Driving licence (foreign) - apply for exchange
Do you have a foreign driving licence and are you moving to Germany for a longer period of time? Do you live in Germany for at least 185 days a year for personal and/or professional reasons?
In this case, your foreign driving licence is valid for another six months.
After these six months, you must exchange your driving licence for a German driving licence.
Prerequisite
foreign driving licence
Responsible department
the driving licence office of your place of residence
Is the driving licence office,
- if you live in an urban district: the city administration
- if you live in a rural district: the district administration office
Procedure
The application must be submitted in writing to the driving licence office in your place of residence or, if offered by the competent authority, as an online application. If you apply in writing, you can obtain the application form from the driving licence office. You can also submit the written application including the required evidence and documents there.
For the online application, please use the link on this page. You can upload the required evidence and documents as file attachments as part of the online application.
For an extra fee, you can apply for an express ordernorder. This will shorten the waiting time for your new driving licence. Please contact your local authority for more information.
Deadlines
Exchange within six months of entry at the latest
On application, the driving licence office can extend the deadline by up to six months.
To do so, you must prove that you will not be resident in Germany for longer than twelve months.
Required documents
- Identity card or passport
- first confirmation of registration in Germany
- a biometric passport photo
- foreign driving licence with translation, if no EU/EEA driving licence
Translations are provided by recognised automobile clubs. - in the case of an EU/EEA driving licence and a driving licence issued in one of the countries and categories listed in Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Ordinance, additionally:
- Certificate or expert opinion on physical and mental aptitude and
- Certificate or expert opinion on eyesight
You only need to submit these certificates or reports if the validity of a category C or D driving licence (including trailer and/or subcategories) needs to be extended at the same time as the exchange.
- for a non-EU/EEA driving licence that is not listed in Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Ordinance, depending on the category applied for: additionally
- Certificate or expert opinion on physical and mental aptitude
- Certificate or expert opinion on eyesight or an eye test certificate
- Proof of first aid training
- Details of the driving school, as you will also have to take the theoretical and practical driving test.
Costs
depending on the city or district: different
Miscellaneous
Nationals from EU/EEA states with a valid driving licence do not require a German driving licence, even if they are ordinarily resident in Germany.
Driving licences issued from 19 January 2013ilicences are limited to 15 years.
The time limit only applies to drivinghdriving licence document. This must be renewed every 15 years. Regular medical examinations or other checks are not associated with the document exchange.
Appeal
Objection
Information on how to lodge an objection (form and deadline) can be obtained from the responsible office (driving licence office at your place of residence)
Legal basis
Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV)
- § 28 Anerkennung von EU-EWR-Fahrerlaubnissen
- § 29 Ausländische Fahrerlaubnisse
- § 30 Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis an Fahrerlaubnisinhaber aus EU-/EWR-Staaten
- § 31 Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis an Fahrerlaubnisinhaber außerhalb des Europäischen Wirtschaftsraums
- Anlage 11 (zu § 31) Staatenliste zu den Sonderbestimmungen für Inhaber einer ausländischen Fahrerlaubnis
Straßenverkehrsgesetz (StVG)
- §2 Fahrerlaubnis und Führerschein
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 13.11.2024