Office of International Student and Scholar Services

Getting a KY Driver's License

All non U.S. citizens may drive in the U.S. on their valid foreign license and International Permit for up to one year from the date of admission into the U.S. provided their home country is part of the Geneva Compact. Drivers from non Geneva Compact countries must obtain a Kentucky license within 30 days of establishing residency in Kentucky.

All non U.S. citizens applying for a first time Kentucky license, with the exception of permanent residents, are required to take the written, vision and road tests. This includes transfer driver's holding a valid license from another state or country. Driver's holding a valid out of state license, or a valid license from a Geneva Compact country, will not be required to hold a permit. Non U.S. citizens already licensed in Kentucky are not required to retest but they must be approved by Division of Driver Licensing.

​Available Testing Languages for Written Permit Test

Albanian	Korean
Arabic	Laotian
Bosnian	Persian
Cambodian	Polish
Chinese	Romanian
Croatian	Russian
English	Somali
French	Spanish
German	Thai
Indian (Hindi)	Turkish
Japanese	Vietnamese

You will need the following documents to apply for your Driver's License:

• Non-US Citizen application (this form is at ISSS)
• DHS School Compliance Form (this form is at ISSS)
• I-20 or DS-2019
• Passport, Visa, I-94 Card
• Social Security Card OR Denial Letter
• Official proof of your local address (this would be a postmarked envelope with current address such as utility, phone, or school bill). The postmark date must be within the past 60 days.
• If applicable, your foreign driver's license with translation form notarized in ISSS Office. (You must bring someone with you that can translate your language and complete the translation at ISSS.)

When you visit ISSS to obtain the forms indicated above, we will provide you with further instructions and information.