Texas resumes issuing non-domiciled CDLs to agricultural workers with FMCSA approval
The Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) will resume issuing non-domiciled commercial driver licenses (CDL) and commercial learner permits (CLP) to temporary agricultural workers.
Effective June 1, 2026, TXDPS will resume the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs to individuals with H-2A status, with approval from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
All non-domiciled licenses will be issued for a term of one year or less, officials said.
Under updated FMCSA guidelines that went into effect on March 16, 2026, non-domiciled CDL/CLP eligibility is limited to individuals with the following statuses: H-2A (Temporary Agricultural Workers), H-2B (Non-Agricultural Workers) and E-2 (Treaty Investors). However, TXDPS has only received FMCSA authorization to resume issuing CDLs/CLPs to H-2A workers at this time.
All H-2A CDL/CLP applicants are required to complete their transactions in person at a TXDPS Driver License Office and bring the following documents during their visit:
- An unexpired foreign passport
- An unexpired or expired visa
- Form I-94 or I-797A that clearly indicates H-2A status
“As a reminder, under the new federal rule, individuals whose credentials were previously issued based on Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) – including Deferred Action and Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or refugee/asylum seeker status – are no longer eligible to renew a CDL once it expires,” TXDPS said.
TXDPS resumed issuing non-domiciled CDLs the same day the agency announced it would only offer CDL knowledge tests in English moving forward. The tests had previously also been available in Spanish.