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If you are not a U.S. citizen:
You may obtain an Oklahoma driver’s license if you are an Oklahoma resident, and meet certain immigration requirements;
You do not need to take the driving test to get a driver’s license, if you have a driver’s license in your home country and can show your driving record;
You may drive without an Oklahoma driver’s license, if you are not an Oklahoma resident and have a driver’s license of the jurisdiction where you live.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, and you live in Oklahoma, you may obtain an Oklahoma driver’s license if you can present:
A valid, unexpired immigrant or nonimmigrant visa status for admission into the U.S.;
A pending or approved application for asylum in the U.S.;
Admission into the United States in refugee status;
A pending or approved application for temporary protected status in the U.S.;
Approved deferred action status; or
A pending application for adjustment of status to legal permanent residence status or conditional resident status.
If you need help obtaining these documents, contact the Persaud Law Office.
Do You Need to Take the Driving Test?
If you have a driver’s license in your home country, you may obtain an Oklahoma driver’s license without taking the driving test. You must obtain your driving record of all jurisdictions in which you have been licensed in the past ten years. The driving records may not indicate any type of withdrawal of driving privileges, and must be in English. To find a certified translator who can translate your record into English, see the website of the American Translators’ Association.
Can I Drive in Oklahoma with a Foreign License?
If you are not a “resident” of Oklahoma, and you are over sixteen, you may drive with a valid license from the country or state where you reside. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has held that you are a “resident” of Oklahoma if:
You are physically present in Oklahoma, and
You intend to remain in Oklahoma permanently or for an indefinite period of time.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court also held that there are no bright-line rules for determining who is a “resident” of Oklahoma; instead, the state is to look at “all of [a person’s] movements, transactions, and attending circumstances.”
NOTE: The rules for determining whether a person is a “resident” of Oklahoma, are very different for determining whether a person is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
Driving is an important privilege. If you are eligible for a driver’s license, don’t be left without one. If the Department of Public Safety had told you that you can’t have a driver’s license, there may be ways to appeal. Call our office today if you need help.