District of Columbia

Enacted Policies

 The District of Columbia (D.C.) provides eligible undocumented residents, including DACA recipients, with access to in-state tuition, some state financial aid, and driver licenses and state identification. D.C. does not appear to have legislation that extends occupational and professional licensure to undocumented individuals.

The District of Columbia (D.C.) Act 21-650, signed into law on January 26, 2017, allows certain undocumented students living in the nation’s capital to access in-state tuition. Students must meet certain requirements to access in-state tuition, including:

1. Attended high school in the District of Columbia for 3 years, graduated from a high school in the district, or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in the district within the last 10 years; and,
2. Submits one of the following:
   1. An official transcript from a District of Columbia public, public charter, or private school as evidence of attendance;
   2. A diploma from a District of Columbia public, public charter, or private school as evidence of graduation;
   3. A state diploma from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education; or
   4. An official certificate of completion equivalent to a high school diploma.

The District of Columbia (D.C.) Act 21-650 allows undocumented students, including DACA recipients, to access local financial aid.

Undocumented students must meet the same criteria required for in-state tuition under Act 21-650 to access the local financial aid.

Additional Financial Aid

TheDream.US is a national organization that offers scholarships to DACA and undocumented students attending eligible postsecondary institutions across the country. In the District of Columbia, the following institution is a TheDream.US Partner College:

• Trinity Washington University.

D.C. does not appear to have legislation that affirmatively extends occupational and professional licensure to undocumented individuals.

Undocumented immigrants living in the District of Columbia (D.C.) are eligible to obtain a driver license. Act B20-0275, signed into law on November 18, 2013, allows undocumented residents to obtain limited-purpose driver licenses if they have lived in the district for at least six months, cannot receive a Social Security Number (SSN), and provide proof of identity, date of birth, and residency.

DACA recipients in D.C. are allowed to obtain a driver license or state identification card.

1.  On or after January 1, 2023, the eligible student:
   1. (A) Has graduated from a District secondary school;
   2. (B) Has obtained a recognized equivalent of a secondary school diploma;
   3. (C) Is a homeschool student who has completed a secondary school program.
2. Except for homeschooled students, has attended a District secondary school for grades 9 through 12;
3. Has not already completed a bachelor’s degree at an institution of higher education;
4. Has been accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis into an institution of higher education;
5. Was domiciled in the District for at least the 12 consecutive months preceding the start of enrollment at an institution of higher education or at the time of application to the DC ACHIEVES program; and,
6. At the time of application to the program, the eligible student is:
   1. (A) Domiciled in the District;
   2. (B) 24 years old or younger;
   3. (C) From a family with an annual household taxable income of no more than 200% of the Median Family Income for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area;
   4. (D) Is a student without lawful status in the United States; and,
   5. (E) Intends to apply to an institution of higher education on at least a half-time basis.