This section sets when different Texas driver licenses expire, based on license type and, in some cases, the holder’s citizenship or lawful presence status.
Sec. 521.271. LICENSE EXPIRATION. (a) Each original driver's license, provisional license, learner license, or occupational driver's license issued to an applicant who is a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States expires as follows: (1) except as provided by Section 521.2711, a driver's license expires on the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the eighth anniversary of the date of the application; (2) a provisional license expires on the 18th birthday of the license holder; (3) a learner license expires on the 18th birthday of the license holder; (4) an occupational driver's license expires on the first anniversary of the court order granting the license; and (5) unless an earlier date is otherwise provided, a driver's license issued to a person whose residence or domicile is a correctional facility or a parole facility expires on the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the first anniversary of the date of issuance. (a-1) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1160, Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2011. (a-2) Each original driver's license issued to an applicant who is not a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States expires on: (1) the earlier of: (A) the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the sixth anniversary of the date of the application; or (B) the expiration date of the license holder's lawful presence in the United States as determined by the appropriate United States agency in compliance with federal law; or (2) the first anniversary of the date of issuance, if there is no definite expiration date for the applicant's authorized stay in the United States. (a-3) Each original provisional license or learner license issued to an applicant who is not a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States expires on the earliest of: (1) the 18th birthday of the license holder; (2) the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the date of the application; or (3) the expiration of the license holder's lawful presence in the United States as determined by the United States agency responsible for citizenship and immigration in compliance with federal law. (a-4) Each original occupational driver's license issued to an applicant who is not a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States expires on the earlier of: (1) the first anniversary of the date of issuance; or (2) the expiration of the license holder's lawful presence in the United States as determined by the appropriate United States agency in compliance with federal law. (b) Except as provided by Section 521.2711, a driver's license that is renewed expires on the earlier of: (1) the eighth anniversary of the expiration date before renewal if the applicant is a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the United States; (1-a) for an applicant not described by Subdivision (1): (A) the earlier of: (i) the eighth anniversary of the expiration date before renewal; or (ii) the expiration date of the applicant's authorized stay in the United States; or (B) the first anniversary of the date of issuance, if there is no definite expiration date for the applicant's authorized stay in the United States; or (2) for a renewal driver's license issued to a person whose residence or domicile is a correctional facility or a parole facility, the first birthday of the license holder occurring after the first anniversary of the date of issuance unless an earlier date is otherwise provided. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1372, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 497, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 37 (H.B. 84), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1146 (H.B. 2730), Sec. 12.09, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1253 (H.B. 339), Sec. 16, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1288 (H.B. 2161), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1160 (H.B. 2466), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 1), Sec. 72.08, eff. September 28, 2011. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1059 (H.B. 3050), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 595 (S.B. 616), Sec. 7.001, eff. September 1, 2019.