Mississippi driver license and state ID — guide for immigrants

Mississippi issues driver licenses and state ID cards only to people who can prove lawful presence in the United States. There is no AB 60-style program for undocumented residents. This page explains how a lawfully-present non-citizen applies, what documents the Mississippi Driver Service Bureau (Department of Public Safety) requires, the fees, and how long the credential lasts. (Verified against dps.ms.gov, June 30, 2026.)

Quick answer

  • Undocumented driver-license access: NO. Mississippi issues no license or ID card to undocumented immigrants. Every applicant must document legal status, and that status is verified through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAVE program before a card is issued.
  • Social Security number: required only “if applicable” — that is, only if you have been issued one. A non-citizen who has never received an SSN does not have to present one. (Diplomatic A-1/A-2/A-3 visa holders instead need a U.S. Department of State letter, with an original signature, stating they are ineligible for a State-Department-issued license or ID.)
  • Non-driver STATE ID: YES. Available to lawfully-present non-citizens age 6 and older. Fee is $17.00 for a 4-year card.
  • Driver license fee: $24.00 (original, non-U.S. citizen).
  • Credential term: limited — valid for your authorized length of stay, or no more than 4 years.
  • REAL ID: REAL ID is a federal standard (for boarding domestic flights and entering certain federal facilities). The documents accepted for a REAL ID-marked card are set federally and confirmed at the station — confirm the current REAL ID document list with the Driver Service Bureau before you go.

Who qualifies

Mississippi issues a license or ID only to lawfully-present non-citizens, and it verifies that status through the DHS SAVE program before issuing the card. The Driver Service Bureau’s Non-U.S. Citizen acceptable-documents table covers, among others:

  • Lawful permanent residents — Green Card (Form I-551), an immigrant visa with foreign passport, or a Form I-327 re-entry permit
  • Refugees — Form I-94 or passport annotated “Section 207”/“refugee,” Form I-571, or an EAD (Form I-766) with category A3
  • U.S. nationals
  • Asylees — Form I-94 or passport annotated “Section 208”/“asylee,” or an EAD (Form I-766) with category A5
  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — EAD (Form I-766) with category A12 or C19
  • Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) holders
  • Students and exchange visitors — F-1/F-2 (with Form I-20), J-1/J-2 (with Form DS-2019)
  • Temporary workers and dependents — H-1B/H-1/H-2A/H-2B and H-4
  • Pending extension or change of status — Form I-797
  • Diplomatic and other temporary classes — A-1/A-2/A-3 (with the State Department ineligibility letter described above) and C-1/C-3/D-1/D-2

If you are not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, you may be issued a short-term (limited-term) license or ID, which the agency sets to expire based on your DHS-verified period of lawful presence.

The Social Security number rule

Mississippi lists, among the items “all applicants must provide,” an “SSN Card or an official government correspondence displaying full 9 digits … if applicable.” The “if applicable” qualifier means the SSN requirement is waived for a non-citizen who has not been issued one. If you do have an SSN, acceptable proof includes the Social Security card or an official government document showing all nine digits — for example a returned W-2 or 1099, a pay stub showing your full SSN, military Form DD-214, or National Guard Form NGB-22.

The one exception is diplomatic A-1/A-2/A-3 visa holders, who must instead present a letter from the U.S. Department of State, with an original signature, stating they are ineligible for a State-Department-issued license or ID. (This is a State Department letter, not a Social Security letter.)

Documents you bring

All applicants must provide:

  • Immigration documents — your official immigration papers (for example Form I-94, a valid visa, or a Permanent Resident Card). An unexpired foreign passport and/or Form I-94 is accepted, together with the status-specific document for your category (Form I-20, Form DS-2019, Form I-797/I-797C, EAD/Form I-766, Form I-551, or Form I-571 as applicable).
  • A completed, signed application.
  • Proof of date of birth — original birth certificate (no photocopies), or a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship.
  • SSN proof “if applicable” — see the rule above.
  • Two proofs of Mississippi residency, each showing your name and a Mississippi street address (no P.O. boxes). Accepted items include a utility bill, bank statement, pay stub, lease/rental agreement, IRS or state tax form/W-2, employer ID, voter registration, insurance policy, mortgage or property-tax papers, any official government document or letter showing your address, or a notarized Proof of Domicile Affidavit.
  • Legal name-change documents, if you now use a new name.

Consular ID / matrícula consular: NOT accepted. A matrícula does not appear on Mississippi’s lawful-presence, date-of-birth, or proof-of-residency lists; identity and status must be proven with U.S. immigration documents verified through SAVE.

Fees and how long the card lasts

  • Original driver license (non-U.S. citizen): $24.00
  • Learner’s permit: $7.00
  • State ID card (4-year): $17.00 (an 8-year ID is $33.00, but a non-citizen card is limited-term, so the 4-year fee applies)
  • Payment: cash, debit, or credit only — no personal checks.

For non-citizens the credential is limited-term: it is valid for your authorized length of stay, or no more than 4 years, and your DHS-verified period of lawful presence will cause the limited-term card to expire.

How and where to apply

  1. Apply in person at a Mississippi Driver Service Bureau station — the Bureau strongly recommends booking an appointment first at dps.ms.gov/appointment.
  2. Bring all required immigration documents and the proofs listed above (originals).
  3. Your lawful status is confirmed through DHS SAVE. If SAVE verification is not immediate, the card can be delayed up to 30 days.
  4. Non-citizens cannot renew online. You must renew in person, within 30 days of your expiration date, with all Homeland Security immigration documents.

Questions about non-citizen status verification: 601-487-7028.

If you do not have lawful status

Mississippi will not issue a license or ID without DHS-verified lawful presence, but you still have options for everyday identification and banking:

  • Foreign passport — your home-country passport is a widely-accepted photo ID for banking and many private transactions.
  • Matrícula consular / consular ID — your consulate can issue one as general identification (it is not accepted for a Mississippi license or ID). See Consulates in Mississippi.
  • ITIN-friendly bank account — many banks open accounts without an SSN; see ITIN-friendly banks and What is an ITIN?.
  • International Driving Permit (IDP) — obtained in your home country before you travel, valid only for short-term visitors driving on a foreign license; it is not a Mississippi credential and not a substitute for a license if you live here.

Last verified: 2026-06-30. Source: Mississippi Department of Public Safety — Non-U.S. Citizen.

General procedural information. DMV policies, fees, and document requirements change frequently — verify with the Mississippi Driver Service Bureau before visiting. Not legal or immigration advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney.