Moving to Poland or staying in the country for an extended period involves a number of formalities. If you intend to drive, you should verify whether your foreign driving licence is recognised in Poland, how long you may use it and whether exchanging it will require you to pass an examination.
Legal status of this article: 5 August 2026.
Does a foreign driving licence allow you to drive in Poland?
Not all foreign driving licences are treated in the same way under Polish law. Polish regulations distinguish, among others, between:
- driving licences issued by European Union Member States;
- driving licences issued by Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein;
- driving licences covered by the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic;
- international driving permits covered by the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic;
- other foreign driving licences that do not correspond to documents defined in these conventions.
The relevant factor is the country and authority that issued the driving licence, rather than the driver’s citizenship.
Driving licences issued in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
A valid driving licence issued by an EU Member State, Switzerland or a country belonging to the European Economic Area is recognised in Poland throughout its period of validity.
Moving to Poland does not, by itself, create an obligation to exchange such a licence immediately.
An exchange may be necessary when the document:
- expires;
- is lost, stolen or damaged;
- requires personal details to be updated;
- must be replaced for another specific reason provided by law.
A holder of a valid licence issued by one of these countries may also apply voluntarily for a Polish driving licence.
Driving licences issued outside the EU and EEA
For driving licences issued outside the European Union, Switzerland and the European Economic Area, the applicable rules depend on whether the document is recognised under an international road traffic convention.
Polish law recognises, among others:
- an international driving permit defined in the 1949 Geneva Convention;
- a national or international driving licence defined in the 1968 Vienna Convention.
A document covered by these rules generally authorises its holder to drive in Poland for six months from the date on which the holder begins permanent or temporary residence in Poland.
Six months, not 183 days
There is no “183-day rule” governing the validity of foreign driving licences in Poland.
The relevant period is six months from the date on which permanent or temporary residence in Poland begins. This means six calendar months, not 183 or 185 days.
It should not automatically be assumed that this period begins only on the date when the person:
- receives a residence card;
- registers their address;
- receives a residence permit decision.
The law refers to the beginning of permanent or temporary residence. Where this date is unclear, it should be determined on the basis of the actual circumstances and documents relating to the person’s stay.
What is the 185-day rule?
The 185-day requirement concerns a different issue.
To receive a Polish driving licence, a person must generally stay in Poland for at least 185 days in each calendar year because of their personal or professional ties. Alternatively, the person may provide a certificate confirming that they have studied in Poland for at least six months.
It is therefore important to distinguish between:
- six months – the period during which certain foreign driving licences may be used in Poland;
- 185 days – a residence requirement connected with the issuance of a Polish driving licence.
These are two separate legal rules.
Do you need an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit, commonly referred to as an IDP, does not replace a national driving licence. It is valid only when used together with a valid national licence.
Whether an IDP is required depends on:
- the country that issued the national licence;
- the form and content of the national document;
- the convention to which the issuing country is a party;
- the type of international driving permit issued.
If you are planning to come to Poland, the IDP should be obtained before travelling, from the competent authority in the country that issued your national driving licence.
An international driving permit cannot be exchanged for a Polish driving licence. The document that may be exchanged is the foreign national driving licence.
What should you do after six months?
If your foreign driving licence is subject to the six-month limitation, you should not continue driving in Poland solely on the basis of that document after the six-month period has expired.
If you continue to reside in Poland and wish to drive, you should apply for a Polish driving licence on the basis of your foreign national licence.
This procedure is commonly referred to as an exchange of a foreign driving licence.
Is an examination required when exchanging the licence?
Not in every case.
If the foreign driving licence is a document defined in the applicable international road traffic convention, exchanging it will generally not require a Polish driving examination.
However, if the document is not a driving licence defined in the Geneva or Vienna Convention, the applicant must additionally:
- pass the theoretical part of the Polish state driving examination;
- provide an authenticated translation of the foreign document.
A practical driving test is not required as part of this type of exchange. Exceptions may arise under international agreements or the principle of reciprocity.
The final assessment depends on the specific document. The Polish authority may verify its format, authenticity, categories and the legal basis for its recognition.
Canadian driving licences – is an examination required?
