Non-Domiciled CDL in Washington State: Eligibility and Documents

If you live outside the United States and want to drive a commercial vehicle in Washington, you may be able to get a non-domiciled CDL in Washington state, but the door has narrowed sharply. A federal rule taking effect March 16, 2026 limits this credential to holders of just three visa types: H-2A, H-2B, and E-2. The Washington Department of Licensing has paused all non-domiciled CDL and commercial learner permit transactions while it brings its processes into line with the new federal requirements.¹ If you hold one of the three eligible visas, watch the Department of Licensing website for the resumption date before planning your application.

Who Qualifies After March 16, 2026

Before the rule change, any foreign national in lawful immigration status with work authorization could apply for a non-domiciled CDL. Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s final rule, “Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses,” only three employment-based nonimmigrant categories qualify:²

H-2A, temporary agricultural workers
H-2B, temporary non-agricultural workers
E-2, treaty investors

No other immigration status qualifies, including dependent categories such as E-2S.³ If you already hold a non-domiciled CDL under a different visa type, the state is required to downgrade that credential once it confirms your status doesn’t fall within the three eligible categories. A downgrade removes your commercial driving privileges from the license entirely.

Beyond the visa requirement, you must be domiciled in a foreign country whose commercial licensing standards the FMCSA has determined do not meet U.S. requirements, and you must prove lawful immigration status in the United States.⁴ You do not need to prove Washington residency, and you do not have to surrender your foreign license. The state must verify your immigration status through the SAVE system run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and it cannot grant you any temporary or interim driving privileges while that verification is pending.³

Who the Non-Domiciled CDL Is Not For

A non-domiciled CDL exists for people without a U.S. home state to issue them a standard CDL. If you are domiciled in the United States, you cannot get a non-domiciled CDL in Washington; you must apply for a standard CDL from the state where you live.⁵

Drivers licensed in Canadian provinces or territories and holders of Mexico’s Licencia Federal de Conductor also don’t need a non-domiciled CDL. Canada and Mexico are the only foreign countries whose commercial licenses are reciprocally recognized in the United States, and their drivers can operate here under those agreements.⁶ Everyone else from abroad who wants to drive commercially in the U.S. needs a non-domiciled CDL from a state.

Documents You Will Need

The FMCSA requires state licensing agencies to rely only on the documents listed in the federal definition of “evidence of lawful immigration status” at 49 CFR 383.5.³ In practice this means bringing:

Your valid, unexpired foreign passport
Your I-94 arrival/departure record showing your visa classification and admit-until date
Employment authorization documents tied to your visa status

You also need a Medical Examiner’s Certificate, often called a DOT medical card. The exam must be done by a provider listed on the FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners; no other provider’s exam counts.⁷ It typically costs between $75 and $150. The examiner uploads your certificate to the National Registry, which then transmits it to the Department of Licensing.

At the counter you will also self-certify which of the four categories of commercial driving you intend to perform. Most non-domiciled CDL holders fall into non-excepted interstate, which requires keeping your medical certificate on file with the state at all times.⁸

Entry-Level Driver Training

First-time applicants for a Class A or Class B CDL, or for a first-time passenger, school bus, or hazardous materials endorsement, must complete entry-level driver training through a provider listed on the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry.⁹ The provider submits a certification of completion directly to the FMCSA, and the Department of Licensing checks that record before letting you take the skills test. You can confirm your record is on file using the “Check Your Training Record” tool on the Training Provider Registry website. The handful of exemptions, for certain military personnel, restricted CDL applicants, and drivers who already held their class or endorsement before February 2022, are narrow and generally won’t apply to first-time non-domiciled applicants.

