bring your IDP or a verifiably accurate English translation. A translation must be typed on a separate page on the letterhead of a government entity, an accredited educational institution or a translation agency.
2
Gather your identity and residency papers
Bring proof of identity, proof of lawful status, your Social Security number and two printed documents that prove you live in Indiana. All documents must be in English or come with a verifiably accurate English translation.
3
Print your country letter, if you qualify
If your license is from Japan or Taiwan, download and print the BMV letter for your country and bring it to a BMV license branch.
4
Take the exams at the branch
Pass the vision screening, the knowledge exam and the driving skills exam. The skills exam is waived only if you qualify under the Japan or Taiwan agreement.
5
Drive on your interim license
The BMV checks your documents in a central process and gives you an interim license, valid for 30 days, while it does so. After the documents are verified, the BMV mails your Indiana driver's license to you.

Knowledge exam and skills exam: languages and retakes

The knowledge exam has two parts, traffic rules and road signs, and you must score 80 percent or more on each part. You can take it in English or in one of 19 other languages, including Spanish, Mandarin (Simplified Chinese), Japanese, Korean and Hindi. If you fail it, you can retake it the next business day. If you fail the driving skills exam, wait seven days before you retake it. The BMV gives the skills exam at no charge.

Do you take the Indiana driving skills exam?

Your license is from Japan or Taiwan, you are 18 or older, and the license is active or expired less than three years

The BMV waives the vehicle skills exam. You still pass the written knowledge exam and the vision exam.

Your Japan or Taiwan license expired three years ago or more

The waiver does not apply, so plan to take the skills exam.

Your license is from any other country

You take the driving skills exam. Japan and Taiwan are the only countries with a reciprocal license agreement with Indiana.

You want a commercial driver's license (CDL)

No waiver applies: you pass all exams for the CDL you want. Indiana issues a new CDL only to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

What do Japan and Taiwan license holders bring?

Bring the printed BMV letter for your country and the same identity, lawful status, Social Security and two Indiana residency documents as every applicant. If your license is not in English, you also need a certification letter that states your license is valid. For Japan, it comes from the Consulate-General of Japan (or designee) and must be dated within three months of your BMV application. For Taiwan, it comes from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO). This letter also serves as the English translation of your license.

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

It depends on residency. For a BMV credential, students at a college or other post-secondary school who do not claim Indiana as their state of residence are not Indiana residents. The same applies to other people in Indiana who do not intend it to be their permanent home. If you do apply, the BMV checks your lawful status through SAVE, as shown below. The guide to BMV documents and Real ID covers each proof in more detail.

How the SAVE lawful status check works

The BMV checks your lawful status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program.
With a foreign passport, bring your I-94 arrival record and U.S. visa. Papers such as a DS-2019 or an I-20 may also be needed.
The check can take up to two weeks. If your status is verified, you get your credential within 14 days.
If your status cannot be verified, the BMV does not issue the credential and sends a denial letter. You may reapply with the right papers.
With temporary lawful status, the BMV puts Restriction 9 on your credential and driver record, and your license may not show the standard validity period.
Applicants with temporary or permanent lawful status get a Real ID credential.

Key takeaways

A foreign license is not a plain swap in Indiana. You pass the vision screening, the knowledge exam and the driving skills exam, and bring identity and residency papers.
Japan and Taiwan: if you are 18 or older and your license is active or expired less than three years, the BMV waives the skills exam only.
A license not in English needs your International Driving Permit or a verifiably accurate English translation.
College students who do not claim Indiana as their state of residence are not Indiana residents for a BMV credential. The SAVE check can take up to two weeks.
Next step: practice the traffic rules and road signs on the free Indiana operator practice test (in English).

Indiana foreign license: common questions

Can I use my foreign license as ID at the Indiana BMV?

No. An out-of-country license cannot be used for identification. Bring an identity document, such as a foreign passport with a visa and I-94 form, and two printed documents that prove you live in Indiana.

Do Japan and Taiwan license holders still take the written test?

Yes. The agreement waives only the vehicle skills exam. Drivers with a Japan or Taiwan license must still take and pass the written knowledge exam and the vision exam, and show the same identity, lawful status and residency papers as other applicants.

Can a friend translate my foreign license for the BMV?

No. The translator signs a statement that the translation is complete and accurate and that it was not made for a family member, friend or business associate. The translation is typed on a separate page on the letterhead of a government office, an accredited school or a translation agency.

How long does the BMV take to check my visa papers?

The SAVE check of your lawful status can take up to two weeks. While the BMV checks your documents, it gives you an interim license, valid for 30 days, that lets you drive. If your status is verified, you receive your credential within 14 days.

What does Restriction 9 on my Indiana license mean?

Restriction code 9 means Lawful Temporary Resident. The BMV adds it when SAVE verifies a temporary lawful status. A learner's permit with this status expires on your end of stay date, and a driver's license may not show the standard validity period.