Skip to content

Wednesday, Jul. 26, 2023

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

Jayne Williamson-Lee, MinnPost

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.

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.

See all fact briefs

MinnPost is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces thoughtful, in-depth journalism about civic and cultural affairs impacting Minnesota. Through our reporting, we take readers beyond the headlines and deep into the issues that matter through our public-service journalism, empowering them to engage in the politics and policy-making shaping Minnesota’s future.

Learn More

Be a Friend of facts

Help us fund more great fact briefs like this one.