International Licensing Options
Short Term Visitors with Existing Licenses
If you're visiting for less than 90 days, you will be able to continue driving using your valid, unexpired driver's license. For visits lasting longer than 90 days, such as studying abroad or working for a few years, you might be able to continue using your foreign driver’s license as long as it’s written in English.
If that’s not the case, then it’s important that you get an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) while you’re still in your country of origin. This is valid for only one year and since it is not issued by the United States, it needs to be obtained before you arrive. This license will not replace your old license, but instead act as a companion license and language translation to your home license.
Long-Term Visitors with Existing Licenses
Some states have reciprocity agreements with other countries, meaning that if your license was issued in the following select countries you can simply exchange it for a Texas drivers license without having to take any tests.
Countries with Texas Reciprocity Agreements: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom.
Driving privilege reciprocity allows a person to use a valid, unexpired foreign license to operate a motor vehicle in Texas for up to one year or until a person becomes a Texas resident, whichever date is sooner. Once a person becomes a new Texas resident, they must apply for a Texas license within 90 days to continue to drive legally.
- Reciprocal privileges are limited to persons ages 18 to 75 for up to one year from the date of entry into the United States.
- Reciprocal privileges are limited to private vehicles.
- Every vehicle must have a registration certificate issued in accordance with the laws of the country of residence identifying the vehicle and owner and be displayed on the rear of the vehicle or on a plate attached to the rear.
- Every vehicle must have an oval sign or plaque displayed on the rear of the vehicle to indicate the country of origin.
- Every driver must have a valid driver permit, license, or international permit issued by an authorized authority and be translated into English.
If your country of origin does not have a reciprocity agreement with Texas, you’ll need to apply for a Texas drivers license. You will need to pay an application fee and pass a written, practical and vision test. If you have your former valid license, bring it with you because it is possible some of these tests may be waived.
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