Georgia Department of Driver Services
2206 Eastview Parkway • Conyers, Georgia 30013 • 678.413.8650
Brian P. Kemp
Angelique B. McClendon
Governor
Commissioner
Memorandum
To: Commercial Driver Training Schools and Instructors, Third-Party Testers and Examiners
From: Georgia Department of Driver Services
Re: Update on Changes to Federal Regulations Governing Non-Domiciled CLPs and CDLs
Date: January 28, 2026
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide updates regarding changes to Federal Regulations governing non-domiciled Commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and commercial driver’s licenses
(CDLs).
Effective January 14, 2026, the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) resumed issuing non-domicile CLPs and CDLs to non-citizens. Non-citizen applicants seeking a CLP or CDL must provide the following at every issuance, transfer, renewal, and upgrade:
• An unexpired, foreign passport with one of the following visa classes: H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 DDS completed the necessary system and procedural updates to implement changes in the eligibility requirements. DDS verifies all immigration documents through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. Non-domicile CLPs and CDLs will have an expiration date equal to
the expiration date of the applicant’s Form I-94/94A or one year after issuance of the CLP/CDL, whichever is sooner. All CLPs and CDLs issued to non-citizens will have “NON-DOMICILED” printed on the front. Additionally, DDS will downgrade the non-domiciled CLP or CDL if the state becomes aware that the driver is no longer eligible.
Visit our website for frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you have additional questions, please contact DDS at cdlinfo@dds.ga.gov
Update on Changes to Federal Regulations Governing Non-Domiciled CLPs and CDLs
