What You Need to Know About Foreign Driver's License (For Law Enforcement)

What you need to know about foreign driver’s licenses

During a routine trafc stop, have you ever come across a foreign driver’s license? What

should you look for? What does the law say about who may legally drive on a foreign

driver’s license?

The following instructional tips have been prepared by the Michigan Secretary of State’s

Ofce to assist you at trafc stops and reduce the chances for misunderstandings.

Michigan’s foreign driver’s license law was amended in 2016

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©Aleksandr Strela/123RF.com

Before March 2016, only drivers from recognized treaty

countries could legally drive in Michigan on a foreign

driver’s license. The licenses had to be printed in English,

or accompanied with a written English translation.

In 2016, the law was changed to allow drivers from

non-treaty countries to drive legally in Michigan if

they meet the following conditions:

• The driver’s license is in English, or a written

English translation is provided with it, and

• The driver provides proof of legal presence in the U.S.

It is important to remember that the 2016 law change

doesn’t affect drivers from treaty countries. They

may continue to drive legally in Michigan without

needing to provide proof of legal presence.

Is it a treaty or non-treaty country?

The treaty and non-treaty countries are listed on

the back of this tip sheet for your information.

A reference card of these countries is also

available for you to keep in your squad car.

Answers to your questions

What documents are needed to show legal presence?

• A valid, unexpired foreign passport with U.S. visa,

along with evidence of entry (I-94 stamp or printout)

• A valid, employment authorization document (I-766)

• Other immigration documents that demonstrate

legal presence or ability to work in the U.S., including

a Form I-94, State Department bio-data form and

supervision documents (other documents may be

acceptable)

What is a foreign International Driving Permit?

The International Driving Permit (sometimes called an

International Driver’s License) is the written English

translation of a foreign driver’s license. It can’t be used as

a driver’s license.

Who issues foreign International Driving Permits?

The United States doesn’t issue International Driving

Permits to foreign visitors. To get an IDP, the driver

should contact the motor vehicle department of the

country that issued the license.

How long can someone use a foreign driver’s

license in Michigan?

Foreign drivers who are visiting don’t need a Michigan

driver’s license. Only those who intend to become a

Michigan resident and live in the state permanently

should apply for one.

Have more questions?

Call the Secretary of State’s Information Center at 888-767-6424 or email SOSW[email protected] for help.

TREATY COUNTRIES NON-TREATY COUNTRIES

(Doesn’t need to show proof of legal presence) (Must show proof of legal presence)

• Albania

• Macao

• Afghanistan

• Algeria

• Madagascar

• Andorra

• Argentina

• Malawi

• Angola

• Australia

• Malaysia

• Antigua and Barbuda

• Austria

• Mali

• Armenia

• Bahamas

• Malta

• Aruba

• Bangladesh

• Maruitius

• Azerbaijan

• Barbados

• Mexico

• Bahrain

• Belgium

• Monaco

• Belarus

• Belize

• Montenegro

• Bhutan

• Benin

• Morocco

• Bolivia

• Botswana

• Namibia

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Brazil

• Nicaragua

• Brunei

• Bulgaria

• Netherlands

• Burma

• Burkina Faso

• New Zealand

• Burundi

• Cambodia

• Niger

• Cameroon

• Canada

• Nigeria

• Cape Verde

• Central African Rep.

• Norway

• Chad

• Chile

• Panama

• China

• China (Taiwan)

• Papua New Guinea

• Comoros

• Columbia

• Paraguay

• Croatia

• Congo

• Peru

• Curacao

• Congo Democratic Rep.

• Philippines

•Democratic Republic

• Costa Rica

• Poland

of Timor-Leste

• Cote d’Ivoire

• Portugal

• Djibouti

• Cuba

• Romania

• Dominica

• Cyprus

• Russian Federation

• Equatorial Guinea

• Czech Rep.

• Rwanda

• Eritrea

• Denmark

• St. Lucia

• Estonia

• Dominican Republic

• St. Vincent & the

• Ethiopia

• Ecuador

Grenadines

• Gabon

• Egypt

• San Marino

• Guinea

• El Salvador

• Senegal

• Guinea-Bissau

• Fiji

• Serbia

• Holy See

• Finland

• Seychelles

• Indonesia

• France

• Sierra Leone

• Iran

• Gambia

• Singapore

• Iraq

• Georgia

• Slovak Rep.

• Kazakhstan

• Germany

• Slovenia

• Kenya

• Ghana

• South Africa

• Greece

• Spain

• Grenada

• Sri Lanka

• Guatemala

• Suriname

• Guyana

• Swaziland

• Haiti

• Sweden

• Honduras

• Syrian Arab Rep

• Hong Kong

• Tanzania

• Hungary

• Thailand

• Iceland

• Togo

• India

• Trinidad & Tobago

• Ireland

• Tunisia

• Israel

• Turkey

• Italy

• Uganda

• Jamaica

• United Arab Emirates

• Japan

• United Kingdom

• Jordan

• Uruguay

• Korea

• Vatican City

• Kyrgyz Rep.

• Venezuela

• Laos

• Vietnam Rep.

• Lebanon

• Western Samoa

• Lesotho

• Zambia

• Lithuania

• Zimbabwe

• Luxembourg

• Kiribati

• Kosovo

• Kuwait

• Latvia

• Liberia

• Libya

• Liechtenstein

• Macedonia

• Maldives

• Marshall Islands

• Mauritania

• Micronesia Moldova

• Mongolia

• Mozambique

• Nauru

• Nepal

• Oman Pakistan

• Palau

• Palestinian

Territories

• Qatar

• Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Samoa

• Sao Tome Principe

• Saudi Arabia

• Sint Maarten

• Solomon Islands

• Somalia

• South Sudan

• Sudan

• Switzerland

• Tajikistan

• Tonga

• Turkmenistan

• Tuvalu

• Ukraine

• Uzbekistan

• Vanuatu

• Yemen

Department of State Information Center – 888-767-6424