FACT BRIEF
Can you get a regular Nevada driver’s license if you’re undocumented?
No.

Undocumented immigrants cannot receive regular Nevada driver’s licenses.
Obtaining a Nevada driver’s license requires a Social Security number, which is unavailable to people who entered the U.S. illegally.
Noncitizens can receive Nevada driver’s licenses if they apply for a Social Security number or if they possess U.S.-issued immigration documents, such as naturalization certificates. Social Security numbers are available to lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, or noncitizens with other authorized work visas.
Nevada’s undocumented residents can still drive legally by receiving a driver authorization card.
Those cards have lower proof of identity requirements, allowing applicants to submit passports, birth certificates or IDs issued by foreign governments. The driver authorization cards are not valid identification and cannot be used to board aircraft or enter facilities where ID is required.
Nevada is one of 19 states plus Washington, D.C., to offer driving privileges to undocumented residents.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
The Nevada Independent partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
- Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver License Proof of Identity and Residency.”
- Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver Authorization Cards.”
- Social Security Administration, “Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens.”
- National Conference of State Legislatures, “States Offering Driver’s Licenses to Immigrants,” last updated March 13, 2023.
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