Driving Tests

Foreign Driver's License in New Hampshire: Tests and Steps to Switch

informational·how to guide·Published May 6, 2026

Can I swap my foreign license for a New Hampshire license?

Not without tests. If you live in New Hampshire temporarily to study or work, or are the spouse or child of such a person, you apply for an original license. You pass a vision test, a knowledge test (up to 50 questions, 80% to pass) and a road test, in that order. The license lasts up to 5 years, or until your visa, school form or job ends.

Where these New Hampshire license facts come from

The facts come from the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) and the Saf-C 1000 driver license rules of the New Hampshire Department of Safety, as of 2026. The rules for non-U.S. citizens are in Saf-C 1000. The law on licenses for temporary residents is RSA 263:39-a, and the fees are in RSA 263:42. The road test waiver is in RSA 263:6, and the rule for visitors is in RSA 263:36. Confirm the rules with the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.nh.gov) before you drive.

Who can apply for a New Hampshire license

The law lets the director of the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issue a New Hampshire license to a non-U.S. citizen (the law says "nonresident alien") who lives in the state temporarily and is in one of three groups:
- a student at a public or private school, college or university in New Hampshire
- a person in the state for lawful work, occupation or business who is engaged in it
- the spouse or child of a person licensed under this law
The director may deny a license if it may be contrary to public safety. International students can also read about driving as an international student in New Hampshire.

How to switch a foreign license in New Hampshire, step by step

1
Confirm that you qualify
Make sure that you are in one of the three groups above. The rules for non-U.S. citizens apply in addition to the other license rules.
2
Collect your documents
Workers and students bring different papers, listed in the table below. Each applicant also completes form DSMV 450 and pays the fee set by RSA 263:42.
3
Go to the DMV in person
A non-U.S. citizen who is in New Hampshire for a short time and applies for an original or renewal license goes to the DMV office in Concord or to another DMV location that offers non-U.S. citizen license transactions.
4
Surrender your home license or sign a statement
If you surrender a home-country license, the director checks that it is genuine, was issued to you and is not under suspension or revocation. If you hold none, you state in writing that you never held a home-country license or that you held a license in the United States.
5
Receive the 45-day temporary permit
When the DMV has your completed form DSMV 450, the fee and the required documents, it issues you a 45-day temporary permit.
6
Pass the tests and get the license by mail
Complete the vision, knowledge and road tests in that order. When the director finds that any surrendered license is not suspended or revoked and that you have no pending actions, the DMV mails your New Hampshire license.

The three tests for a non-U.S. citizen

Under the rule for an original license, a non-U.S. citizen passes the visual acuity (vision) test, the knowledge test and the road skills test, in that order.
Knowledge test: up to 50 multiple choice questions on New Hampshire motor vehicle laws, with up to 60 minutes to finish. You pass with 80% correct answers, and a pass stays valid for one year. The questions must cover distracted driving, driving under the influence and driving in poor weather.
Other languages: an applicant who speaks or reads a language other than English takes an oral or written test of the same format.
Road test: you bring the test vehicle.

Documents for workers and students (Saf-C 1002.05)

Documents for workers and students (Saf-C 1002.05)
Document	If you work in New Hampshire	If you study in New Hampshire
Visa	Visa for employment in your name	Visa for attending a learning institution in your name
I-94 card	Valid I-94 card in your name with the date of entry into the United States	Valid I-94 card in your name with the date of entry into the United States
School form	Not on the worker list	Valid I-20 or DS-2019 form, completed by the school
Optional practical training	Not on the worker list	Valid optional practical training card, if you train after graduation
Social Security evidence	Social Security card, SSA evidence of an issued number or of no eligibility, or a W-2 with your number	The same evidence, if you are in New Hampshire for optional practical training
Residency	Proof of residency	Proof of residency

If your visa extension is pending or your stay changes

If you applied to extend your immigration status

You can get a 120-day extension of your license if you lived in New Hampshire without a break, applied before your current stay ended and show proof that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services accepted the application. Ask for it on form DSMV 450. You can apply for more 120-day extensions while that application is not denied.

If you no longer study, work or live as the family member of a license holder in New Hampshire

Return the license to the director at once. It becomes invalid when you no longer meet the conditions of the law.

Can a foreign license replace the road test?

State law lets the director make agreements with foreign jurisdictions to waive the road skills test for applicants who currently hold a license there.
A separate rule for a license from another jurisdiction lists only the vision and knowledge tests. It adds the road test when the director finds that the licensing standards there do not comply, or that the applicant might be a hazard because of an apparent physical or psychological impairment. The rule for non-U.S. citizens lists all three tests. Prepare for all three, and ask the DMV which rule, and which agreement, applies to your license.

How long a New Hampshire license for a non-U.S. citizen lasts

The rule says the license is valid for up to 5 years, or until the date your visa expires, the date your I-20 or DS-2019 form expires or the date your employment ends, whichever comes first. State law also caps the term at 5 years from the date of issue and lets the director set a shorter term based on how long you live in New Hampshire. While you hold the license, the same laws apply to you as to every other New Hampshire license holder.

What the license costs

Under RSA 263:42, in force since January 1, 2026, an original license with its examination costs $60 for a Real ID Act compliant license or $50 for each other license. The same section lists $10 per year or part of a year for a license issued to a nonresident alien for less than 5 years. See the guide to New Hampshire license costs for the other fees.

Key takeaways

A non-U.S. citizen who lives in New Hampshire temporarily to study or work, or that person's spouse or child, can apply.
The rule lists the vision test, the knowledge test and the road test, in that order. The knowledge test has up to 50 questions, and you pass at 80%.
Workers and students bring a visa and an I-94 card. Students add an I-20 or DS-2019 form, and workers add Social Security evidence. Both bring proof of residency.
The license lasts up to 5 years or until your visa, I-20, DS-2019 or employment ends, whichever comes first.
Next step: practice on the free New Hampshire non-commercial operator practice test.

Foreign driver's license in New Hampshire: common questions

Can I drive in New Hampshire on my foreign license?

Under RSA 263:36, a nonresident who holds a license from the state, district or country where he or she lives does not need a New Hampshire license to drive a pleasure vehicle in the state. If you live in New Hampshire for a short time to study or work, you can apply for a New Hampshire license under RSA 263:39-a. Ask the DMV which case fits you.

Will New Hampshire check my driving record from my home country?

It can. The law lets the director ask for a certificate from the foreign government about your driving record and license status. The director may also ask for proof that you drove in that country or finished an approved driver education course, for proof of identity, and for written or other testing.

Can my spouse and children get a New Hampshire license too?

Yes. The law covers the spouse or child of a person licensed under RSA 263:39-a. A work or student visa, the I-94 card and the I-20 or DS-2019 form can include a spouse or dependent. Each family member takes the three tests. A child under 18 also gives a certificate from an approved driver education program.

Can I renew my New Hampshire license at any DMV office?

No. A non-U.S. citizen who lives in New Hampshire for a short time and renews a license must go in person to the DMV office at 23 Hazen Drive in Concord, or to another DMV location that offers non-U.S. citizen license transactions. Each new term is again capped at 5 years, or shorter to match your stay.