Do you need to exchange your licence?
Once you become a resident of Poland, most foreign driving licences must be exchanged for a Polish one within a set period. Continuing to drive on an expired or non-exchangeable foreign licence can mean fines and insurance problems if anything goes wrong on the road.
Which countries qualify?
- EU / EEA / Switzerland: exchange is a formality — no exam.
- Countries in the 1968 Vienna Convention (most African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries — Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Philippines, Vietnam and many more): exchange is possible, sometimes with only a theory exam in Polish or English.
- Countries in the 1949 Geneva Convention only (e.g. USA, Japan): a Polish theory exam is normally required.
- Countries outside both conventions: a full Polish licence procedure is usually needed.
We check your exact country and licence category first, and only then commit to a procedure — no surprises halfway through.
Documents you'll need
- Your original foreign driving licence.
- A sworn translation into Polish (we arrange this).
- Passport and residence document (visa, TRC or EU registration).
- PESEL number and address registration (meldunek).
- A recent photograph meeting Polish licence standards.
- Confirmation of payment of the exchange fee.
Is there a theory test?
For many countries yes — a short theoretical exam covering Polish road signs, right of way and basic traffic rules. It is available in English at most WORD test centres, so Polish is not required. We prepare you with a focused study list based on where you're likely to be tested.
Realistic timeline
- Simple exchange (EU / Vienna Convention, no exam): typically 3–6 weeks.
- Exchange with theory exam: add 2–4 weeks for scheduling and passing.
- Full re-licensing (no exchange path): 3–6 months including practical exam.
How we help
- Verify that your licence is exchangeable and identify the correct category equivalence.
- Prepare and sworn-translate all documents.
- Submit the file to the relevant Starostwo or Urząd Miasta.
- Book your test slot if one is required and give you an English-language study brief.
- Confirm collection of your new Polish driving licence.
If your TRC or residence status also needs attention, we can bundle everything — see our legalization of stay service.