Foreign Driver's License and International Students in North Dakota
Can I drive in North Dakota on my foreign driver's license?
Yes. Under North Dakota law, a nonresident who is 16 or older may drive on a valid home-country license that they carry. A nonresident student is not deemed a resident. A person who becomes a resident has 60 days to get a North Dakota license, which needs a vision screening, the knowledge test and, if you are over 18, a $5 road test.
Where the North Dakota foreign license facts come from
The rules come from the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) page Drivers from Other Nations, North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-06 and the North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual. The document, REAL ID, International Driving Permit (IDP), fee and appointment facts come from the NDDOT pages on driver license requirements, transferring a license, learner's permits, REAL ID, the IDP and driver license sites. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (dot.nd.gov) before you drive.
Do you need a North Dakota license yet?
When does a foreign driver become a North Dakota resident?
For driver licensing, you are a resident when you have lived in North Dakota for 90 consecutive days. This rule does not apply to a nonresident student, a tourist or a member of the armed forces. When you become a resident, a 60-day period starts, and you need a North Dakota license at its end. Try our free question on how long a new resident may use a license from another state.
Home license, IDP or North Dakota license
| Document | What it is | Use in North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Valid home-country license | Your own license, at least age 16 | You may drive on it as a nonresident |
| International Driving Permit (IDP) | A translation of your license, not a license | Carry it as a supplement to your home license, not instead of it |
| North Dakota Class D license | The state license for residents | Needed 60 days after residence starts |
How to get a North Dakota license with a foreign license
- 1Book an appointment
Apply in person at a North Dakota Driver License Site. An appointment is needed for all services. Book online at dot.nd.gov or call 1-855-633-6835.
- 2Bring original documents
You must be a North Dakota resident and prove your identity and lawful presence. Bring originals or certified copies, not photocopies. An out-of-state license or ID card does not count as proof of name and date of birth.
- 3Surrender your other licenses
You must surrender all licenses issued by other states or countries.
- 4Pass the vision screening and the knowledge test
Complete the application with your physical North Dakota address. Then pass the vision screening and the Noncommercial Driver License knowledge test.
- 5Take the road test if you are over 18
Schedule a road test appointment. NDDOT issues your North Dakota license after you pass. For what to bring, see our guide to the North Dakota road test.
- 6Under 18? Follow the permit rules
Follow the Class D instruction permit rules for your age group (NDDOT also calls it a learner's permit). A sponsor must sign for financial liability before you get a license. Try our free question on who may sign a minor's application.
Which language can you use for the North Dakota tests?
You can take the Class D knowledge test in English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, French, Nepali, Pashto, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish or Vietnamese. All road tests are conducted entirely in English. Our free practice tests are in English only.
Which documents does a foreign national bring?
- Identity for a standard license: a valid, unexpired foreign passport with an I-94.
- Identity for a REAL ID: a valid, unexpired foreign passport with an I-94 and a valid, unexpired U.S. visa. REAL ID is a choice. With it, you can use your license to fly in the U.S. and enter federal facilities.
- North Dakota address: one document for a standard license, two for a REAL ID. A school or college transcript issued within 6 months or a current lease or rental document can count. A P.O. box does not.
- No address documents? Call 855-633-6835 for guidance on alternatives.
- Social Security number, unless you are a nonimmigrant who is not eligible for one.
- See the full lists in our guide to North Dakota documents and REAL ID.
How long does a North Dakota license last on a visa?
Under state law, a person with a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant visa or nonimmigrant visa status gets a temporary license. It is valid only during your authorized stay in the United States, or for one year if your stay has no definite end. You may renew it only when you show valid documents that prove your status was extended.
North Dakota license fees in 2026
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Knowledge test (one attempt each day) | $5 per attempt |
| Road test | $5 |
| Operator's license application | $15 |
| Transfer of a Canadian driver license | $15 |
Key takeaways
- At 16 or older, a nonresident may drive in North Dakota on a valid home-country license that they carry. Under 16, you may not drive in North Dakota on a license from another state or country.
- A nonresident student is not deemed a resident. Other people become residents after 90 consecutive days and then have 60 days to get a North Dakota license.
- An IDP is a translation, not a license. A North Dakota license needs original documents, a vision screening, the knowledge test and, if you are over 18, a road test in English.
- A license for a person on a visa is temporary. It lasts for the authorized stay, or one year if the stay has no definite end.
- Next step: practice on the free North Dakota Class D practice test.
North Dakota foreign license: common questions
Can I use an International Driving Permit instead of a license?
No. An IDP is a translation of your home license, not a driver license. Carry it with your valid home license as a supplement. You also cannot get a U.S. IDP to replace your home license, because a U.S. IDP is issued only to people 18 or older who already hold a valid U.S. license.
I have no Social Security number. Can I still apply?
Yes, if you are a nonimmigrant who is not eligible for a Social Security number. State law also accepts an affidavit that says no number was assigned to you. A REAL ID is different: you must show a document with your name and full Social Security number. Without a number, plan for a standard license.
Can I swap my foreign license for a North Dakota license without tests?
Plan to take the tests. For drivers from other nations, NDDOT lists a vision screening, the knowledge test and, if you are over 18, a road test. State law lets NDDOT waive the written test for a person who passed one in another state. NDDOT lists a $15 fee to transfer a Canadian license. Ask at your appointment which tests apply to you.
Can I drive in North Dakota on an expired foreign license?
No. The rule for nonresidents covers only a valid license from your home country, and you must have it in your immediate possession when you drive. An IDP does not make an expired license usable, because an IDP is only a translation. To drive, you need a valid home license or a North Dakota license.
Can an international student get a North Dakota license?
Ask NDDOT before you book. The NDDOT steps for drivers from other nations say that you must be a North Dakota resident, and state law does not count a nonresident student as a resident. State law also gives a temporary license to a person with a valid nonimmigrant visa or status. Call 1-855-633-6835 and ask how your status counts.
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