Driving in Georgia
If you would like to have a State of Georgia Driver’s License, you must apply in person at the Department of Driver Services (DDS). All drivers from other nations (including Canada and U.S. Territories) must pass the State of Georgia’s written, road, and vision tests in order to be issued a Georgia license.
General Information
For general requirements and the most convenient location for written and driving exams, please visit the Department of Driver Services website. For specific information and requirements for non-US citizens, please visit the DDS webpage for non-U.S. citizens.
Note: You are not required to have a social security number (SSN) to obtain a GA state driver’s license or identification card. If you do not have a SSN and would like to get a license or identification card, you should obtain a Form SSA-L676 (Social Security Card Denial Notice) from the Social Security Administration. Bring your passport, visa, printout of your I-94 electronic record or I-94 card, I-20 and a completed Application for Social Security Card to the Social Security Administration and request a denial notice. The issuance of this form does not prevent you from being granting a SSN in the future. It simply states that you are currently not eligible for one.
Documents Needed to Apply for a Driver’s License
• Passport
• Visa
• DS-2019
• Printed I-94 record
• Social Security Card or a Form SSA-L676 (Denial Notice) from the Social Security Administration
• Two different document sources that proves your local residence (such as a signed lease agreement, utility bill, bank statement, school report, school transcript, etc.). These documents must have your name and your local address.
Timeline for Applying for a Driver’s License
1. Wait 10 days after you arrive in the United States. You may want to apply for a driver’s license or SSN right away, but be patient. The 10-day wait allows time for all the government databases to update with your arrival information.
2. Make sure your record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is up-to-date and in Active status. Contact your International Student Advisor to confirm this information.
3. Check your document and forms: passport, visa, I-94, DS-2019, SSN and DDS applications. Check all your forms to make sure your information is correct. This is data integrity which is very important because having different information on different forms may cause delays.
4. Wait two days after your international student advisor activates your record in SEVIS.
5. Collect all required documents for your appointment(s) and head to the Social Security Administration
