In Miami, non-resident foreigners can apply for a driver’s license valid for one year, a document that also has the option of renewing for the duration of the stay.
Florida is one of the states that allow foreigners and tourists to obtain a temporary driver’s license to be able to legally operate vehicles in its territory. Obviously, this rule also applies in the city of Miami, providing the possibility that interested parties can contact the Department of Road Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) to initiate an application process, as long as they have the necessary requirements.
How to get a license in Miami as a foreigner?
The steps to follow to apply for a driver’s license in Miami as a foreigner do not differ much from those carried out by U.S. citizens or undocumented immigrants, considering the fact that Florida also grants the privilege of driving to the latter. However, the modalities for submitting an application are usually different. For U.S. citizens, the process can be conducted by mail, online, or in person, while undocumented immigrants or aliens who wish to obtain driving privilege must apply in person at a local FLHSMV office carrying the following requirements:
1. Passport valid in the country of origin that, in addition, is valid.
2. Proof of nonimmigrant classification provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Form I-94).
3. Home country driver’s permit/license, even if it is expired.
4. Two documents that serve as proof of the postal address and residence in the state (bank statement, rental contract or receipt of some service).
In cases of students and academics, traffic laws also require that additional documents such as a Social Security Number (SSN) card, if you have one, and F1 or J-1 visa or status documents be presented.
With the documents collected, interested parties should only go to any of the 12 FLHSMV offices, arranged throughout Miami, to carry out the application in person. With the application process, the authorities are likely to require the applicant to submit a driving test or theoretical exams, as well as a road safety education course on drugs and alcohol which in these cases is mandatory. It is also likely that, as the case may be, the applicant will be exempted.
Once obtained, the resulting license will be valid for one year, and may be renewed several times if the period of permanence is longer.