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In order for Georgia’s Department of Driver Services (DDS) to issue you a driver license, you must be a legal resident of Georgia. If you’re a foriegn national with residency in another nation, then you will need to keep your passport on you at all times when driving.

Can You Drive in Georgia with a Foreign License?

Georgia allows you to drive on public roadways in the state with a foriegn license only if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You are not a US citizen or Georgia resident.
• You are driving only for tourism or business purposes.
• You have your passport or visa with you while driving.

If a police officer pulls you over for any reason in the state of Georgia, they have the privilege to require you to show them your driver license. If your driver license was issued by a foreign country, the officer will quite likely request to see your passport or visa as well in order to verify that the license is valid.

In all 50 states, it is illegal to drive on public roadways with an invalid license.

Do You Need to Get a License in Georgia If You Become a Resident?

If you become a Georgia resident, even if you remain a foreign citizen, then you will have only 30 days to use your old license before you need to get a Georgia license. This grace period should enable you to schedule an appointment with the DDS to transfer your foreign license in exchange for a Georgia driver license, if you meet the requirements for reciprocity.

Georgia residents are required to use Georgia driver licenses when driving in the state.

What Is Considered a Resident?

To be considered a resident of the state of Georgia, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You have accepted formal employment or exchange in professional trade in Georgia.
• You have enrolled your children in school within ten days after the commencement of the above employment.
• You have been present in the state for 30 or more consecutive days.

Non-Citizens One-Time Card Extension

After becoming a resident of Georgia, your driver license will be subject to an expiration date. Once that license expires, you will no longer be able to legally drive in the state until you renew it. However, for non-citizens, the DDS will sometimes offer what is known as a one-time card extension. This extension gives you 120 more days to drive using your expired license if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You currently hold a Georgia driver license, driving permit, or non-driver ID card.
• Your Georgia driver license, driving permit, or non-driver ID card must have expired less than 30 days ago (or must be expiring less than 30 days from now).
• You have provided an original I-797C Notice of Action form any expired immigration documents to the DDS.

Reciprocity Agreements

A reciprocity agreement is an agreement between two countries to treat each other’s driver licenses as valid for exchange. Georgia has reciprocity agreements with a few foreign countries. If you are from a country that has a reciprocity agreement with Georgia, then you can simply exchange that foreign license for a Georgia driver license or operate using it while a non-resident driver in Georgia without any hassle.

Reciprocity Laws

Here’s a brief rundown of Georgia’s reciprocity laws and what they mean for you:

The Foreign Country Must Have a Reciprocal Agreement with the Georgia DDS and the License Must Be Equivalent to Georgia’s Class C Regular License

Georgia does not recognize driver licenses that were issued by countries that do not currently have reciprocity agreements with Georgia’s DDS. Furthermore, Georgia only recognizes foreign driver licenses as valid for reciprocity if they match Georgia’s Class C regular driver license.

If Your Nation Does Not Have a Reciprocity Agreement with the Georgia DDS, You Must Apply for Your First License per the Standard Process

If your country of origin does not have a reciprocity agreement with Georgia’s DDS, then you will have to go through the standard process of obtaining your first license in the state. That means taking the written, vision, and road tests (and passing them) before getting your driver license.

Notes on Reciprocity with South Korea

People who hold valid driver licenses issued by the South Korean government are exempt from having to take the written and road tests before getting a Georgia driver license only if their South Korean driver license is accompanied by a License Certification Letter from the South Korean Consulate. You will still have to take a vision test.

All Drivers Must Be Prepared to Present Their International Driver License or ID Card When Law Enforcement Asks

All drivers in the state of Georgia are required by law to present their driver licenses or non-driver ID cards whenever a law enforcement officer asks. This is true for citizens, residents, and non-resident foreign nationals alike.

Drivers with South Korean driver licenses must also present a letter from the South Korean Consulate.

International Driver Licenses Will Be Returned Except for in a Few Situations

This is true except for in the following cases:

• You are applying for a commercial driver license (CDL) or permit.
• You are a US Citizen with a license, permit, or non-driver ID card issued by any foreign jurisdiction or US territory.

People with Dual Citizenship in the US and Elsewhere May Choose Which License They Wish to Keep, Unless Applying for a CDL

If you have dual citizenship in the United States and another country that has a reciprocity agreement with Georgia’s DDS, then the DDS will allow you to choose which license you wish to keep. Although you will be permitted to drive on public roadways in both Georgia and that other country, you will only be permitted to keep one of the two driver licenses.