A holder of a standard driving licence issued by a Canadian province should generally assume that passing the theoretical part of the Polish state examination will be required when exchanging the licence for a Polish one.
A practical driving test is not normally required.
Canada is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, but this does not automatically mean that every national driving licence issued by a Canadian province can be exchanged in Poland without an examination. The decisive issue is the specific document being exchanged and whether it corresponds to a driving licence defined in the relevant convention.
A Canadian International Driving Permit may be useful when driving temporarily in Poland, but:
- it must be used together with the Canadian national driving licence;
- it cannot itself be exchanged for a Polish driving licence;
- it does not automatically remove the theoretical examination requirement applicable when exchanging a Canadian national licence.
A person holding a standard Canadian driving licence should therefore expect to take the theoretical examination unless the competent Polish authority confirms, after reviewing the particular document, that a specific exception applies.
Special rules for UK driving licences
For driving licences issued in the United Kingdom, the date of issuance is relevant.
A UK driving licence issued by 31 December 2020 is generally recognised in Poland throughout its period of validity.
A licence issued from 1 January 2021 generally authorises its holder to drive in Poland for six months from the beginning of permanent or temporary residence. After that period, the licence should be exchanged. The exchange of a UK driving licence generally does not require an examination.
Where should the application be submitted?
The application must be submitted to the authority competent for the applicant’s place of residence:
- the district authority, or starostwo powiatowe;
- the city office, if the applicant lives in a city with district rights;
- the competent district office if the applicant lives in Warsaw.
The exact list of documents depends on the type of driving licence and the applicant’s circumstances.
The documents usually include:
- an application for a Polish driving licence;
- a current photograph;
- a passport or another identity document;
- a document confirming legal stay in Poland;
- documents confirming the place of residence;
- a copy of the foreign driving licence;
- the original foreign driving licence for inspection and subsequent surrender;
- an authenticated translation, where required;
- proof of payment of the applicable fee.
A medical certificate is not automatically required in every case. It may be necessary, for example, where the entitlement or document is expiring, health restrictions apply or the exchange concerns certain professional categories.
Verification of the foreign driving licence
Before issuing a Polish driving licence, the authority may contact the foreign issuing authority to confirm:
- the authenticity of the document;
- its validity;
- the categories held;
- that the licence has not been suspended or revoked.
This verification may take several weeks and, in some cases, longer.
If a theoretical examination is required, the authority creates a Driver Candidate Profile, known in Polish as a Profil Kandydata na Kierowcę or PKK. The applicant uses the PKK number to register for the examination at a Provincial Road Traffic Centre, known as a WORD.
After the examination has been passed and the verification process completed, the Polish driving licence may be issued.
What happens to the foreign driving licence?
A Polish driving licence can be issued only after the foreign national driving licence has been surrendered.
The foreign document is subsequently sent to the competent authority of the country that issued it. A person cannot retain two valid national driving licences at the same time.
Important Polish traffic rules
Regardless of the type of driving licence held, every driver must comply with Polish road traffic regulations.
Drivers should remember that:
- dipped-beam headlights must be used throughout the day, although daytime running lights may be used from dawn to dusk in normal visibility;
- a driver’s blood alcohol level must remain below 0.2‰;
- drivers and passengers must wear seat belts, subject to statutory exceptions;
- a child under 150 cm tall must generally be transported in an appropriate child restraint system, subject to statutory exceptions;
- road signs and speed limits must be observed;
- using a mobile phone while driving in a manner that requires holding it in the hand is prohibited.
Summary
Before driving in Poland, you should establish:
- which country issued your driving licence;
- whether the document is recognised under an applicable convention;
- whether an International Driving Permit is required;
- when your permanent or temporary residence in Poland began;
- whether the six-month period has already expired;
- whether a theoretical examination will be required when exchanging the licence.
Particular care is needed in relation to driving licences issued outside the EU and EEA. The fact that a country is a party to a road traffic convention does not necessarily mean that every national document issued by that country can be exchanged without an examination.
If you have doubts concerning the validity of your driving licence, the obligation to exchange it or the theoretical examination requirement, contact our law firm. We will review your document and assist you throughout the procedure for obtaining a Polish driving licence.
