Living in North Dakota as an Arab: Fargo & Bismarck Guide 2026
North Dakota's Arab community is very small and not officially tracked, but the state resettles refugees and new immigrants through Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks, and knowing the local rules from day one saves you time.
In short: North Dakota has one of the smallest documented Arab communities of any U.S. state, with no precise official count. What presence exists centers on Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks through refugee resettlement programs. Driver's licenses come from the state Department of Transportation (NDDOT), the statewide sales tax is 5%, and as of September 2026 North Dakota has no state minimum wage above the federal $7.25.
The Arab Community in North Dakota: Let's Be Honest
We don't have a precise official figure for the number of Arabs in North Dakota, and we don't believe anyone does. This is a very low-population state (under a million people total), and its Arab and Muslim community is among the smallest in the country compared to states like Michigan or neighboring Minnesota.
What is officially documented: North Dakota Health and Human Services (ND HHS) runs an Office of Refugee Services, which coordinates community support services for refugees and new arrivals in three main cities: Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks. According to the official site, about half of the refugees who arrived in North Dakota in 2023 came through a private sponsorship program, meaning an individual or small group of North Dakotans directly supported them.
This office does not publish a breakdown of refugee nationalities or origins, so we cannot confirm the size of the Arab community specifically within that number. We also could not officially verify the name of a specific mosque or Islamic center through a source reliable enough to list here. If you find one, use our prayer times and mosque search tool.
Just arrived in the US, not only North Dakota? Read the First 90 Days in the USA guide before diving into North Dakota-specific details.
Housing Costs in Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes official Fair Market Rents each year, used as a benchmark by county and ZIP code. We're not listing specific dollar figures here because HUD's official tool requires a direct lookup by your county, and the gap between Fargo (the state's largest and most economically active city) and rural areas is significant.
| Data point | Official source |
|---|---|
| Fair Market Rent by county/ZIP (FY2026) | Lookup tool at huduser.gov |
| Additional local sales tax by city | Tax rate lookup tool from the Office of State Tax Commissioner |
Open the HUD tool above and search your own ZIP code before signing a lease. To understand the rest of your monthly budget, see the Cost of Living in the USA guide.
Driver's License: The State Department of Transportation (NDDOT)
Driver's licenses in North Dakota are issued by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), through its Driver License Division, at dot.nd.gov.
- Gather your documents. Proof of identity, proof of legal presence, Social Security number, and two proofs of North Dakota residency.
- Pay the exam fees. Per the official driver's license requirements page, the written test costs $5.00 and the road test costs another $5.00.
- Explicitly ask about an interpreter when you book, if needed. We found no mention on NDDOT's official site of an Arabic version of the exam or manual — don't assume it's available.
- Pass the knowledge exam, then the road skills test. If your previous license has been expired more than a year, you'll need to retest from scratch.
On REAL ID: North Dakota offers an Opt-In / Opt-Out system, per NDDOT's official REAL ID page — you can choose to get a REAL ID-compliant license (needed for domestic flights and entry to certain federal buildings), or opt out and keep renewing your standard license if you plan to use your passport for travel instead. North Dakota also offers an Enhanced Driver License (EDL) specifically for land crossings into Canada, a feature tied to the state's border location.
For general steps that apply across most states, see the Driver's License in the USA guide and the DMV Test in Arabic guide.
Taxes in North Dakota
North Dakota levies a progressive income tax with relatively low brackets compared to many states, plus a general sales tax — unlike neighboring Montana.
| Tax type | Details (as of September 2026, latest published 2025 tax year) |
|---|---|
| General sales tax | 5% statewide, and cities or counties may add local taxes on top |
| Individual income tax — first bracket | 0% up to $48,475 for individuals ($80,975 for joint filers) |
| Individual income tax — second bracket | 1.95% up to $244,825 for individuals ($298,075 for joint filers) |
| Individual income tax — third bracket | 2.5% above that |
These figures are from the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, and the exact thresholds depend on your filing status (single, married jointly, married separately, head of household), so check the full table before filing. For sales tax, the posted shelf price often doesn't include the extra local tax some cities charge, so use the tax rate lookup tool to confirm the full rate in your city. For steps on your first filing, see the First Tax Return guide and the complete U.S. Taxes guide.
Health Coverage: North Dakota Medicaid and the Federal Marketplace
If your job doesn't offer health insurance, North Dakota residents have two main paths.
North Dakota Medicaid is run by the state Department of Health and Human Services, and is an expansion program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), per the official "Medicaid Expansion" page. The state runs a separate Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for kids. For eligibility and how to apply, see the official North Dakota Medicaid page.
If you don't qualify for Medicaid or your income is above the limit, North Dakota does not run its own state-based marketplace — it uses the federal marketplace at healthcare.gov for subsidized health plan enrollment.
To understand the difference between plans, see the Health Insurance in the USA guide and the Medicaid for Immigrants guide, and check enrollment timing in the Marketplace Open Enrollment guide.
