Driving Tests

Foreign Driver License in Utah: Taiwan, Korea and Other Countries

informational·how to guide·Published July 19, 2026

Can I exchange my foreign driver license in Utah?

Yes. Utah accepts a valid foreign license as proof of a driving privilege, but you must be a Utah resident to get a Utah license. Utah has license reciprocity agreements with Taiwan and the Republic of Korea, and holders of those licenses must ask the DLD which tests apply. With a license from any other country, you take a 25-question open-book written knowledge test and may need a driving skills test.

Sources for the Utah foreign license rules

This guide uses the Utah Driver License Division (DLD) pages on foreign license reciprocity and the regular driver license, and the DLD pages on the limited-term license, documents for non-U.S. citizens, the written knowledge test, fees and document translators. It also uses the 2026 Utah Driver Handbook and Utah Code 53-3-102, 53-3-110, 53-3-202 and 53-3-204, as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Utah Driver License Division (dld.utah.gov) before you drive.

Which countries have a license agreement with Utah?

The DLD lists two places with license reciprocity agreements: Taiwan and the Republic of Korea. No other country is on the list. Utah Code 53-3-110, in force since May 3, 2023, lets the DLD make these agreements to make the exchange of a driver license easier. If you hold a Taiwan or Korea license, ask the DLD which tests apply to you before your appointment.

Which tests do you take with a foreign license?

You hold a valid license from Taiwan or the Republic of Korea

Ask the DLD which tests apply to you. Bring your current license to the appointment.

You hold a valid license from any other country

You take an eye test and a 25-question open-book written knowledge test. You may also be required to pass a driving skills test.

You were never licensed anywhere in the world

You start with a learner permit. You take the 50-question closed-book written test and the Traffic Safety and Trends Exam, which is only for people who were never licensed.

Do you need driver education or a learner permit?

No, if you are 16 or older and hold a license from another state or country. Utah Code 53-3-204 says that the driver education course, the six-month learner permit holding period and the practice driving rule for minors do not apply to you. The guide to the Utah written knowledge test explains the test itself.

How long can you drive in Utah on a foreign license?

Utah Code 53-3-202 lets a nonresident who is 16 or older drive in Utah with a valid license from the home state or country, in the classes on that license. Keep the license with you when you drive. The 2026 Utah Driver Handbook says visitors with a valid out-of-country license may drive in Utah for up to six months. When you become a Utah resident, you need a Utah license, learner permit or temporary license to drive. The question on a visitor with an out-of-state license tests the visitor rule.

When you become a Utah resident

You enter Utah to make it your home.
You stay in Utah for six months or more in a calendar year.
You get a Utah driver license or register a vehicle in Utah.
You use a privilege that nonresidents do not get, such as resident school tuition.
You have a job in Utah that is not a temporary assignment.
You are not a resident if your college or university classifies you as an out-of-state student, or if an employer or organization assigns you to Utah for a temporary time from another country. The guide on international students driving in Utah covers students.

Regular license or limited-term license

Regular license or limited-term license
Item	Regular license	Limited-term license
Who gets it	U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and permanent resident aliens	Non-citizens with lawful presence that meets REAL ID requirements
Documents	Proof of identity, Social Security number and Utah address	5 documents from 4 groups: identity, lawful presence, Social Security number and Utah address (two proofs dated within 90 days)
Original fee	$52 at 21 and over; $39 at 20 and under	$32 at 21 and over; the DLD lists $39 at 20 and under
Expires	On your birthday 8 years after issue at 21 and over; 5 years under 21	When your lawful presence ends or in 5 years, whichever is sooner; 1 year if your documents show no end date

How to apply for a Utah license with a foreign license

1
Check that you are a resident
Utah law lets the DLD license only Utah residents. Use the resident list above.
2
Get your documents translated
A certified translator must translate each foreign document into English, word for word. The DLD does not accept extract translations. The DLD keeps an approved document translator list. Translator fees vary, and the DLD takes no responsibility for them.
3
Book an appointment
Go to dld.utah.gov and schedule an appointment at a Driver License office.
4
Bring your papers
Bring your current out-of-country license and the documents in the table above. Bring each foreign document together with its translation.
5
Take the tests and pay the fee
Take the eye test and pay the non-refundable fee. Then take the written knowledge test and, if the DLD requires it, the driving skills test. You can test twice in one day. After three failures, you pay a second fee.
6
Get your temporary license
After you pass all required tests, you get a temporary license the same day, or a temporary document for a limited-term license. The license card comes by mail.

Key takeaways

Utah has license reciprocity agreements with Taiwan and the Republic of Korea. Holders must ask the DLD which tests apply.
With a valid license from any other country, plan for an eye test, a 25-question open-book written test and a possible driving skills test.
Foreign documents need a certified, word-for-word English translation. Bring the original and the translation.
Utah law has no driver education course or permit holding period for a person 16 or older who was licensed in another country.
Next step: practice for the open-book test on the free Utah Class D practice test.

Foreign driver license in Utah: common questions

Do I have to give up my foreign license when I get a Utah license?

Bring your foreign license to the appointment, because the DLD accepts a valid license from another country as proof of your driving privilege. The DLD rule that you surrender your old license when you apply names a U.S. state license. Ask the examiner at your appointment what happens to your foreign license.

How long does it take to get a Utah license with a foreign license?

After you pass all required tests, you get a temporary license the same day, or a temporary document for a limited-term license. The license card comes by mail in about 4 to 6 weeks. For a limited-term license, the SAVE check of your document status may take up to 14 days or longer.

How much does a Utah license cost with a foreign license?

An original regular license costs $52 at 21 and over and $39 at 20 and under. An original limited-term license costs $32 at 21 and over, and the DLD lists $39 at 20 and under. The DLD fee is non-refundable. A certified translator charges a separate fee, and the fees vary.

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

The DLD asks for proof of your Social Security number. On the DLD list for non-citizens, a W-2, an SSA-1099, a non-SSA-1099 form or a pay stub with your name and full number is accepted when you do not have the card. If your lawful presence status makes you ineligible for a number, bring a letter from the Social Security Administration that says so.

Can I take the Utah written test in Korean or Chinese?

Yes. For a regular or limited-term license, you may take the written knowledge test in Korean or Mandarin Chinese, each with audio and text. If your language is not on the DLD list, you can use a division-approved interpreter. Our free practice tests are in English only, so use them to learn the Utah rules in English.