Frequently Asked Questions

1. Social Security Number Not Required to Obtain a Maryland Identification Card or Driver’s License.  The Maryland MVA does not require a Social Security number or card to apply for a Maryland Identification or driver’s license.  Applicants that use false or fraudulent Social Security numbers are prosecuted.
2. Legal Presence is Not Required to Apply for a Maryland Identification or Driver’s License.  Maryland law does not require legal status.  However, foreign applicants must provide specific documents and schedule a time to meet with a foreign document specialist.  All documents must be originals and translated, if applicable, by an MVA approved translator.  More details are available on the MVA website.  Many clients are confused by the document requirements and/or fail to obtain compliant documents.
3. Maryland Appears to be More consistently Issuing Documents to Eligible Foreign-born or Undocumented Maryland Residents.  Maryland law does not require legal status, residency or citizenship.  Historically, Maryland has been ether unable or unwilling to consistently apply its own laws, which permit foreign born, unauthorized or undocumented Maryland residents to obtain Maryland documents.  Recent client reports suggest that Maryland is more consistently applying its own laws which permit foreign born or out-of-status applicants to obtain Maryland documents.

Links

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) Main Website: http://www.marylandmva.com/index.html 

MVA Foreign / Out-of-Country Applicant Information: http://www.marylandmva.com/DriverServ/Apply/foreign.htm

MVA Sources of Proof for Foreign / Out of Country Applicants (Form DL-197): http://www.marylandmva.com/Resources/DL-197.pdf