Moving to Miami: a practical guide to your first 90 days

Moving to Miami is exciting, but the first few months come with a stack of paperwork and deadlines that are rarely explained in one place: the driver license, car insurance, a Social Security number, your rental deposit, school enrollment and flood insurance. This guide puts them in order, with official requirements and fees, so you arrive knowing what to do and when.

Your first 90 days at a glance

Many deadlines start when you establish residency in Florida, for example by starting a job or enrolling your children in public school. This is the order that usually works best:

Housing and proof of address

Start with an address. Not just so you have somewhere to sleep: nearly every step that follows asks for proof of a Florida address. For the driver license, for example, you'll need two different documents, such as your lease, a recent utility bill or your car insurance policy. Out-of-state addresses are not accepted.

If you rent, Florida law protects your security deposit:

• Within 30 days of receiving your deposit, the landlord must tell you in writing where it is held, unless the lease already says so.
• When you move out, if the landlord isn't deducting anything, the deposit must be returned within 15 days.
• If the landlord wants to keep part of it, they must notify you by certified mail within 30 days, explaining why. You then have 15 days from receiving that notice to object in writing.

A practical tip: on move-in day, take dated photos and video of every room and keep them. They will save you arguments when you move out.

Social Security number or ITIN

A Social Security number (SSN) is used for work, pay and taxes. Applying is free. If you are not a citizen, you can generally get one only if the Department of Homeland Security authorizes you to work. People arriving on an immigrant visa can request it as part of the visa process and receive the card by mail, without visiting an office.

If you aren't authorized to work but need to file taxes, you may need an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), which you request from the IRS with Form W-7.

According to Social Security, you generally don't need an SSN to register for school or buy private health insurance, and banks may ask for it but usually can't require it if you don't have one. For a Florida driver license, the license office asks for proof of your number if you have one. If you don't, ask which documents they accept in your case.

Bank account

Banks are legally required to verify your identity. If you are not a U.S. person, they can accept your passport or another government-issued photo ID. With proof of a Miami address and your ID, opening a personal account is usually straightforward, though every bank sets its own terms. Some ask you to come in person. We cover it in detail in our guide on how to open a bank account without an SSN.

If you plan to freelance or start a business, read our guide on how to open a Florida LLC.

Car insurance and registration

If you're bringing a car, this is the tightest deadline on the list. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), you have 10 days after establishing residency to get Florida insurance and register the vehicle.

1. Get insurance first. Florida requires at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL). Without that policy, you can't register the car.
2. Have the VIN verified. A law enforcement officer, a licensed Florida dealer or a Tax Collector employee must physically inspect it.
3. Register and title the car in Florida. A vehicle getting a Florida plate for the first time pays a $225 initial registration fee, plus the title fee ($75.25 to $85.25 depending on the case) and the registration fee.

If your car is financed and the lender holds the title, you'll need to ask them to transfer it to Florida. Start early, as it can take time.

Florida driver license

New residents must get a Florida license within 30 days. You apply in person at a driver license office, and booking an appointment is a good idea.

Bring originals of:

• Identity: for citizens, a U.S. passport or birth certificate. For non-citizens, your immigration documents, such as a green card, an employment authorization card or a passport with Form I-94.
• Social Security number: your card or another official document showing it, such as a W-2. If you don't have a number, ask which alternative they accept.
• Two proofs of a Florida address, from two different sources.

A Class E license costs $48, and many offices add a service fee of up to $6.25. If your immigration status is temporary, the license is issued for the period shown on your immigration document.

Coming from another U.S. state, you usually just need a vision test and to surrender your old license. Coming from another country, you will typically need to pass the knowledge and driving skills tests. If you have never held a license, you also need to complete the mandatory Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course. Ask at the office whether any exemption applies to you.

Health insurance

Medical care without insurance can be very expensive in the U.S., so don't put this off. If you don't get coverage through work, you can buy it on the Marketplace (HealthCare.gov). Outside the annual open enrollment period, moving to the U.S. from another country, or to a new ZIP code or county, can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period. That window is time-limited, so check your dates as soon as you arrive.

Schools

To enroll your children in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, you will be asked for, among other things:

• an official document proving the student's age and legal name;
• a statement of residence from the parent or guardian;
• the Florida Certification of Immunization (form DH 680), issued by a doctor or the Department of Health based on the vaccination records you bring;
• a school-entry physical exam.

Bring your children's vaccination records from your home country, translated if possible, so they can be transferred to the Florida form without repeating shots unnecessarily. Free vaccines and physicals are available for eligible families.

Hurricanes and flooding

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. There's no need to live in fear, but you should be prepared:

• Look up your evacuation zone (Storm Surge Planning Zone) on Miami-Dade County's website. It's the first thing officials will reference if an evacuation is ordered.
• Check what your insurance covers. Most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. That requires a separate policy.
• Don't wait for a storm to appear on the map. Policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) take 30 days to take effect after purchase.

Taxes and the homestead exemption

Florida has no state personal income tax, though you will still owe any federal taxes that apply to you. Sales tax is 6% statewide plus a 1% county surtax: 7% in Miami-Dade.

If you buy a home that will be your permanent residence, you can apply for the homestead exemption, which reduces the taxable value of your home by up to about $50,000. To qualify:

• you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and a Florida resident;
• the home must be your permanent residence, and you must own it, as of January 1 of the exemption year;
• you file with the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser by March 1.

The Save Our Homes program also caps how much the assessed value of a homesteaded property can rise each year.

Getting around without a car

Miami is built around the car, but there are alternatives. Metromover, the automated elevated train that loops through Downtown, Brickell and Omni, is free. Metrorail and Metrobus accept contactless bank cards and the EASY Card, and transfer fares only apply if you pay with one of those.

Common mistakes

1. Putting off car insurance and registration. The deadline is just 10 days.
2. Showing up at the license office with one proof of address. You need two, from different sources, with a Florida address.
3. Assuming you can take the exam in another language. Since February 2026 it's English only.
4. Assuming homeowners insurance covers flooding. It usually doesn't, and flood policies take 30 days to start.
5. Forgetting the Florida vaccination certificate. Without the DH 680, school enrollment can be delayed.
6. Buying a home and missing the March 1 homestead deadline. You'll pay more property tax than you need to.

FAQ

Next step

Moving is easier with the right people beside you: a real estate agent who knows the neighborhoods, an insurance agent who explains what each policy really covers and an accountant for your first tax year. That's exactly the network of independent professionals we're building at inMiami.ai, in English and Spanish.