Washington statute
RCW 46.20.021 — New residents
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 46.20: Drivers' Licenses—Identicards, Revised Code of Washington.
Full text of RCW 46.20.021
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official text of the Revised Code of Washington from the Code Reviser's published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Washington.
(1) New Washington residents must obtain a valid Washington driver's license within thirty days from the date they become residents.
(2) To qualify for a Washington driver's license, a person must surrender to the department all valid driver's licenses that any other jurisdiction has issued to him or her. The department must invalidate the surrendered photograph license and may return it to the person.
(a) The invalidated license, along with a valid temporary Washington driver's license provided for in RCW 46.20.065, is proper identification.
(b) The department shall notify the previous issuing department that the licensee is now licensed in a new jurisdiction.
(3) For the purposes of obtaining a valid driver's license, a resident is a person who manifests an intent to live or be located in this state on more than a temporary or transient basis. Evidence of residency includes but is not limited to:
(a) Becoming a registered voter in this state; or
(b) Receiving benefits under one of the Washington public assistance programs; or
(c) Declaring residency for the purpose of obtaining a state license or tuition fees at resident rates.
(4)(a) "Washington public assistance programs" means public assistance programs that receive more than fifty percent of the combined costs of benefits and administration from state funds.
(b) "Washington public assistance programs" does not include:
(i) The Food Stamp program under the federal Food Stamp Act of 1964;
(ii) Programs under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 1771 through 1788;
(iii) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; and
(iv) Any other program that does not meet the criteria of (a) of this subsection.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.