Driving Tests

Minnesota Driver’s License for All: Documents, Tests, Fees and Steps

informational·how to guide·Published July 25, 2026

Can you get a Minnesota driver’s license without proof of immigration status?

Yes. Since October 1, 2023, Minnesota issues a standard driver’s license, instruction permit or ID card without proof of citizenship or lawful presence. You show two documents, one with your full name and date of birth, give a Minnesota home address, and pass the Class D written test (80 percent to pass) and the road test. DVS does not ask about your immigration status.

Where the Driver’s License for All facts come from

The rules come from the Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) Driver’s License for All page, the DVS standard required documents list and Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 13. The steps, tests and fees come from other DVS pages and guides, Minnesota Statutes section 171.05 and the Minnesota Driver’s Manual. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs) before you drive.

What Driver’s License for All means for you

Driver’s License for All is a Minnesota law signed on March 7, 2023. It applies to applications made on or after October 1, 2023. You can get a standard driver’s license, instruction permit or ID card without showing that you are a U.S. citizen or lawfully present.
The card is a regular Minnesota standard license, and you can use it to drive legally.

How to get a standard Minnesota driver’s license in 6 steps

1
Study and gather your documents
Read the Minnesota Driver’s Manual, which DVS offers in more than one language. Take the DVS practice test and collect your documents.
2
Book your written test
Make an appointment online. Choose Driver Services, then Class D Knowledge Exam.
3
Pass the written test and get your permit
The test has multiple-choice and true-or-false questions. You need 80 percent to pass. A vision screening follows, and then you apply and pay for your instruction permit.
4
Practice driving with your permit
At 18, hold the permit for six months (DVS counts 180 days). At 19 or older, hold it for three months (90 days). A licensed driver 18 or older must supervise you from the front seat, and you may not use a phone, even hands-free. Teens 15 to 17 take driver education first and get a provisional license before a full license.
5
Take the road test
Book a Class D Skill Exam online. Bring a safe vehicle, proof of insurance for it, your permit and a licensed driver.
6
Get your license by mail
After you pass and have your photo taken, the license arrives by mail. It can take up to 6 weeks.

Which documents do you need for a standard license?

Bring two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary document, from the DVS list. One of them must show your full name and date of birth.
Primary documents include an unexpired passport (foreign or domestic), an unexpired consular ID with your photo, and a certified birth record from any country.
Secondary documents include an IRS document with your individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), and a driver’s license or ID with your photo from any government that expired five years ago or less.
A document in a language other than English needs a translation and a translation attestation.
If the names on your documents do not match your current legal name, also bring proof of each name change.

Fees for the written test, permit, license and road test

Fees for the written test, permit, license and road test
Item	Amount	When it applies
Written test at a DVS exam station	Free	First two tests, if you did not test with a proctor first
Written test, third or later try	$10	Third and later tests, after you fail two in a row
Written test at a proctor	Up to $10	Each test
Instruction permit	$29.50	Valid for 2 years
Class D driver’s license	$46	After you pass the road test
Road test, third or later try	$20	Third and later tests, after you fail two
Road test late cancel	$20	You cancel or reschedule 24 to 72 hours before
Road test no-show	$40	You miss it, or cancel less than 24 hours before

How does the written test work?

You may take only one written test per day, and you must score 80 percent to pass. At a DVS exam station there is no time limit. A third-party proctor sets a time limit and allows no interpreters or other help.
A free question on what happens at 78 percent shows how strict the pass mark is. Our practice questions are in English only.

What if your language is not on the test list?

Your language is on the DVS list

The main DVS pages list English, ASL, Somali, Hmong, Russian, Vietnamese, Karen and Spanish. The Driver’s License for All page also names Dari, Pashto and Ukrainian, and it says audio tests are available. Confirm your language when you book.

Your language is not offered

Ask for a verbal exam by appointment at 651-284-1234. Verbal exams are not offered at every station and have a one-hour limit. Bring your own interpreter, who must hold a valid Minnesota driver’s license.

You want to test with a group

For languages DVS does not offer, email DVS to schedule a group oral test of three to seven testers. These tests run at the Anoka, Eagan, Buffalo and downtown Saint Paul exam stations.

What to bring to the road test, and can your interpreter help?

The road test has three parts: showing your vehicle’s safety equipment, showing your vehicle control skills and a driving test. Bring your permit, a vehicle in safe working condition, proof of insurance for that vehicle and a licensed driver. See our road test guide for each part.
Only you and the examiner may be in the vehicle during the test. Your interpreter cannot ride along, but can help you before and after the test.

Is your information safe when you apply?

DVS does not ask whether you are undocumented, and it does not track it. By law, DVS and its agents must not ask about citizenship, immigration status or lawful presence on a standard application. DVS cannot share your application data with agencies that mainly enforce immigration law unless a court orders it.
State and local agencies may not use a standard card as proof of your status, or as the main reason to investigate, detain or arrest you.

Can you fly or enter a federal building with a standard card?

You are 18 or older and want to pass airport security or enter a U.S. military base

Since May 7, 2025, a standard card does not work. Use a REAL ID, an Enhanced ID, a passport or another federally approved ID. A foreign government passport is on the DVS list.

You want to enter a federal building

Some federal buildings, including some courthouses, do not accept a standard card. Ask the federal agency which ID it needs before you go.

You want a REAL ID or an Enhanced card

Driver’s License for All covers only standard cards. It does not apply to REAL ID, Enhanced or commercial licenses, which need other documents. See our guide to REAL ID documents.

How do you avoid scams and get help?

Only DVS may charge driver’s license or ID fees. Use only official DVS exam stations and driver’s license agent offices, and trust only the fees on the DVS fees page.
DVS also holds events at consulates in the Twin Cities and at mobile consulates in greater Minnesota. The DVS events calendar shows when DVS staff can answer your questions in person.

Key takeaways

Since October 1, 2023, you can get a standard Minnesota license, permit or ID without proof of immigration status.
Show two documents from the DVS list, give a Minnesota address, and pass the written test and the road test.
If you are 18 or older, a standard card does not get you through airport security. Use a REAL ID, an Enhanced ID or a passport there.
Pay only the fees on the DVS fees page.
Next step: practice on the free Minnesota Class D practice test.

Minnesota Driver’s License for All: common questions

Will the license show that I am undocumented?

No. A standard license or ID has the same format and layout for people with and without legal presence, and police cannot identify your immigration status from it. Like every standard card, it shows the words “Not for Federal Identification” on the front.

Can I vote with a Driver’s License for All license?

No. Driver’s License for All does not change the rules to register to vote. You must meet all the requirements, including U.S. citizenship. A Minnesota license or ID is not proof of citizenship, and it is a felony to vote when you are not eligible.

Do I need a Social Security number for a Driver’s License for All license?

Only if you are eligible for one. Federal law requires DVS to get Social Security numbers from people who are eligible for them. If you do not have one, tell the DVS staff, and they ask to see your primary and secondary documents. Do not give your ITIN as a Social Security number, because it causes a system error. An IRS document with your ITIN can be a secondary document.

What if I cannot get all the required documents?

If you cannot get a primary or secondary document, or you are still applying for one, you can apply through the DVS variance process. The variance forms are on the DVS website, drive.mn.gov.

If my temporary stay documents expire, can I renew my standard license?

Yes. Since October 1, 2023, you do not need temporary stay documents to renew a standard Minnesota license. You need them only if you have a REAL ID or want to apply for one.