Driving Tests

Tennessee Driver's License for Non-U.S. Citizens and Students

informational·how to guide·Published April 27, 2026

Can you get a Tennessee driver's license if you are not a U.S. citizen?

Yes. If you live in Tennessee and have temporary legal presence and an authorized stay, you can get a Temporary Driver License (TDL). A Class XD TDL costs $28.00 and expires on the dates of your legal presence documents. Bring your passport with a valid visa and I-94 and pass the vision, knowledge and road tests. Students also bring an I-20 or DS-2019.

Where these Tennessee license rules come from

The rules come from the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (current as of July 1, 2022) and the TDOSHS new residents page. Fees come from the TDOSHS driver license fees page. The 2026 change for lawful permanent residents comes from the General Assembly page for Public Chapter 1 (2025), which gives a summary of the bill. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (tn.gov/safety) before you drive.

Who needs a Tennessee license or TDL?

If you live in Tennessee and want to drive, you must have a valid Tennessee driver license or a Temporary Driver License. The Tennessee Driver Manual says a person who moves to Tennessee with a valid license from another state or country must apply after 30 days in Tennessee, or once the person works in Tennessee. Some managers and technical workers get six months (see below). The guide to the Tennessee new resident driver's license covers the steps for people who move from another state.

Which Tennessee rule fits your situation?

You live in Tennessee on a visa or other temporary legal presence

You cannot get a regular license. You may get a TDL if you show proof of temporary legal presence and an authorized stay.

You are an international student (F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1 or J-2)

You apply for a TDL like other visa holders and add your school form. See the student section below.

You are a lawful permanent resident who renews or reinstates on or after January 1, 2026

You get a temporary license unless you show proof of U.S. citizenship. See the 2026 section below.

You are a non-resident visitor with a valid license from your home state or country

You do not need a Tennessee regular license if your license is equivalent to the Tennessee class and you have it with you.

You are not a U.S. citizen and work in a managerial or technical job in Tennessee

You may drive with a valid license from another state, country or international body for six months. Then you apply for a Tennessee license.

You hold a license class that another state issues only to people without lawful presence

Public Chapter 288 (2025) makes that license invalid in Tennessee, and driving with it is a Class B misdemeanor. As of 2026, the TDOSHS list of these license classes names Connecticut and Delaware.

What changed in 2026 for lawful permanent residents?

Public Chapter 1 (2025) changes the law. Only a U.S. citizen may hold a standard license, instruction permit, intermediate license or photo ID license. A lawful permanent resident who renews or reinstates on or after January 1, 2026 must show proof of U.S. citizenship to keep the license. If the person does not, the department issues a temporary driver license, temporary permit or temporary photo ID license. The temporary card has a visually distinctive class marker on its face. It is not accepted as ID where a right is only for U.S. citizens, for example voting.

Documents to bring for a Tennessee TDL

A valid foreign passport with a valid visa and an I-94 attached. The passport must have an English translation.
Or a valid foreign passport with an I-94W attached, or a Conditional Resident Alien Card (I-551).
Students: also a valid SEVIS I-20 (F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2) or a valid DS-2019 (J-1, J-2).
One proof of your Social Security number. If you never had a number, a sworn affidavit that you sign in front of a driver license examiner or a notary.
Two proofs of Tennessee residency. The Tennessee license documents guide lists the accepted proofs.
Originals or certified copies only. TDOSHS does not accept photocopies.

Steps to get a Tennessee Temporary Driver License

1
Gather your original documents
Use the list above: legal presence, your school form if you are a student, Social Security proof and two proofs of residency.
2
Go to a full-service Driver Services Center
All new residents take the vision screening at a full-service center.
3
Pass the knowledge test
The computer test is multiple choice. It covers traffic signs and signals, safe driving, rules of the road, and drugs and alcohol, about 25 percent each.
4
Pass the road test
Bring your own vehicle. You must speak and understand enough English to talk with the examiner during the test.
5
Pay the fee
See the table below for the amount. TDOSHS accepts cash, check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover.

How can you practice for the Tennessee knowledge test?

Our practice questions are free and in English only. They are practice questions, not real test questions. The question on the 30-day deadline after moving to Tennessee tests the new-resident rule. The question on the wait after a failed knowledge test helps you plan a retake.

Tennessee TDL at a glance

Tennessee TDL at a glance
Item	What Tennessee says
Who gets it	Residents who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents but have temporary legal presence and an authorized stay
Expiry	The dates of your legal presence documents
Class letter	An X before the class letter, for example XD, XM or XPD
Fee, Class XD	$28.00 for the duration of your stay
Fee, XPD learner permit under 18	$33.00 for the duration of your stay

What should international students in Tennessee know?

A student enrolled in a Tennessee school can use a photo student ID and a document from the Dean or Bursar's Office that shows on-campus housing as proof of residency. Two rules can apply to you. If you live in Tennessee, the manual's 30-day rule applies. If you are a non-resident with a valid home license of the right class, you need no Tennessee regular license. Ask a Driver Services Center which rule fits your stay, and bring your I-20 or DS-2019 when you apply for a TDL.

Can you drive in Tennessee on a foreign license or an IDP?

The Tennessee Driver Manual says foreign visitors are not required to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). An IDP is an official translation of your home license into the official languages of the United Nations, including English. You use it together with that license. An IDP alone does not make you valid to drive in Tennessee. Once you live in Tennessee, you need a Tennessee license or TDL, and the knowledge and road tests apply to you.

Key takeaways

A Tennessee resident with temporary legal presence and an authorized stay can get a Temporary Driver License (TDL). Class XD costs $28.00.
The TDL expires on the dates of your legal presence documents. Bring originals; photocopies are not accepted.
New residents from other countries take the vision, knowledge and road tests. You need enough English for the road test.
Foreign visitors do not need an IDP, and an IDP does not replace a valid license.
Lawful permanent residents who renew or reinstate on or after January 1, 2026 show proof of U.S. citizenship or get a temporary license.
Next step: practice the traffic laws and signs on the free Tennessee Class D practice test.

Tennessee license for non-citizens: common questions

Can I keep my home country license after I get a Tennessee TDL?

Yes. TDOSHS says new residents from other countries may keep the license that their country issued. Tennessee law does not let a resident hold more than one valid license or ID, but a foreign country license or ID is the exception. A license from another U.S. state does not get this exception.

Can I get an International Driving Permit at a Tennessee Driver Services Center?

No. Tennessee Driver Services Centers do not issue International Driving Permits, and no agency in the United States can issue one to a foreign visitor. The Tennessee Driver Manual says you must get an IDP in your home country. If you already live in Tennessee, apply for a TDL instead.

Can an interpreter help me during my Tennessee driving tests?

No. The Tennessee Driver Manual says interpreters are not allowed to help with any driver license test. For the road test, you must speak and understand enough English to talk with the examiner. For the knowledge test, you may use a translation dictionary with no notes or handwriting in it. Electronic dictionaries are not allowed.

Can I get a standard Tennessee license after I become a U.S. citizen?

Yes. Under Public Chapter 1 (2025), a person who becomes a U.S. citizen may show proof of citizenship at any time to get a standard license. TDOSHS accepts original proofs such as a Certificate of Naturalization (N550, N570 or N578) or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport. Photocopies are not accepted.

Do I have to carry my TDL when I drive in Tennessee?

Yes. The Tennessee Driver Manual says you must have your driver license or TDL with you while you drive and show it to a law enforcement officer on request. Driving without it in your possession is a Class D misdemeanor, with a fine of $2.00 to $50.00.