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California Driver’s License

If you plan to drive in California, you must apply for a California driver’s license from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

A California driver’s license is a card that allows you to operate a motor vehicle (e.g. car, scooter or motorcycle) in the state of California and the rest of the U.S. You must carry it with you whenever you are driving. 

Looking for information about California REAL IDs? 

How to Apply for a California Driver’s License 

Step 2: Schedule an appointment

If this is your first California driver’s license, you are required to schedule an appointment. Bechtel can recommend two DMV offices fairly close to campus: Redwood City DMV Office and Santa Clara DMV Office.

Preparing for the Driver’s License Application: F-1 and J-1 Students and Their Dependents

  • I-20/DS-2019
  • Printed copy of your most recent electronic I-94 record
  • Passport (with visa stamp, if applicable).
  • If you are an F-1 student on post-completion OPT/STEM OPT, you must bring your approved EAD card
  • One (or two for REAL ID) documents showing your proof of residency. See more details below.

If you are applying for a regular (non-REAL ID) driver’s license, you will need to show one document proving that you live in the state of California. 

Documents that prove California residency:

  • A printed copy of your housing agreement
  • A piece of mail or an online statement with your California address
  • DMV Certification Letter 

If you wish to request a DMV certification letter as a proof of residency document, please complete the DMV Certification request form. Allow 5 to 10 days for processing. 

We can only write DMV letters for Stanford-sponsored F-1 and J-1 degree-seeking students. If you are on a J-1 visa and your DS-2019 says you are sponsored by Fulbright, LASPAU, etc. then you will need to ask your immigration sponsor for this letter.

If you are booking an appointment online with the DMV, you will be required to have an SSN. If you do not have an SSN, you will be required to physically go to the DMV to make an appointment.

F-1, F-2 and J-1 students are not required to have applied for an SSN (for a non-REAL ID license), but it makes the process easier. However, J-2 dependents with work authorization (EAD) are required to have an SSN. J-2 dependents without work authorization will be required to show a rejection letter from the SSA. To learn more about how to apply for a SSN, visit Bechtel’s guide on Social Security Numbers.

Bechtel International Center can only write DMV letters for Stanford-sponsored F-1 and J-1 degree-seeking students.

If you are a new F-1 or J-1 student, please wait 30 days after the I-20/DS-2019 program start date before completing the DMV Certification request form with Bechtel or applying for a California driver's license.

Preparing for the Driver’s License Application: J-1 Scholars

J-1 Scholars are required to have a SSN when applying for a California driver’s license. J-2 dependents with work authorization (EAD) are also required to have an SSN. J-2 dependents without work authorization may be asked to provide a rejection letter from the SSA stating that they are not eligible for an SSN. J-2 dependent children must be 16 years or older to be eligible for a California driver’s license.

  • DS-2019
  • Printed copy of your most recent electronic I-94 record
  • Passport (with visa stamp, if applicable).
  • One (or two for REAL ID) documents showing your proof of residency. See more details below.

Bechtel does not write DMV certification letters for Visiting Student Researchers, Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), U.S. citizens, J-1 Research Scholars, J-1 Short-Term Scholars, J-1 Postdoctoral Scholars or any other immigration status. Scholars, you may instead bring:

  • A printed copy of a rental agreement
  • A piece of mail or an online statement with your name, date and local address

If you are a new J-1 Scholar, wait two weeks after you have submitted your arrival confirmation web form before applying for a California driver’s license.