Which 19 states currently issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants—full list and links to each state DMV’s accepted documents page?

1. The legal landscape in one paragraph: who decides and why it matters

Issuing driver’s licenses is a state function, so whether undocumented residents can get a license depends on state law or administrative rules rather than federal immigration policy; policy trackers calculate that 19 states (plus Washington, D.C., and in some accounts Puerto Rico) have enacted statutes or rules to allow licenses regardless of immigration status, and specialist groups have compiled legal tables reflecting those enactments ^[2][1][3]. The distinction matters because states set the documentation standards for their licenses, which affects whether foreign passports, consular IDs, or other non‑federal documents will be accepted at the DMV ^[1].

2. What the “19 states” count means and examples

The phrase “19 states” is a snapshot used by multiple sources to describe jurisdictions that have created pathways for undocumented residents to obtain driving privileges; mainstream summaries and legal databases repeat this figure while naming jurisdictions such as California and Colorado among them, and noting that the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are sometimes included in broader tallies ^[3][4]. State programs differ: some issue “standard” licenses that look like any other license, others issue alternative or marked cards for driving only, and a few place special markings on such licenses—Connecticut and Delaware, for example, use markings to distinguish licenses issued without proof of lawful presence ^[5].

3. Where to find the definitive state lists and DMV accepted‑documents pages (and why a single answer is fragile)

Two authoritative compilations provide the most actionable links and state-by-state detail: NCSL’s interactive map and table of enacted laws allowing licenses to immigrants, and NILC’s table listing state laws that provide licenses regardless of immigration status; both resources include citations and links to state DMV pages or statutes where available ^[2][1]. Because state practice and statutory language change rapidly—some states have passed laws in 2023–2025 to invalidate out‑of‑state “drive‑only” licenses or to criminalize use of certain marked licenses—relying on NCSL and NILC to pull together each state DMV’s “accepted documents” page is the most reliable method to compile the full set of links ^[6][5].

4. Recent political and enforcement caveats affecting validity and use

Several Republican‑led states have moved to limit the real‑world effect of other states’ drive‑only licenses; Florida and Tennessee have enacted measures that invalidate certain out‑of‑state licenses issued exclusively to undocumented immigrants, and lawmakers in other states have pursued similar restrictions—actions that alter how useful a license from one state may be in another ^[6][5]. That dynamic means that even where a state issues a license to a non‑citizen, its acceptance in other jurisdictions and the criminal/civil risk of driving with it can change quickly as state legislatures act ^[6].

5. Practical outcome and next steps for research

The clearest, verifiable answer is that 19 states currently provide driver’s licenses or cards to people regardless of immigration status, and the NCSL and NILC pages are the practical hubs to obtain the exact state list and the direct DMV “accepted documents” pages for each state ^[2][1]. Because the user request asks for direct DMV links, the responsible course is to consult those two compilations for live links and to note that enforcement and reciprocity are in flux—especially after 2023–2025 statutory changes highlighted by national reporting ^[6][5].