Tests and Fees

Testing happens in three stages at a Department of Licensing office that handles commercial transactions. First comes the written knowledge exam, plus any endorsement-specific knowledge tests such as air brakes, tanker, or doubles/triples. Washington charges $35 for the CDL knowledge test, covering one attempt at each test within a 90-day window. After passing, you can get a commercial learner permit for $40, which lets you practice in a commercial vehicle while accompanied by a licensed CDL holder.¹⁰

The skills test has three parts: a vehicle inspection, basic controls (backing exercises), and a road test. The whole exam takes roughly two hours and must be done in a vehicle that matches the class of license you’re seeking.¹¹ The skills test fee is $175, or $100 if you’re testing only for a school bus endorsement. The fee covers two attempts, though switching examiners between attempts may trigger a new charge.¹⁰

Once you pass, the state issues a temporary paper credential while the permanent card is printed and mailed, usually within 7 to 10 days.¹² The permanent card will display the word “non-domiciled” conspicuously on its face, as federal regulation requires.³

How Long the License Lasts and How to Renew

Washington ties the expiration of a non-domiciled CDL to your immigration documents. State rules set the duration to match the expiration of your authorized stay, or one year if your documents don’t list an expiration date.¹³ The 2026 federal rule tightens this: the license cannot exceed the admit-until date on your I-94 or one year, whichever comes first. If your I-94 is marked “D/S” for duration of status with no end date, the cap is one year.³ Many holders will end up renewing every year.

At renewal you must again show proof of legal presence and keep your medical certificate current.¹³ Washington does not allow CDL renewal by mail; you have to appear in person.¹⁴ Reinstatement of a downgraded non-domiciled credential must also be done in person under the new federal rule.

Reporting Changes

Washington requires you to notify the Department of Licensing within ten days of any change in your immigration status or work authorization.¹³ That window is shorter than many drivers assume.

Federal consequences move quickly too. If the state receives information from FMCSA, the Department of Homeland Security, or another federal agency that you no longer hold lawful status in an eligible category, it must downgrade your CDL within 30 days of that notice.³ The same downgrade happens if the SAVE system fails to confirm your status during any licensing transaction.

Separately, if your medical certificate expires, your CDL privileges are downgraded until a new DOT physical is completed and the updated certificate reaches the Department of Licensing.¹⁵ Two independent clocks, immigration status and medical certificate, can each end your commercial driving privileges on their own.

You must also notify the issuing state of any adverse action taken against your driving privileges by any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic, including disqualifications and suspensions, within the timelines set by 49 CFR 383.33.⁴

Hazardous Materials Endorsement

A hazmat endorsement adds an extra layer of federal screening. The TSA requires all HME applicants to pass a security threat assessment, and eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, naturalized citizens, and nonimmigrant aliens in lawful status.¹⁶ Non-domiciled CDL holders in the eligible visa categories may meet the TSA’s threshold, but the endorsement also triggers entry-level driver training specific to hazmat, and states may impose their own citizenship or residency restrictions on top of federal rules. Confirm current eligibility with the Washington Department of Licensing before you start the process.

1
Washington State Department of Licensing. Commercial Driver Licenses (CDL)
2
Federal Register. Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL)
3
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Non-Domiciled CDL 2026 Final Rule FAQs
4
eCFR. 49 CFR 383.71 – Driver Application and Certification Procedures
5
eCFR. 49 CFR 383.23 – Commercial Drivers License
6
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Which Foreign Countrys Commercial Licenses Are Reciprocally Recognized for Operating a CMV in the United States
7
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Medical
8
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. How Do I Determine Which of the 4 Categories of Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operation I Should Self-Certify to With My State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA)
9
eCFR. 49 CFR Part 380 Subpart F – Entry-Level Driver Training
10
Washington State Department of Licensing. Driver Licensing Fees
11
Washington State Department of Licensing. CDL Skills Test
12
Washington State Department of Licensing. Moving to Washington – Get a Driver License
13
Washington State Legislature. WAC 308-100-040 – Commercial Drivers License – Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers License
14
Washington State Department of Licensing. Renew or Extend Your Driver License While Out of State
15
Washington State Department of Licensing. Medical Certificates and Self-Certification
16
Transportation Security Administration. HAZMAT Endorsement