Driving License in Poland for Expats
Yes, for Indefinitely for EU/EEA/Swiss licences while in force; up to 185 days per calendar year for non-EU licences. After that, you must convert to a Poland license. Good news: the official test is available in English.
Key Facts: Poland Driving License for Expats
- Test Authority
- WORD — Wojewódzki Ośrodek Ruchu Drogowego
- Official Test Language
- Polish, English, German
- Grace Period
- Indefinitely for EU/EEA/Swiss licences while in force; up to 185 days per calendar year for non-EU licences
- Processing Time
- Up to 30 days statutory issuance after a complete application is submitted; 2–3 weeks is typical at most starostwa, longer in Warsaw and Kraków
- Theory Test Required
- Yes (if no exchange agreement)
- Practical Test Required
- Yes (if no exchange agreement)
- Medical Exam
- Required
- Total Cost
- PLN 100.50 (~€23) for an in-format EU/EEA/Swiss exchange; PLN 200–450 (~€47–105) for a Convention-route exchange with translation and medical; PLN 250 (theory fee PLN 50 + licence PLN 200) plus driving-school costs (PLN 2,500–4,500 / ~€580–1,050) for a full Polish licence application from scratch
Eligibility by Nationality
EU/EEA Citizens
Driving licences issued by any EU Member State, EEA country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Switzerland remain valid in Poland until their expiry date — exchange is voluntary while the licence is in force. When the licence expires, is lost, stolen or damaged, you must apply for a new Polish driving licence; for that application a Polish medical certificate is required, and for higher categories (C1, C, D1, D and trailer variants) a psychological certificate as well.
US/UK Citizens
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are all parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, so their licences are exchanged directly under the Convention route — no theory or practical test, only document submission, fee, sworn-translator translation and a Polish medical certificate where required. Post-Brexit UK licences are still recognised under the Geneva route.
Other Non-EU Citizens
If your home country is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic or the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, you can exchange your licence for a Polish one without any driving test once you have been resident in Poland for at least 185 days in a calendar year. Licences from countries that are not party to either Convention require you to pass the Polish theory test (no practical test) before the exchange is issued.
Students
You may drive in Poland on a valid foreign licence (with an International Driving Permit if your licence is not in Latin script) for up to 185 days per calendar year. Beyond that, an exchange application is required — the same Convention-vs-non-Convention split as for other foreign residents applies.
Required Documents
- ✓Application for the issue of a driving licence (wniosek o wydanie prawa jazdy)
- ✓Passport-style colour photograph 35 × 45 mm taken within the last 6 months
- ✓Original foreign driving licence (plus a photocopy that the office keeps)
- ✓Sworn-translator or Polish-consul translation of the foreign licence — NOT required for licences issued in the EU Directive 2006/126/EC model (most modern EU plastic-card licences)
- ✓Residence card / visa / other proof of legal stay for foreigners; PESEL number / Polish ID for citizens and registered residents
- ✓Medical certificate (orzeczenie lekarskie) — required only when the foreign licence has already expired or when applying for categories C1/C/D1/D and trailer variants
- ✓Proof of payment (potwierdzenie opłaty) of the PLN 100.50 issuance fee
- ✓Declaration under Art. 233 of the Penal Code regarding the truthfulness of statements and Art. 11(1)(5) of the Driving Act regarding residence
Costs Breakdown
- Conversion/Exam Fee
- PLN 100.50 (~€23) driving-licence issuance fee — same for EU/EEA/Swiss/Convention/non-Convention applicants
- Medical Exam
- PLN 100–200 (~€23–47) at an authorised occupational-medicine doctor (uprawniony lekarz medycyny pracy) — only required when the foreign licence has expired or for HGV/PSV categories
- Translation
- PLN 50–150 (~€12–35) sworn-translator (tłumacz przysięgły) translation — NOT required for licences issued under the EU Directive 2006/126/EC model
- Total Estimated
- PLN 100.50 (~€23) for an in-format EU/EEA/Swiss exchange; PLN 200–450 (~€47–105) for a Convention-route exchange with translation and medical; PLN 250 (theory fee PLN 50 + licence PLN 200) plus driving-school costs (PLN 2,500–4,500 / ~€580–1,050) for a full Polish licence application from scratch
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 7
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 7
No Agreement (Full Test Required): There is no scenario in which BOTH the Polish theory test AND a practical test are required for exchange. A full theory + practical only applies if you start from zero (no foreign licence, or licence already cancelled / revoked).
Tips for Expats in Poland
- The 185-day rule is the single most important threshold: you must show 185 days of residence in Poland within the calendar year before you can apply for the exchange.
- The WORD theory test is fully available in English and German on the same touch-screen system — the long-standing "Polish-only" myth is no longer correct.
- If you hold a US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand licence you are exchanged under the 1949 Geneva Convention route — no theory or practical test is required despite there being no separate bilateral agreement.
- For modern EU plastic-card licences (Directive 2006/126/EC model) you do NOT need a sworn translation — the office reads the harmonised category codes directly. Bring only the original + photocopy.
- A Polish medical certificate (orzeczenie lekarskie) is only required when the foreign licence has expired or for HGV/PSV categories; in-force EU/EEA/Swiss/Convention licences exchange without one.
From a recent expat graduate
A real story from someone who got their licence as a foreigner
“I find the service invaluable. It helped me immensely and I am impressed by the format and content. First class!”I have now passed my driving theory test. The course and information was great and very helpful. The reason I had to take the test is because I am living in Chile which does not recognise the driver licence of my mother country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take the Polish theory test in English?
What is the 185-day rule?
Can I exchange my US, UK, Canadian or Australian licence in Poland?
Do EU citizens need to exchange their licence?
How much does the official Polish driving test cost?
What if my country is not party to the Vienna or Geneva Convention?
Official sources
Starostwo powiatowe (county office) or, in cities with poviat rights, the City Hall — Wydział Komunikacji. Theory and practical exams are administered by WORD (Wojewódzkie Ośrodki Ruchu Drogowego).
https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/wymien-prawo-jazdy-wydane-za-granica
License Conversion Info
https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/wymien-prawo-jazdy-wydane-za-granica