Transforming
Transfer of foreign driving licences from
non-EU/EEA countries
On this page you will find information on the use and transfer of your foreign driving licence if it has been issued in a country that does not belong to the EU or the EEA.
Do you have an EU/EEA driving licence? Information on your EU/EEA driving licence can be found here
Contents of this page
Can I drive in Germany with my foreign driving licence?
If you have a valid foreign driving licence, you may not drive motor vehicles in the categories for which your driving licence is issued for more than six months in Germany. You must also observe conditions and restrictions on your driving licence here in Germany.
The driving licence must be carried with you when driving the motor vehicle.
The driving licence must be carried with you when driving the motor vehicle.
For most national foreign driving licences, you also need an international driving licence or an official translation.
How long can I drive?
As long as you do not yet have a residence in Germany and are only visiting Germany, you may drive indefinitely. As soon as you register your normal place of residence (main residence) in Germany, you are allowed to drive for another six months. Your driving licence will no longer be recognised after this period. You will then need a German driving licence. The six-month driving licence cannot be extended. Please apply for the transfer of your foreign driving licence in good time.
As long as you do not yet have a residence in Germany and are only visiting Germany, you may drive indefinitely. As soon as you register your normal place of residence (main residence) in Germany, you are allowed to drive for another six months. Your driving licence will no longer be recognised after this period. You will then need a German driving licence. The six-month driving licence cannot be extended. Please apply for the transfer of your foreign driving licence in good time.
Exception: If it is clear from the outset that you will not be resident in Germany for longer than 12 months, you can apply for an extension of your driving licence (subject to a fee) at the driving licence authority. Corresponding evidence of your stay must be presented.
Attention: The processing time for an application for a driver's license transfer at the Berlin driving license authority is currently up to 6 months! Therefore the application should be made as early as possible. Driving without a valid driving license is a criminal offence in Germany and will be punished with a fine or imprisonment.
Will my foreign driving licence be recognised in Germany?
In order for your foreign driving licence from a non-EU/EEA country to be recognised and rewritten in Germany, certain requirements must be met:
- You must be in possession of the original of your foreign driving licence document.
You are not allowed to drive without the original driving licence. Also the conversion into a German driving licence can only be applied for with an original of the foreign driving licence. - The foreign driving licence must be valid.
You are not allowed to drive with an invalid foreign driving licence. The driver's license must still be valid for the transfer. - It may not be a learner's licence or any other provisional driving licence.
A learning licence is not valid in Germany and cannot be rewritten.
For example, a provisional driving licence is not recognised if it is not an official driving licence document with a photograph. In addition, no examinations may be required in the issuing state for the acquisition of the final driving licence.
In individual cases, the driving licence authority decides during application processing. - The foreign driving licence must have been acquired before moving to Germany or during a stay abroad of at least 6 months.
A driver's license that was acquired abroad while the normal residence was in Germany is not recognized and cannot be rewritten.
In case of doubt, it may be necessary to submit documents about the stay abroad or to prove that the first driving licence was acquired before moving to Germany (if the current driving licence was issued later).
What do I have to do to convert my foreign driving licence into a German driving licence?
Further information
In order to be able to continue driving motor vehicles in Germany with your foreign driving licence after expiry of your driving licence, you need a German driving licence.
In order to obtain this, you must apply for a transfer of the foreign driving licence.
There is no deadline within which this application must be submitted.
It should only be noted that the original foreign driving licence must be available and still be valid at the time of application.
In order to obtain this, you must apply for a transfer of the foreign driving licence.
There is no deadline within which this application must be submitted.
It should only be noted that the original foreign driving licence must be available and still be valid at the time of application.
Which documents must be submitted for the application and whether you have to take driving licence examinations depends on the country in which your driving licence was issued:
- "Countries of Annex 11"
With some countries, including Switzerland, Israel, Canada, Australia and many American states, Germany has concluded an agreement on the mutual simplified transfer of driving licences. Driving licences from these countries require fewer application documents and, as a rule, no examinations. - other countries - "third countries"
If your driving licence was not issued in an EU/EEA country and not in a country listed in Annex 11, you will have to take theoretical and practical tests for all the categories you wish to transfer.The first step is to apply for the transfer and submit all the necessary documents. Once your application has been processed, you will be asked to take the exams in writing. For the practical exam you need a driving school. We recommend that you take the ASPHALT PROFIS FAHRSCHULE.
