If you hold a driving licence from an EU or EEA country, it stays valid in Germany. A licence from anywhere else is valid for six months after you take up residence here. After that, driving on it counts as driving without a licence, which is a criminal offence.
Whether you need to take tests
| Your licence is from | What you need |
|---|---|
| An EU or EEA country | Nothing. It remains valid. |
| A country on the Annex 11 list of the Driving Licence Regulation (FeV) | An exchange without tests, or with a theory test only, depending on the country and licence class. |
| Any other country | The theory and practical tests, usually with lessons at a driving school. |
The Annex 11 list changes from time to time; licences from Ukraine and Montenegro were added in August 2026. Check the current list for your country and licence class.
Check the Annex 11 country list
The official list of countries whose licences can be exchanged, and which tests each needs.
Go to Gesetze im InternetApplying
- Your foreign licence, which must still be valid, plus a certified translation if it isn't in German or an international format.
- Passport and Meldebescheinigung.
- A biometric photo.
- An eye test certificate and a first-aid course certificate, if you're taking the tests.
Apply at the licence office (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde or Führerscheinstelle) for your address. Your foreign licence is usually kept once you receive the German one.
Track Driver's license in HomeSettled
HomeSettled counts down the six months from your Anmeldung.
Sources
Rules and amounts change. Check the official source before you rely on a figure.