Driving Tests

Driving in Mississippi on a Foreign License: Non-U.S. Citizen Rules

informational·how to guide·Published August 9, 2026

Can I drive in Mississippi on my home-country license?

Yes, for a short time. Mississippi law lets a nonresident who is 18 or older drive for 60 consecutive days on a valid license from the home state or country, without a Mississippi license. For a Mississippi license, a non-citizen shows immigration papers, such as an I-94, a visa, an I-20 or a DS-2019. The license is valid for the length of stay, up to 4 years.

Where these Mississippi rules come from

The 60-day rule comes from the text of Senate Bill 2785 (2021), which changed Mississippi Code section 63-1-7. The license papers, renewal rules and student rule come from the Driver Service Bureau page for non-citizens and the Driver Service Bureau page for college students. The Mississippi Driver's Manual, the Driver Service Bureau fee page, the Interpreter Oath form, Senate Bill 2598 (2021) and Senate Bill 2322 (2026) give the other details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Driver Service Bureau (driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov) before you drive.

The 60-day rule for a foreign license

Section 63-1-7, in the text of the 2021 act in force from July 1, 2021, covers a nonresident who carries a valid license issued by the proper authorities of the home state or country. It also covers a nonresident whose home place does not license drivers but requires them to be registered. The driver must be 18 or older, and the limit is 60 consecutive days. During that time, the other rules of the license article still apply to you.
Carry your license on every drive. The free question on the license a driver must keep covers this rule.

Which rule fits your situation

Which rule fits your situation
Your situation	What the rule says	Where it comes from
Visitor or nonresident, 18 or older, with a valid home-state or home-country license	May drive for 60 consecutive days without a Mississippi license	2021 act, section 63-1-7
Nonresident under 18 with a home license	The 60-day rule does not apply. The minimum age for a Mississippi license is 16	2021 act; Driver Service Bureau non-citizen page
Out-of-state resident who attends college in Mississippi	May drive on the license issued by the home state	Driver Service Bureau college students page
Non-citizen who applies for a Mississippi license	Must show legal status papers and meet all requirements, including the knowledge and eye exam as applicable	Driver Service Bureau non-citizen page
License from another state or jurisdiction, issued to a person who could not prove lawful presence	Invalid in Mississippi from July 1, 2026	2026 act, Senate Bill 2322

What a non-citizen brings to a driver license station

Official immigration papers, such as an I-94, a valid visa or a resident alien card. Your name and date of birth must appear on each supporting document.
F-1 student or F-2 dependent: an unexpired foreign passport or I-94, plus an I-20.
J-1 exchange visitor (may be a student) or J-2 dependent: an unexpired foreign passport or I-94, plus a DS-2019.
H-1B worker or H-4 dependent: an unexpired foreign passport, an I-94, an I-797 or an I-797C notice of action.
A completed and signed application, and an original birth certificate or other acceptable documents.
A Social Security card or an official government letter that shows all 9 digits, if applicable.
Two proofs of residency with your name and a Mississippi residence address. P.O. boxes are not accepted. For a new license, they cannot be more than 60 days old. A lease is one accepted proof.
If your name changed: legal papers such as a marriage license, divorce decree or court order.

How to get a Mississippi license as a non-citizen

1
Make an appointment
Book a visit at dps.ms.gov/appointment. The Driver Service Bureau highly recommends an appointment for all applicants.
2
Gather your papers
Collect the immigration papers for your visa class, your residency proofs and your birth certificate or other acceptable documents.
3
Go to the driver license station
Bring your papers to the station. You must meet all requirements for the license, including the knowledge and eye exam as applicable.
4
Wait for the immigration check
DPS must confirm your legal presence papers through SAVE, a program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If SAVE cannot confirm them at once, your card can be delayed up to 30 days.

How long a non-citizen license lasts and how to renew it

The license is valid for the length of your stay, but no more than 4 years. Under the 2026 act, in force from July 1, 2026, the license of a lawfully present non-citizen includes a designation that the person is not a U.S. citizen. It expires on the date that the person is no longer lawfully present in the United States.
You can renew only within 30 days of the expiry date. Go in person to a driver license station with all required Homeland Security immigration documents. A non-citizen cannot renew online.

Exam interpreters, free practice and the move to Mississippi

If you need an interpreter for the exam, complete the Mississippi Interpreter Oath, and bring the form and your interpreter. The interpreter may only interpret the questions truly. Answers, hints and explanations of what a question means are unlawful.
Our free practice tests and question pages help you learn the Mississippi rules of the road in English. They are not real test questions. If you move to Mississippi to live, the Driver's Manual gives you 60 days to get a Mississippi license. The free question on moving to Mississippi covers this period.

A 2026 change for licenses from other states

From July 1, 2026, a license or permit that another state or jurisdiction issued to a person who could not prove lawful presence in the United States is invalid in Mississippi. A peace officer who stops a driver with such a license must cite the driver for driving without a license and refer the person to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If you move from another state with a valid license, the guide to exchanging an out-of-state license in Mississippi has the steps.

Key takeaways

A nonresident who is 18 or older may drive in Mississippi on a valid home-state or home-country license for 60 consecutive days.
Keep the license with you and follow all other Mississippi driving rules while you drive.
For a Mississippi license, bring immigration papers: an I-20 with your passport or I-94 for F-1, or a DS-2019 for J-1.
The immigration check can delay your card up to 30 days. The license is valid for your length of stay, up to 4 years, and you renew it in person.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Mississippi Class R practice test.

Mississippi foreign license questions

What happens when my 60 days on a foreign license end?

The nonresident rule in section 63-1-7 lasts 60 consecutive days. Mississippi law says that no person may drive on its highways without first getting an operator's license, unless section 63-1-7 exempts that person. To keep driving after the 60 days, get a Mississippi license at a driver license station before they end.

Can an international student drive in Mississippi on a home-country license?

The Driver Service Bureau college page says that out-of-state residents who attend college in Mississippi may drive on their home state's license. For a license from another country, the 2021 act text gives a nonresident who is 18 or older 60 consecutive days. Ask the Driver Service Bureau which rule fits your case before the 60 days end.

Do I need a Social Security number to get a Mississippi license?

Not always. The Driver's Manual says that a non-citizen must meet all license requirements except the Social Security card. The Driver Service Bureau asks for the card, or an official government letter with all 9 digits, only if applicable. Your immigration papers, such as an I-94 with an I-20 or a DS-2019, prove your legal status.

How much is a Mississippi driver's license for a non-citizen?

As of 2026, an original driver license for a non-U.S. citizen costs $24.00 (U.S. dollars), the same as a 4-year regular Class R license. The standard fee applies, no matter how long your license is valid. Pay in cash, by debit or by credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.

How long does a non-citizen license take to arrive?

If the federal SAVE program cannot confirm your immigration papers at once, the card can be delayed up to 30 days. SAVE has two further stages of verification, and each stage can ask you for more paperwork. After each stage, you get instructions verbally or by mail. Follow them fully and quickly to prevent more delay.