How to get a driver's license in Oregon as an immigrant

Quick answers

Drive on a foreign license?

Visitors may legally drive in Oregon with a valid driver's license from another country.

Deadline after moving

30 days after becoming an Oregon resident

License exchange without tests

5 countries

License without immigration status

Yes

No SSN?

Provide your SSN or electronically certify that you do not have one; an SSN is not needed for a standard license.

Driving on a foreign license

Visitors may legally drive in Oregon with a valid driver's license from another country. Deadline after moving: 30 days after becoming an Oregon resident.

Exchanging a foreign license

• Canada
• Germany
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan

Surrender the license; it cannot be expired more than 1 year. Knowledge and drive tests are skipped; vision screening still applies. Motorcycle endorsements transfer only from Canada or Japan.

If your country is not on the list

A license from any other country does not waive testing: take the knowledge test and the drive test (drive test waived if you passed an ODOT-approved driver education course in the past 2 years).

Most people can transfer their license without testing if it was issued by: ... Canada, Japan, South Korea, Germany and Taiwan. www.oregon.gov

Documents for non-citizens

Examples of accepted immigration documents:

• Permanent Resident Card (for REAL ID/CDL)
• Foreign passport with English or English translation (identity, non-REAL ID)
• Consulate ID card from listed countries (identity, non-REAL ID)

License validity: Only REAL ID limited-term licenses expire with your authorized stay (or in 1 year if stay is indefinite); standard licenses are 8-year.

License regardless of immigration status

Since January 1, 2021 (Driver License for All, HB 2015) Oregon issues standard (non-REAL ID) licenses without proof of legal presence or citizenship. These cannot be used for federal identification (e.g., boarding planes, federal buildings). Lawful status is required only for REAL ID and CDL/CLP.

people in Oregon are no longer required to provide proof of legal presence or citizenship oregon.gov

Social Security number

Provide your SSN or electronically certify that you do not have one; an SSN is not needed for a standard license.

Provide your Social Security Number (SSN) or electronically certify that you do not have a SSN. www.oregon.gov

Proof of residency

Non-REAL ID: one document with your name and current Oregon residential address (e.g., utility statement, lease, pay stub within 12 months, insurance document). REAL ID: two from different sources.

For a non-REAL ID, bring one document that shows your name and current Oregon residential address. www.oregon.gov

Step by step

1. Decide between a standard license (no legal presence proof needed) and a REAL ID (requires lawful status documents).
2. Gather proof of identity (a foreign passport or listed consular ID is accepted for non-REAL ID) and one Oregon residential address document.
3. At a DMV office, provide your SSN or electronically certify that you do not have one.
4. If you hold a license from Canada, Germany, Japan, South Korea or Taiwan, surrender it to skip the knowledge and drive tests.
5. Otherwise pass the vision screening and the 35-question knowledge test ($7 per attempt); an instruction permit is available ($30).
6. Schedule and pass the drive test by appointment ($45), unless you completed an ODOT-approved driver education course in the past 2 years.
7. Pay the original issuance fee ($64 for an 8-year standard license).

Fees

8-year original license $64.00 (REAL ID $94.00; REAL ID limited-term $55.00); knowledge test $7.00; drive test $45.00; instruction permit $30.00.

Eight-year original license issuance $64.00 www.oregon.gov

Prepare for the knowledge test Exam languages in Oregon

Checked against official sources on October 27, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the DMV before your visit. This is not legal advice.