Once the application has been processed and you have passed any necessary examinations, the German driving licence will be handed over to you by the driving licence authority.
For all transcriptions, the foreign driving licence is withdrawn when the German driving licence is issued and sent back to the country of issue or stored. In individual cases, the withdrawal of the foreign driving licence may be waived if a written explanation is submitted as to why the foreign driving licence is still required. In principle, the German driving licence is also valid abroad.
For all transcriptions, the foreign driving licence is withdrawn when the German driving licence is issued and sent back to the country of issue or stored. In individual cases, the withdrawal of the foreign driving licence may be waived if a written explanation is submitted as to why the foreign driving licence is still required. In principle, the German driving licence is also valid abroad.
Further informations
Detailed information on the recognition of foreign driving licences in Germany can also be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Transport. There you will also find the following information sheet in various languages. In the leaflet you will find, for example, more detailed information on whether you need an international driving licence or a translation in Germany.
Detailed information on the recognition of foreign driving licences in Germany can also be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Transport. There you will also find the following information sheet in various languages. In the leaflet you will find, for example, more detailed information on whether you need an international driving licence or a translation in Germany.
Information on which documents are required for the application and where you can submit the application
Preconditions
- Main residence in Berlin
If Berlin is a secondary residence, the application can only be made in justified exceptional cases and with the consent of the authority of the primary residence. - Personal appointment is required.
Required documents
- Identity card or passport
- 1 current biometric photo
- Presentation of the valid foreign driving licence and a copy of the driving licence. The foreign driver's license must still be valid at the time of applying for the German driver's license and be available in the original. International driving licences are not converted, a valid national driving licence is always required.
- Translation of the foreign driving licence. A translation is always required if the driving licence is not issued in German or English. In case of doubt, the driving licence authority will decide whether a translation of the foreign driving licence is required. The translation will then be requested when the application is processed. The simultaneous presentation of an international driving licence is then helpful.
- Proof of first aid training (third country). Required only when registering a driving licence from a third country.
- Eye test (for car and motorbike licences, classes A and B)
Third countries: An eye test is always required when a passenger car or motorcycle class is described.
Appendix 11: An eye test is not normally required unless a footnote in the list of countries indicates that an eye test is required.
- Transfer of a foreign driving licence without examination: 35,00 Euro
- Transfer of a foreign driving licence with examination: 42,60 Euro
Responsible in Berlin is the
Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten
Fahrerlaubnisbehörde
Puttkamerstr. 16 - 18
10958 Berlin
10958 Berlin
(030) 90269-2300
In addition, the transfer of a foreign driving licence can be applied for at any Berlin citizens' office.
You can search and book a free date in the whole city of Berlin here.
You can search and book a free date in the whole city of Berlin here.
8 steps to your German driving license (third countries)
1
translation
If you do not have an international driver's license or your home country's driver's license is not in English, please have your driver's license translated.
We recommend the
ADAC (Automobile Club)
Office Alexanderplatz
Alexanderstraße 1
10178 Berlin
more informations here
We recommend the
ADAC (Automobile Club)
Office Alexanderplatz
Alexanderstraße 1
10178 Berlin
more informations here
2 photo & eyetest
Go to a photo booth or photographer and have a biometric passport photo taken.
Visit an ophthalmologist or optician and have an official eye test performed.
3
first aid
course
Book and take a first aid course. If you don't speak German, you should book a course in English. You can take ahere passport photo and an eyetest too.
We recommend this organization:
We recommend this organization:
Erste Hilfe Station
4 authority
Book an appointment and visit the driver's license authority or a citizen's office to apply for your driver's license transfer. In the previous section you will find the links for booking an appointment.
If you do not speak German, you should be accompanied by a German-speaking person.
