Legal Presence

Legal presence affects you if:

• You are applying for your first Virginia learner's permit or Virginia driver's license;
• You are applying for a Virginia photo ID card;
• You are reinstating your driving privilege because your license expired or was suspended, revoked, or cancelled.

If you allow your license to expire, you will be required to show proof of legal presence.

Legal presence means that a person is either a U.S. citizen or is legally authorized to be in the United States. Legal presence can be proved using a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport. It also can be proved using a variety of other documents such as a Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization, Resident Alien Card or a valid foreign passport with a visa, I-94 or an I-94W with a participating country.

Virginia's legal presence law took effect on January 1, 2004. Be sure to explore this page to learn all about legal presence and how it affects you or someone you know.

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Important References

• Obtaining Your Birth Certificate
• Fact Sheet
• Steps to Obtaining Your Driver's License or Photo ID Card - DMV142
• Pasos Basicos para obtener su licencia de conducir o tarjeta de identificacion con foto - DMV142
• List of Acceptable Documents for Obtaining Your Driver's License or Photo ID Card - DMV141
• Documentos Aceptables para obtener una licencia de conducir o una tarjeta de identificacion con fofo - DMV141
• Communications Kit
• Implementation Process

News Releases

• February 3, 2004
  
• January 20, 2004
  
• December 30, 2003
  
• December 9, 2003
  
• October 30, 2003
  
• October 27, 2003
  
• October 14, 2003
  
• September 2, 2003
  
• July 15, 2003
  
• June 25, 2003

Legislation

• VA Acts of Assembly - 2003 Session - House Bill 1954
  
• VA Acts of Assembly - 2003 Session - Senate Bill 1058