Driving in New Jersey With a Foreign License (Students and Visitors)
Can you drive in New Jersey on a foreign license, and for how long?
Yes. Visitors to the U.S. may drive in New Jersey for up to 1 year on a foreign license with an International Driving Permit (IDP), says the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). For a New Jersey license, you pass a 50-question knowledge test and a vision screening, and may need a road test. Qualifying license holders from Taiwan and South Korea skip the knowledge and road tests.
Where the New Jersey foreign license rules come from
The rules come from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) page on moving to New Jersey, the New Jersey Driver Manual (2026) and the MVC first-time driver FAQ. Test language, ID, REAL ID and translation details come from other MVC pages and from MVC news releases of 2021 and 2026. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (nj.gov/mvc) before you drive.
Do you need an International Driving Permit in New Jersey?
The MVC ties the 1-year visitor rule to an IDP issued in your country of residence. The Driver Manual is a little wider: it says visitors should carry an IDP or attach an acceptable English translation to their national license. The safe plan is to carry your license and an IDP together.
An IDP never replaces your license. You must carry a valid driver license, and the IDP goes with it as an extra proof of identity that helps across a language barrier.
Visitor, new resident or reciprocity: which rule fits you?
Which countries have reciprocity with New Jersey?
Two: Taiwan and South Korea. The agreements apply only to applicants 18 or older, and only for a non-commercial (Class D) license. The MVC says the applicant must show a valid foreign license with translation, proof of identity, proof of New Jersey residency, proof of Social Security number and proof of lawful presence in the U.S. (12-month minimum). If all criteria are met, you do not take the knowledge and road tests.
Taiwan applicants also need a valid Verification of Certificate of Driver's License from Taiwan. South Korea applicants also need a Certificate of Driver's License, an English document from Korea that shows the license is in good standing.
Reciprocity or not: what changes?
| Your license is from | Tests you take |
|---|---|
| Taiwan or South Korea (18 or older, Class D, all criteria met) | No knowledge test and no road test |
| Any other country | Knowledge test and vision screening; a road test may be required |
Can an international student get a New Jersey license?
Yes, if you meet the MVC requirements. A person who is not a U.S. citizen and has recently moved to New Jersey can transfer an out-of-country license for a standard New Jersey license with the required documents.
The standard (basic) license is available to all eligible New Jerseyans regardless of immigration status. This has been the rule since May 1, 2021, with no special process or special license for these applicants.
What to bring for a standard license
- Proof of identity: the 6 Points of ID. A foreign passport from your country of citizenship is a primary document. A foreign photo driver license counts only when you show it with another government-issued document. See the guide to 6 Points of ID in New Jersey.
- One proof of New Jersey address.
- A Social Security number, an ITIN, or a signed affidavit if you have neither.
- A certified translation for each document that is not in English.
Which tests do you take with a foreign license?
All out-of-country applicants must pass the knowledge test and a vision screening, and may be required to pass a road test. Test results are valid for two years.
The knowledge test has 50 questions, and the knowledge test passing score is 40 correct answers (80 percent). For a basic license you need 20/50 vision with or without corrective lenses, as our free question on the basic license vision standard shows. If you fail the knowledge test, you can retest in 7 days.
Before you book a road test, ask the MVC which practice rules apply to your license. The New Jersey road test guide lists what to expect.
Can you take the New Jersey knowledge test in your language?
The MVC lists written knowledge tests in English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Hindi, Albanian and Turkish, and oral tests in English and Spanish. The manual also lists American Sign Language (ASL).
For an interpreter, the MVC page says to ask at your permit appointment; the MVC arranges one and pays the fees, typically within four to six weeks. The manual says you must first try the test in an offered language, and tell the MVC at least two weeks ahead. Since February 2026, all MVC agencies have handheld Pocketalk translation devices for conversations in over 80 languages.
Key takeaways
- A visitor may drive in New Jersey for up to 1 year on a foreign license with an IDP from the country of residence.
- Carry your license and your IDP. The IDP never replaces the license, and the manual also accepts an English translation for visitors.
- Only Taiwan and South Korea have reciprocity (18 or older, Class D). All other applicants take the knowledge test and a vision screening, and may need a road test.
- The standard license is open to all eligible residents regardless of immigration status. Bring 6 Points of ID, proof of address and an SSN, an ITIN or an affidavit.
- Next step: practice the traffic rules on the free New Jersey basic auto learner permit practice test. It is in English only.
Foreign license in New Jersey: common questions
Can I get an International Driving Permit after I arrive in New Jersey?
No. Non-citizens must get the IDP in their native country before they travel to the United States. The IDP is in the official languages of the United Nations, including English, so it helps in a traffic emergency. If you arrived without one, ask the MVC before you drive.
Do I need a Social Security number to get a New Jersey license?
Not for a standard license. You can use a Social Security number or an ITIN. If you have neither, you can give a signed affidavit. The form is on the initial license page of the MVC website, and it must be notarized or signed in front of an MVC agency employee. An ITIN is free from the IRS and can take around 7 weeks. Reciprocity applicants need proof of a Social Security number.
Do I need a REAL ID to drive in New Jersey?
No. A standard New Jersey license is valid for driving. A non-citizen can transfer a foreign license for a standard license or a REAL ID. A REAL ID needs two proofs of New Jersey address, proof of a full Social Security number, the 6 Points of ID and documents that show your presence in the U.S. is authorized under federal law.
Can I bring my own interpreter to the MVC?
At a Licensing Center, yes. You can also ask for Language Link, the MVC phone interpreting service, when you arrive. For the knowledge test, the interpreter must be state-approved, so ask the MVC to arrange one. At the road test, no one may ride in the car with you except the MVC examiner.
Who can make a certified translation of my documents?
A government entity, such as the consulate or ministry that issued the document, can make one. So can a qualified translator who signs it with a seal, for example one certified by the American Translators Association. A competent translator over age 18 can also make one, with a signed certification that the translation is complete and accurate.
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