Local office guidance states that a person living in Poland for at least 185 days may need to exchange a foreign driving licence. If the licence is not issued under the Geneva or Vienna road-traffic convention model, you may also need to pass a theory test.
No Exam Required
You can usually exchange your licence without taking a driving test if it was issued by:
- an EU or EEA country;
- Switzerland;
- a country whose licence complies with the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
Theory Exam May Be Required
You may need to pass a theory test if your licence:
- was issued by a country not covered by the relevant international conventions;
- does not comply with the required licence format.
A practical driving test is generally not required for a standard licence exchange unless your case falls under specific legal requirements.
Where to Exchange Driver’s License
To exchange your license, you must apply at one of the following offices in your place of registration:
The starosty office (w starostwie).
The city hall (w urzędzie miasta).
The district office (w urzędzie dzielnicy).
Note that documents will only be accepted at your place of registration, which means you must be registered there. (Read our article about How To Get Meldunek)
Required Documents
- Completed application form. (You will get it in office)
- Meldunek certificate
- Foreign driving licence: original + copy sworn translated to Polish (if driver license is not in English)
- Passport.
- Residence card, visa or other proof of legal stay.
- Photo for driving licence. 35×45
- Receipt of payment of PLN 100.50.
- Medical certificate if the office requires it in your case.
A medical certificate of fitness to drive is mandatory. A medical examination (orzeczenie lekarskie) is performed by a doctor authorized to examine drivers. The doctor checks vision, hearing, general health, and any medical conditions that could affect driving. The standard fee is 200 PLN. If a psychological examination is required (mainly for professional driving categories), it is paid separately.
Request Through the Consulate Regarding the Validity of a Driver’s License
You does not submit this document directly. But Urząd Miasta may make such a request.
Standard cost and timing
- State fee – 100 PLN. This is a mandatory payment.
- Medical examination – ~200–300 PLN.
- Certified translation – 50–100 PLN.
- Consulate inquiry regarding the validity of the driver’s license – ~125 PLN.
Step-by-step exchange process
- Check your local office. Use the transport department of the city hall or district office responsible for your address.
- Prepare translations. If your licence is not in a form accepted by the office, order a sworn translation.
- Pay the fee. Keep the receipt of the PLN 100.50 payment.
- Submit the application. Bring originals and copies if requested by the office.
- Wait for confirmation. The office may verify your foreign licence with the issuing country.
- Collect the Polish licence. Your original foreign licence is normally retained during exchange.
You should receive a notification via SMS or email when your license is ready. If you haven’t received one, you can check the status of your request on the dedicated website info-car.pl.
Officially, it takes 30 days to replace a driver’s license in Poland, but in practice, it usually takes 1.5 to 2 months. If there are issues with consular requests, the process may take longer. While you wait, you’ll be issued a “temporary license” — a piece of paper confirming that your application has been submitted.