RESOURCES FOR LIFE IN THE U.S.

According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), international students may drive in Pennsylvania with a valid home country driver’s license for up to one year from their date of initial entry into the United States. The home country license must be in English to be used in the United States.

You can review the process of applying for a Driver's License and find links to all applications forms and details about proof of residency on the Penn DOT website.

To get a Pennsylvania driver’s license, you must apply for an initial Learner's Permit and take a knowledge test, which asks questions about Pennsylvania's driving laws, traffic signs and safe driving practices. Use the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual to study for the test. You may also try some practice tests here. 

Once you have the Learner's Permit and you have practiced safe driving skills, you can take the road test. Schedule a road test online or by calling PennDOT at 1-800-423-5542.

To get a Learner's Permit, visit a PennDOT Driver License Center with the following documents:

1. Immigration documents:

   • Passport

   • Visa

   • I-94

   • I-20 or DS-2019 or I797 (H-1B approval) which must be valid for at least one year when you apply. Dependents on F-2, J-2 or H-4 visas must also have a copy of the F-1, J-1 or H-1B’s immigration documents.

2. Social Security card or a denial letter from the Social Security Office at 555 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Spouses and dependents can also receive a denial letter. You must present this letter with your Learner’s Permit application.  For details on how to apply for a Social Security number or denial letter, please see the Social Security Number instruction page.

3. Two proofs of residency, such as your lease contract and a utility bill sent to your current address. You cannot have two proofs of residency from the same source in the same month. For example, you can have one from the gas company and one from the electric company in the same month or two from the gas company in separate months.  If you do not have two proof of residency, you can request that OISS mail you a letter that contains your residential address. You can request the letter through iHome under the "General Services" tab. OISS will only generate letters for students who need them as proof of residency, and they will be mailed to your residential address. This letter is valid for only 30 days from the date of issue.

4. Learner's Permit Application

5. Physician's Report: You need to schedule an appointment with a physician at the Health Center in Johnson Hall to complete the top portion of the second page of your learner's permit application. The fee is $30. A physician's report is not necessary for license renewal. J-1 visiting scholars can go to one of the local urgent care center to complete the Physician’s Report.

   1. J-1 visiting scholars can pay for a physical at: Airport Road EmergiCenter (1791 Airport Road, Allentown, PA, 18109)

6. All of PennDOT's Driver License Centers accept debit or credit cards, checks or money orders as forms of payment, but no cash.

To renew your license, you must go through the same process as stated above. However, the additional form DL-143 must be filled out for renewal.

PennDOT can also issue state identification card, which does not allow the holder to drive.  You can find instructions for how to apply for a state ID, including links to all forms and infomration about proof of residency on the PennDOT website. If you would like an ID card, you will visit a PennDOT Driver License Center with the following items:

1. Immigration documents:

   • Passport

   • Visa

   • I-94

   • I-20 or DS-2019 or I797 (H-1B approval) which must be valid for at least one year when you apply. Dependents on F-2, J-2 or H-4 visas must also have a copy of the F-1, J-1 or H-1B’s immigration documents.

2. Social Security card or a rejection letter from the Social Security Office at 555 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Spouses and dependents can also receive a rejection letter. You must present this letter with your State ID Card application.

3. Two proofs of residency, such as your lease contract and a utility bill sent to your current address. You cannot have two proofs of residency from the same source in the same month. For example, you can have one from the gas company and one from the electric company in the same month or two from the gas company in separate months.  If you do not have two proof of residency, you can request that OISS mail you a letter that contains your residential address. You can request the letter through iHome under the "General Services" tab. OISS will only generate letters for students who need them as proof of residency, and they will be mailed to your residential address. This letter is valid for only 30 days from the date of issue.

4. Check or money order for the correct fees. You must pay PennDOT with a check (payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) or a money order. Cash or debit cards are not accepted.