The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has introduced a new policy requiring legal immigrants to renew their driver’s licenses annually, according to the Miami Herald.
Effective immediately, the updated guidance also shortens the validity of licenses linked to immigration documents with no expiration date — they’ll now expire one year after being issued. According to the department, this change aligns with Florida Statutes 322.051, 322.08, and 322.18.
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Previously, legal immigrants in Florida—excluding green card holders—could receive a driver’s license valid through the expiration of their visa, often longer than one year. Under the new rule, they must now renew their licenses every 12 months, Carscoops said.
Additionally, individuals with immigration documents that lack an expiration date will also be issued licenses valid for only one year.
Rebecca Black, a Florida Immigration Attorney, said that these changes may deter some foreigners from moving to Florida.
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“It really kind of sends a message internationally,” Black said. “If I were an international student looking to study in Florida, I’d think twice about it if I had to renew my driver’s license every year instead of it being tied to the validity of my status.”
For the time being, non-citizens in Florida are encouraged to keep their immigration documents on hand and prepare for more frequent trips to the DMV.
The new rule won’t impact current DMV congestion right away, since it applies only to renewals—not to existing licenses, The Miami Herald said.
