Persons with a Commercial Driver License (CDL) are required to provide proof of legal status upon original (first time) issuance, renewal, transferring an out of state license or when adding or removing a class, endorsement or restriction. Acceptable documents are:
- Valid U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. State or local government issued Certificate of Birth. (Wisconsin will not accept Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, in line with Puerto Rico’s law as of October 30, 2010. More information available at
pr.gov)
- Consular report of birth abroad
- Valid I-551, permanent resident card (issued by the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. citizenship and immigration services). Non-expiring I-551 (issued 1977-1989) cards are acceptable
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (federal form N-550)
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (federal form N-560)
- Unexpired foreign passport with a valid unexpired U.S. visa affixed accompanied by the approved I-94 form documenting the applicants most recent admittance into the U.S. (Note: If you recently entered the U.S. and were not issued a paper I-94 form, visit
cbp.gov/I94 to print your electronic I-94 before applying for immigration or public benefits, such as a driver license, identification card or a Social Security number.)
- Unexpired Employment Authorization Document [must successfully verify through the DHS/USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE) for a REAL ID compliant card]
Under federal law, temporary visitors from Canada and Mexico are not allowed to renew or change classes or endorsements on their Wisconsin Commercial Driver License (CDL) or Commercial Learner Permit (CLP).
If you are a temporary visitor from Canada or Mexico and wish to continue driving a commercial vehicle in the U.S., you need to obtain a qualifying commercial license from Canada or Mexico before your current Wisconsin CDL or CLP expires.