Before you start

A valid visa or other admission category
An electronic I-94 record retrieved from the CBP website
DHS work authorisation for a Social Security number
Two proofs of a Duval County residential address for the licence

Step-by-step

1
Download your I-94 in the first few days
It records your admission class and 'admit until' date, and it is what employers, the tax collector's office and the Social Security Administration will ask to see. Retrieved electronically from the CBP site — nothing is stamped in your passport any more.
OnlineWho: YouWeek 1
2
Wait about ten days, then apply for a Social Security number
SSA verifies your status against DHS records that lag entry by one to two weeks, so going immediately usually wastes the trip. File Form SS-5 in person with passport, visa and I-94. There is no fee.
In personWho: YouFrom ~day 10Free
3
If you cannot get an SSN, file IRS Form W-7 for an ITIN
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number lets you file a US tax return and is accepted by many banks and landlords. It confers no right to work.
OnlineWho: You
4
Book a driver licence appointment with the Duval County Tax Collector
In Florida, driver licence services are delivered by county tax collectors rather than by a state DMV counter, and Duval's offices run largely on appointments. Book in week one — you have 30 days from establishing residency.
OnlineWho: YouWeek 1
5
Bring proof of lawful presence and two proofs of address
FLHSMV's 'What to Bring' tool lists the exact combination for your immigration category. Non-immigrants must show unexpired documentation; the licence is then issued only for the period of authorised stay.
In personWho: You
6
Ask for a REAL ID-compliant credential
REAL ID enforcement began on 7 May 2025 and hardened on 1 February 2026: a non-compliant licence is no longer accepted on its own at the checkpoint, and TSA routes those travellers into an additional screening process for a fee, which is neither guaranteed to clear you nor a substitute for the card. Treat a compliant licence or your passport as the only dependable way to board. Florida has issued REAL ID-compliant licences by default for years — the gold star in the corner is the marker. Your passport also works.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport with valid visa
I-94 admission record from the CBP website
Form SS-5 for a Social Security number, or IRS Form W-7 for an ITIN
Employment authorisation document, where your category requires one
Two documents proving a Florida residential address

Things most newcomers don’t know

Florida runs driver licensing through county tax collectors, not a state DMV.

There is no 'Florida DMV office' to walk into. Duval County's Tax Collector delivers licence and ID services on behalf of FLHSMV, alongside property tax and vehicle registration. Newcomers searching for a DMV find state web pages that then hand them off to a county office with its own appointment system — budget an extra step for it.

Source: FLHSMV — driver licences and ID cards

The 10-day vehicle clock is shorter than the 30-day licence clock.

Florida gives you 30 days to convert the licence but only 10 days to title and register a vehicle after establishing residency, and registration requires Florida insurance bought from a Florida-licensed agent first. Anyone who buys a car in their first fortnight without lining up insurance is already late.

Source: FLHSMV — new resident guide

Your Florida licence expires when your status does.

Non-immigrants get a licence valid only for the period of authorised stay rather than the standard multi-year term. An extension of status does not automatically extend the licence, and driving on an expired one is a separate offence from being out of status.

Source: FLHSMV — driver licences and ID cards

The visa sticker's expiry is not your permission to stay.

A visa authorises travel to a port of entry; the officer there decides how long you may remain and records it on the I-94. People plan around the visa date and overstay without realising.

Source: US Customs and Border Protection — I-94 record

Common mistakes to avoid

Looking for a state DMV office instead of the Duval County Tax Collector.
Buying a car before arranging Florida-issued insurance, and missing the 10-day registration deadline.
Visiting a Social Security office before DHS records have synced.
Assuming a Florida licence runs for the standard term when your status is temporary.
Turning up without two acceptable proofs of a Florida address.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

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