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Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
Only a university: the Mississippi Driver's License Manual says a non-citizen's birth certificate for an original license or ID must be translated by a university.
Who may translate: A university
How we know · policy checked on October 31, 2026
Only a university: the Mississippi Driver's License Manual lists a "birth certificate (translated by a university)" among the documents a non-citizen presents for an original license or ID.
A translation from a professional service, eVerbary included, is not a translation by a university, so it does not meet that wording.
The manual names no university or list, so call the Driver Service Bureau at 601-487-7028 if you are unsure what counts.
Mississippi Driver Service Bureau at a glance
Does it accept eVerbary? No
No under the manual's wording. It asks for a birth certificate translated by a university (Driver's License Manual, page 12), and a translation from a professional service, eVerbary included, is not one.
For documents other than the birth certificate, the Bureau publishes no translation rule: ask before you order. Policy checked on October 31, 2026.
- Translation
- University translation of birth certificate
- Who may translate
- A university
- Foreign license
- No published exchange; knowledge and eye exams
Checked on October 31, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Policies change: confirm on Mississippi Driver Service Bureau's own page before you submit.
Worth knowing about Mississippi Driver Service Bureau
Translated by a university
The manual's wording for a non-citizen's birth certificate.
No road test
A regular license takes knowledge and eye exams at this time.
Bring your own interpreter
With the signed Mississippi Interpreter Oath form.
Mississippi Driver Service Bureau requirements in detail
Translation
For an original license or ID, a non-citizen presents immigration papers and passport, or a Permanent Resident Card, and a birth certificate translated by a university (manual, page 12).
Who may translate
A university. The manual names none and does not say whether it must be in the United States (Mississippi Driver's License Manual (revised December 2024)).
Website wording
The non-citizen page asks for an original birth certificate or any acceptable documents and does not mention translation. The manual says the Bureau may overrule information in it (Mississippi Driver's License Manual (revised December 2024)).
Original or copy
A birth certificate must be an original or certified copy; no photocopies (Driver Service Bureau: Required Documents).
Name change
Only a marriage license, divorce decree, adoption order or court order (Driver Service Bureau: Required Documents). The page has no translation rule for them.
Status check
Non-citizens are verified through SAVE; a card may be delayed up to 30 days if verification is not immediate, and lasts your stay or at most four years (Driver Service Bureau: Non-U.S. Citizen Information).
Tests and interpreter
Knowledge and eye exams; no road test for a regular license at this time. If you need an interpreter, bring one with the signed Interpreter Oath (Driver Service Bureau: Regular Driver License).
Vehicle title
A separate Department of Revenue rule: a title document in another language must come with a certified English translation (Mississippi Department of Revenue: Motor Vehicle FAQ). It does not apply to licenses.
Where the university rule comes from
The wording is in the section on non-citizen licenses and identification cards on page 12 of the Driver's License Manual (revised December 2024).
For an original license or card, you present an original Permanent Resident Card, or valid immigration papers with a passport, or an I-94 with a passport, and a birth certificate translated by a university, and two proofs of residency. Renewals do not list the birth certificate.
The manual stops there. It names no university, no department and no list, and it does not say how the translation should be signed or stamped.
The Bureau's non-citizen web page is shorter still, asking for an original birth certificate or any acceptable documents.
The manual also warns that the Bureau reserves the right to overrule information in it, so the people who can settle a specific case are at the Bureau: 601-487-7028 (non-citizen status questions).
Foreign licenses and the exams
We found no published rule on exchanging a foreign license, no list of reciprocal countries, and nothing about the International Driving Permit on the Bureau's pages or in the manual.
The non-citizen page says a non-US citizen must meet all requirements, meaning the required documents, the knowledge exam and the eye exam (Driver Service Bureau: Non-U.S. Citizen Information).
The waiver of the knowledge exam on the regular license page is written for a valid out-of-state license, and the manual's section is about moving from another state (Mississippi Driver's License Manual (revised December 2024)).
The pages we read do not list languages for the knowledge exam.
They do describe an interpreter route: complete the Mississippi Interpreter Oath and bring the form and your interpreter to the exam (Driver Service Bureau: Regular Driver License).
The interpreter swears to interpret accurately and may not give answers, hints or explanations of the questions, and the form is sworn before a notary.
A regular license costs $24 for 4 years or $47 for 8 (Driver Service Bureau: Regular Driver License).
Documents people usually translate
- Foreign birth certificate for an original license or ID (translated by a university)
- Foreign marriage license or divorce decree for a name change (no published translation rule)
- Home-country driver's license (no published translation rule)
What to do in Mississippi
Call the Driver Service Bureau at 601-487-7028 and ask what it accepts as a university translation before you arrange one (status verification page).
Gather what the non-citizen page lists: immigration papers such as an I-94, a valid visa or resident alien card, a signed application, the birth certificate or acceptable documents, your Social Security card if applicable, and two proofs of residency.
Book an appointment and go in person to a Driver Service station; the Bureau highly recommends an appointment, and non-citizens cannot renew online (Driver Service Bureau: Non-U.S. Citizen Information).
If you need an interpreter for the exam, complete the Interpreter Oath and bring it and your interpreter (Driver Service Bureau: Regular Driver License).
What we do not do
eVerbary translates documents; it is not the DMV and does not issue licenses, International Driving Permits or REAL ID decisions.
For the Mississippi Driver Service Bureau that means we do not provide a university translation, do not issue licenses or International Driving Permits, and do not get birth certificates or other records from abroad.
Need a certified translation for another office?
If the same birth certificate is also going to a different office, such as USCIS or a court, a certified translation from eVerbary can still be useful there; check that office's own rules.
Frequently asked questions
Who can translate my birth certificate for a Mississippi license?
A university, according to the manual, which names none (Mississippi Driver's License Manual (revised December 2024)). Call 601-487-7028 if you are unsure what the Bureau accepts.
Can I use a certified translation from a professional service?
Not under the manual's wording, because it asks for a translation by a university (Mississippi Driver's License Manual (revised December 2024)).
Do I need the birth certificate to renew?
The manual's renewal list does not include it: you present your Permanent Resident Card, or immigration papers with a passport, or an I-94 with a passport, and your license or card (Mississippi Driver's License Manual (revised December 2024)). Renewal is in person only, within 30 days of expiry (Driver Service Bureau: Non-U.S. Citizen Information).
Can I bring an interpreter to the Mississippi knowledge exam?
Yes. Complete the Mississippi Interpreter Oath and bring the form and your interpreter (Driver Service Bureau: Regular Driver License, form).
Do I have to take a road test?
Not for a regular license at this time: the Bureau says no skills test is required of any applicant for one (Driver Service Bureau: Regular Driver License).
Does Mississippi exchange foreign licenses?
We found no published rule or country list. The non-citizen page says you must meet all requirements, including the knowledge and eye exams (Driver Service Bureau: Non-U.S. Citizen Information).
Sources
Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau's own pages, read on October 31, 2026.
- Mississippi Driver's License Manual (revised December 2024)
- Driver Service Bureau: Non-U.S. Citizen Information
- Driver Service Bureau: Non-US Citizens Status Verification
- Driver Service Bureau: Required Documents
- Driver Service Bureau: Regular Driver License
- Mississippi Driver's License Test Interpreter Oath
- Driver Service Bureau: Driver License Locations
- Mississippi Department of Revenue: Motor Vehicle FAQ
Need a certified translation for another office?
If the same birth certificate is also going to a different office, such as USCIS or a court, a certified translation from eVerbary can still be useful there; check that office's own rules.