<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55310</law_id><section_number>46.2-328.1</section_number><catch_line>Licenses, permits, and special identification cards to be issued only to United States citizens, legal permanent resident aliens, or holders of valid unexpired nonimmigrant visas; exceptions; renewal, duplication, or reissuance</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-328.3</reference><reference>46.2-330</reference><reference>46.2-341.12</reference><reference>46.2-345</reference><reference>46.2-345.2</reference><reference>46.2-345.3</reference><reference>63.2-503.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4">Obtaining Licenses, Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, except as provided in subsection G of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Issuance of special identification cards; fee; confidentiality; penalties" href="/46.2-345/">46.2-345</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall not <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an original license, permit, or special identification card to any applicant who has not presented to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, with the application, valid documentary <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is either (i) a citizen of the United States, (ii) a legal permanent resident of the United States, (iii) a conditional resident alien of the United States, (iv) an approved applicant for asylum in the United States, (v) an entrant into the United States in refugee status, or (vi) a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, or the Republic of the Marshall Islands, collectively known as the Freely Associated States. <a id="paragraph-202839" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A and the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Expiration and renewal of licenses; examinations required" href="/46.2-330/">46.2-330</a> and <a class="law" title="Issuance of special identification cards; fee; confidentiality; penalties" href="/46.2-345/">46.2-345</a>, an applicant who presents in person valid documentary <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that a federal <span class="dictionary">court</span> or federal agency having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over immigration has authorized the applicant to be in the United States or an applicant for a REAL ID credential who provides <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of temporary lawful status in the United States as required pursuant to the REAL ID Act of 2005, as amended, and its implementing regulations may be issued a limited-duration license, permit, or special identification card. Such limited-duration license, permit, or special identification card shall be valid only during the period of time of the applicant&#x2019;s authorized <span class="dictionary">stay</span> in the United States or if there is no definite end to the period of authorized <span class="dictionary">stay</span> a period of one year. No license, permit, or special identification card shall be issued if an applicant&#x2019;s authorized <span class="dictionary">stay</span> in the United States is less than 30 days from the date of application. Any limited-duration license, permit, or special identification card issued pursuant to this subsection shall clearly indicate that it is valid for a limited period and shall state the date that it expires. Such a limited-duration license, permit, or special identification card may be renewed only upon presentation of valid documentary <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the status by which the applicant qualified for the limited-duration license, permit, or special identification has been extended by a federal <span class="dictionary">court</span> or federal agency having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over immigration. <a id="paragraph-202840" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any license, permit, or special identification card for which an application has been made for renewal, duplication, or reissuance shall be presumed to have been issued in accordance with the provisions of subsection A, provided that, at the time the application is made, (i) the license, permit, or special identification card has not expired or been cancelled, suspended, or revoked or (ii) the license, permit, or special identification card has been canceled or suspended as a result of the applicant having been placed under medical review by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination of licensee believed unable to drive safely; suspension or restriction of license; license application to include questions as to abilities of applicant; false answers; examination of applicant; physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's statement" href="/46.2-322/">46.2-322</a>. The requirements of subsection A shall apply, however, to a renewal, duplication, or reissuance if the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> is notified by a local, state, or federal government agency that the individual seeking such renewal, duplication, or reissuance is neither a citizen of the United States nor legally in the United States. <a id="paragraph-202841" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall <span class="dictionary">cancel</span> any license, permit, or special identification card that it has issued to an individual if it is notified by a federal government agency that the individual is neither a citizen of the United States nor legally present in the United States. <a id="paragraph-202842" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> For any applicant who presents a document pursuant to this section proving legal presence other than citizenship, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall record and provide to the State Board of Elections monthly the applicant&#x2019;s document number, if any, issued by an agency or <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the United States government. <a id="paragraph-202843" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2003, cc. 817, 819; 2005, c. 260; 2007, c. 493; 2009, c. 872; 2010, c. 129; 2011, c. 396; 2013, c. 686; 2020, cc. 981, 1227, 1246.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