You should absolutely state if you want to take your driving test on an automatic car. In this case, however, you will only be allowed to drive automatic cars later.
You will be asked, which testing organisation you want to take your exams with, DEKRA or TÜV. We recommend the DEKRA in Hohenschönhausen.
If you do not speak German, you should be accompanied by a German-speaking person.
You should absolutely state if you want to take your driving test on an automatic car. In this case, however, you will only be allowed to drive automatic cars later.
You will be asked, which testing organisation you want to take your exams with, DEKRA or TÜV. We recommend the DEKRA in Hohenschönhausen.
You should also specify a driving school with which you want to take the practical driving test. This is where we come in - the "Asphalt Profis Fahrschule".
5 theoryexam
Before you take a theory exam at your desired exam organization, you should thoroughly prepare yourself for it.
You are not legally obliged to attend a driving school. However, we recommend that you purchase an English-language learning app from us. In addition, you can take English theory lessons with us for a fee in order to prepare yourself perfectly for your theory exam.
As soon as you have received the official admission to the exam from the driving licence authority, you can take your theory exam.
If it didn't work the first time, that's no problem. After 14 days you can repeat the exam.
You are not legally obliged to attend a driving school. However, we recommend that you purchase an English-language learning app from us. In addition, you can take English theory lessons with us for a fee in order to prepare yourself perfectly for your theory exam.
As soon as you have received the official admission to the exam from the driving licence authority, you can take your theory exam.
If it didn't work the first time, that's no problem. After 14 days you can repeat the exam.
6driver training
There is no legal requirement as to how many driving lessons you must take before your exam. Without preparation you will not be able to pass a driving test.
If you have registered with the "Asphalt-Profis Fahrschule", your driving instructor will be able to give you an estimate of how many driving lessons you should take before the exam after your first driving lessons. This varies from student to student and also depends on how much driving experience you have and where you drove before.
Exercises on motorways and country roads are not mandatory for you, but if you have never driven on a German motorway before, we strongly recommend that you practice with us.
If you have registered with the "Asphalt-Profis Fahrschule", your driving instructor will be able to give you an estimate of how many driving lessons you should take before the exam after your first driving lessons. This varies from student to student and also depends on how much driving experience you have and where you drove before.
Exercises on motorways and country roads are not mandatory for you, but if you have never driven on a German motorway before, we strongly recommend that you practice with us.
7driving exam
If you and your driving instructor are convinced that you are ready for the exam, your driving school will register you for the practical exam.
Before the exam, the fee must be paid to the exam organization. Within 45 minutes you - like any driver's license applicant - have to prove that you can drive a vehicle safely and regularly in traffic. This also includes backwards parking, lengthwise and crosswise, as well as emergency braking.
If you have passed your exam successfully, you will receive a temporary driving license, which is only valid in connection with your passport and within Germany for 3 months.
Before the exam, the fee must be paid to the exam organization. Within 45 minutes you - like any driver's license applicant - have to prove that you can drive a vehicle safely and regularly in traffic. This also includes backwards parking, lengthwise and crosswise, as well as emergency braking.
If you have passed your exam successfully, you will receive a temporary driving license, which is only valid in connection with your passport and within Germany for 3 months.
8
pick up
After four weeks you can pick up your German driving licence at the driving licence authority. You must hand in your old driving licence from your home country, which will either be returned to the issuing authority or kept in safe custody.
In justified exceptional cases it is possible to deviate from this rule. A written explanation is required for this.
To pick you up you have to go to the
In justified exceptional cases it is possible to deviate from this rule. A written explanation is required for this.
To pick you up you have to go to the
Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten
Fahrerlaubnisbehörde
Puttkamerstr. 16 - 18
10958 Berlin
Fahrerlaubnisbehörde
Puttkamerstr. 16 - 18
10958 Berlin
An appointment is not necessary for this.
Prices and Fees
We always strive to provide our customers with suitable offers. Therefore, we ask you to contact our office for detailed advice. We will then make you a serious and suitable price offer and explain to you all the official fees for the transfer of your driving license.