IN
International students in Maryland must navigate specific state rules to drive legally. The requirements depend on your visa status, existing license, and Maryland residency.
International students who establish Maryland residency must use the Maryland licensing path that matches their existing driving history and immigration/document eligibility. A student who has never been licensed generally starts with a Maryland learner's permit; a student who already holds a foreign driver's license may follow a different international-mover path.
Before applying, complete the immigration/status verification and bring the identity, Social Security or ineligibility documentation, and Maryland residency documents required for the applicable MVA transaction.
| Driving History | Typical Maryland Path | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| Never licensed | Learner's permit / Rookie Driver path | Follow the normal learner's-permit, practice, education and road-test rules for your age. |
| Foreign license held less than 18 months | International-mover testing/exchange path | Current MVA guidance says the Maryland credential issued is a provisional license when the applicant otherwise qualifies. |
| Eligible reciprocity-country license | Reciprocity/exchange path | Maryland's formal Class C reciprocity agreements are with South Korea, France, Germany, Taiwan and Japan. |
Do not assume that passing the Maryland knowledge test automatically creates a learner's permit for every foreign-license holder. The correct credential depends on the applicant's prior license and the applicable MVA international-mover rules.
Canada and Yukon receive separate exchange/test treatment and are not part of Maryland's formal reciprocity-agreement list.
Current Maryland MVA guidance says an otherwise eligible applicant who has held a foreign license for less than 18 months is issued a provisional license, rather than being treated automatically as a first-time learner's-permit applicant.
No. Current MVA guidance exempts applicants with licenses from Canada or Yukon from the 3-Hour Roadway Safety Driving Education Program.
No. Maryland's reciprocity agreements apply to eligible noncommercial Class C driver's licenses, not learner's permits.
No. B-1/B-2 visa holders cannot get a permit because they cannot establish Maryland residency.
You may drive with your valid home country license during your visit.
If you have never held a driver's license, use the Maryland learner's-permit process. The Class C knowledge test has 25 questions, a 20-minute limit and requires 88% to pass. Holding periods then depend on age and education status rather than a blanket “under 25 = 9 months” rule.
Use MVA's International Movers pathway. Depending on how long you have held the license and the issuing country, MVA may require the vision screening, knowledge test, skills test and/or the 3-Hour Roadway Safety Driving Education Program. Do not assume every foreign-license holder receives a learner's permit first.
Maryland's formal noncommercial Class C reciprocity agreements are with South Korea, France, Germany, Taiwan and Japan. The reciprocity rules apply to qualifying licenses, not learner's permits.
Common Maryland MVA rejections for international students include SAVE verification not yet showing as complete, residency documents dated more than 60 days before the appointment, and name mismatches between visa and identity documents.
| Step | Requirement | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAVE Verification | Online pre-check mandatory | Free | Email confirmation required before MVA visit. |
| Knowledge Test | 25 questions, 88% to pass (22 correct) | Included | 20-minute time limit. |
| Learner's permit (never licensed) | Used for first-time drivers who have never held a license | $65.00 | Rookie Driver rules apply; foreign-license holders may follow a different MVA pathway. |
| 3-Hour Roadway Safety Driving Education Program | Applies to qualifying foreign-license applicants | Varies by provider | Canada and Yukon license holders are exempt under current MVA guidance. |
If your Maryland path results in a learner's permit, follow the standard Maryland learner driving restrictions and supervised-practice rules. See the dedicated driving-rules and practice-hours guides for those details.
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