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FACT BRIEF

Does a new law allow Minnesotans get a driver’s license regardless of their immigration status?

By Jayne Williamson-Lee
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YES

A new law signed by Gov. Tim Walz in March allows Minnesota residents, regardless of their immigration status, to get a driver’s license starting Oct. 1, 2023. 

Previously the state’s process required providing proof of "lawful presence" in the U.S.

The new law states that application forms cannot inquire about a person’s citizenship, immigration status, or lawful presence in the U.S. No indication of a person’s citizenship or immigration status is made on a standard Class D driver’s license.

For the other two licenses available in Minnesota, enhanced and Real ID driver’s licenses, applications are required to prove their citizenship or a qualifying immigration status.

A press release from Gov. Tim Walz’s office estimates that there are 81,000 undocumented immigrants in Minnesota. The state joins 19 states and the District of Columbia that issue driver’s licenses without requiring proof of lawful presence.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Minnesota Legislature Chapter 13 - Driver's Licenses
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota Frequently Asked Questions: Driver’s Licenses for All
Department of Corrections Governor Walz Signs Bill Expanding Access to Driver’s Licenses
National Conference of State Legislatures States Offering Driver’s Licenses to Immigrants
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.