A foreign driving license issued outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland allows you to drive in Poland for 185 days (about 6 months) from the date of obtaining permanent or temporary residence. After this period, the document must be exchanged for a Polish one.

How long can you drive on a foreign driving license in Poland

The 185-day deadline runs from the date of obtaining permanent or temporary residence in Poland, not from the day you crossed the border (art. 11 sec. 1 item 5 of the Act of 5 January 2011 on drivers of vehicles). When the basis of residence is unclear, it is worth checking this in advance in the traffic department.

After 185 days pass, a foreign driving license ceases to authorize driving a vehicle in Poland. Driving on it after the deadline is treated as driving without any authorization.

What documents are needed to exchange a driving license

The application is filed in the traffic department of the office competent for your place of residence. The following documents must be attached to the application:

  • current photo in 3.5 x 4.5 cm format,
  • two-sided copy of the foreign driving license (original for inspection),
  • translation of the driving license prepared or certified by a sworn translator,
  • copy of residence card or residence visa or certificate of at least 6-month study period.

A certificate of studies replaces a copy of the residence card in practice for foreign students who do not yet have one. Sworn translation is not required when a foreign driving license complies with the EU standard. The office identifies the applicant, among other things, by PESEL number: how to obtain it is described in a separate text about PESEL number for a foreigner.

How long does exchanging a driving license take in Poland

The matter in the office can also be handled by a representative. The waiting time for the new document depends on the office and how quickly the authority that issued the foreign driving license confirms the data; confirmation itself can take several weeks. It is best to confirm the current waiting time with the traffic department when submitting the application. It is best to file the application with a margin before the 185-day deadline passes, because after that deadline the foreign driving license no longer authorizes driving in Poland, and waiting for the Polish document can take a while.

Do you need to take an exam when exchanging

Whether a theoretical exam is required when exchanging depends primarily on the country and template of the foreign document, not on the driver's experience. The traffic department confirms this when accepting the application. If the office directs you to take the exam, you take it at the regional traffic center, and you will receive the Polish document only after passing it. That is why it is worth allowing time for this possibility before visiting the office.

Professional drivers: additional requirements

Driving a vehicle in transport requires more than just a driving license alone. A professional driver additionally needs professional qualifications with code 95 entered and current medical and psychological certificates; these are conditions independent of the document exchange itself. Qualifications obtained abroad may be recognized, but in a separate procedure than the driving license exchange.

The same principle (some qualifications are recognized based on documents, some require confirmation in a Polish procedure) also applies to other regulated professions. This is described in the text on nostrification and recognition of qualifications. Current positions and requirements can be found in job offers.

Frequently asked questions

From when is the deadline for exchange counted: from arrival or from the residence card?

From the date of obtaining permanent or temporary residence in Poland, not from the day you arrived in the country.

Do you need to translate a Ukrainian driving license with a sworn translator?

Yes, the document does not comply with the EU standard. Rules for Ukrainian citizens are sometimes changed by special regulations, though, so before submitting the application it is worth confirming with the traffic department whether a sworn translation is needed.

What is the penalty for driving on a foreign driving license after the 185-day deadline?

After the deadline passes, the document no longer authorizes driving, and driving on it is treated as driving without a license.

Where to file an application to exchange a driving license?

In the traffic department of the district or city office competent for your place of residence.

How long do you wait for a new Polish driving license after filing an application?

It depends on the office and on the country where the foreign document was issued: it is decided by the time to confirm data by the authority that issued it.

This text describes the general rules. What you are entitled to depends on your type of contract: an employment contract (umowa o pracę) or a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie). Your own contract and payslip are what count.