North Dakota's 2026 Minimum Wage
North Dakota has no state minimum wage above the federal rate, which remains $7.25 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) consolidated state table. That means employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) legally owe this floor, unless your contract or union agreement sets a higher wage.
Don't assume the low federal floor means low wages across North Dakota; labor demand in sectors like oil and agriculture pushes many actual wages well above this legal minimum. Still, always verify the number in your own contract rather than relying only on what an employer tells you verbally.
To compare against other states, see the Minimum Wage by State guide.
Renting and Tenant Rights Basics
Per the North Dakota Attorney General's official Tenant Rights page:
- A landlord can require a security deposit of up to one month's rent, plus an additional deposit if you have a pet; with a felony conviction, they can require up to two months' rent.
- The deposit, with an itemized list of any deductions, must be returned within 30 days of moving out, and deductions can't cover normal wear and tear.
- Eviction starts with a notice giving you three days to move out voluntarily; if you don't, you'll be summoned to court, with a hearing date set between three and fifteen days later.
For full details, see the Tenant Rights page above, and for more on the eviction process from the court's side, see the North Dakota Supreme Court's self-help page. If you don't have a credit history yet, see the Renting an Apartment with No Credit guide.
Enrolling Kids in School
Every child residing in North Dakota, regardless of their family's immigration status, has the right to attend free public school — a federally protected right nationwide. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (DPI) runs a dedicated program supporting English learners and immigrant students under federal Title III funding.
For the official reference, see DPI's English Learner and Immigrant Students program page. For the general step-by-step process, see the Enrolling Kids in U.S. Schools guide.
Community Resources in North Dakota
Be realistic: North Dakota has no widely known statewide Arab American organization. The closest official resource is:
- The Office of Refugee Services, part of the state Department of Health and Human Services, coordinating community support in Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks, including adult learning centers, health coordinators, and career navigators.
- A resource map maintained by the Refugee Welcome Collective to help sponsors and refugees locate key services across the three cities.
We couldn't verify the name of a specific mosque or Arab organization through a source reliable enough to list here. To find the nearest mosque or check prayer times, see our Prayer Times page, and for more resources and vetted service providers near you, browse our North Dakota business and services directory.
Common Mistakes New Arrivals Make in North Dakota
- Expecting specialized Arabic services at the density found in neighboring Minnesota. North Dakota's community is far smaller, and even nearby Minnesota has an entirely different infrastructure.
- Assuming the posted price always includes local sales tax. Some cities add a local tax on top of the base 5%.
- Assuming an Arabic interpreter is automatically available at the driving test. Call ahead and ask.
- Confusing the low federal minimum wage with actual market wages. Check the number in your own contract instead of relying only on the legal floor.
What's Next
Once you've handled the North Dakota basics, these are the logical next steps:
- Driver's License in the USA guide for the general process before your NDDOT visit.
- Health Insurance in the USA guide to compare Medicaid against the federal marketplace.
- Find an Immigration Lawyer or Free Legal Aid guide if you need legal help in a state with limited Arabic-language services.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a documented Arab community in North Dakota?
There's no precise official count of Arabs in the state, and it's one of the smallest Arab communities in the U.S. The closest official information source is North Dakota's Office of Refugee Services, active in Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks.
What agency handles driver's licenses in North Dakota?
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), through its Driver License Division, at dot.nd.gov.
Is the driving test available in Arabic in North Dakota?
We found no mention on NDDOT's official site of an Arabic version of the driving test or manual. Call your nearest exam office and ask specifically about an interpreter before booking.
What is North Dakota's sales tax?
5% statewide on most sales, per the Office of State Tax Commissioner, and cities or counties can add local taxes on top.
What is North Dakota's income tax for 2026?
A three-bracket progressive system per the latest published Tax Commissioner figures: 0% up to a threshold, then 1.95%, then 2.5% on the top bracket, with thresholds varying by filing status.
What if I don't have health insurance through my job?
You may qualify for North Dakota Medicaid if your income falls within the eligibility limits (the state expanded Medicaid), or enroll through the federal marketplace at healthcare.gov, since the state does not run its own exchange.
What is North Dakota's minimum wage in 2026?
North Dakota has no state minimum wage above the federal rate of $7.25 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor's consolidated state table.
Where can I find a mosque in North Dakota?
We could not officially verify the name of a specific Islamic center in the state through sufficiently reliable sources to list here. Use our prayer times and nearby mosque search tool, or contact the state's Office of Refugee Services in your city.
Official sources we reviewed
- NDDOT – Driver License Requirements ↗
- NDDOT – REAL ID Information ↗
- ND Office of State Tax Commissioner – Individual Income Tax ↗
- ND Office of State Tax Commissioner – Sales and Use Tax ↗
- North Dakota Medicaid ↗
- ND HHS – Medicaid Expansion ↗
- HealthCare.gov – North Dakota ↗
- U.S. DOL – State Minimum Wage Laws ↗
- HUD USER – Fair Market Rents ↗
- ND Attorney General – Tenant Rights ↗
- ND HHS – Office of Refugee Services ↗
- ND Dept. of Public Instruction – English Learner & Immigrant Students ↗