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Transport

Driving Licence Exchange

Learn how to exchange a driving licence in Poland — after expiry, loss or damage, or when converting a foreign licence. Check required documents, fees, and processing time.

Zweryfikowano: 31.03.2026·gov.pl — Exchange your driving licence
up to 9 business days

Variants

How to handle it — step by step

Exchange after expiry
Gather documents — exchange after expiry

To exchange an expired driving licence you need:

  • Application for driving licence issuance — form available at the starostwo or online
  • Current driving licence — to be returned
  • Colour photo 35×45 mm — recent, taken no more than 6 months before application
  • Medical certificate — if your medical examination validity has expired
  • National ID card or passport

You can submit the application before expiry — do not wait until the last day.

Documents

  • Current driving licenceRequiredTo be returned when collecting the new one
  • Colour photo 35×45 mmRequiredRecent, taken no more than 6 months before application
  • Medical certificateOptionalRequired if the medical examination validity has expired or you have health restrictions
  • National ID card or passportRequired
Apply in advance — don't wait until the last day of validity
A cat. B driving licence is valid for 15 years — check the date on your document
A medical certificate is required only if the examination has expired or you have health restrictions
Exchange after loss or damage
Report loss or damage of driving licence

If your driving licence was lost, stolen or damaged, you must report it.

How to report?

  • In person — at the starostwo or city hall
  • Online — via gov.pl (requires a Trusted Profile)

Theft

If the licence was stolen — also report it to the police.

After reporting, the old driving licence is invalidated in the CEPiK system.

Documents

  • National ID card or passportRequired
  • Damaged driving licenceOptionalIf damaged (not lost) — bring it to the office
Reporting the loss invalidates the old document — if you find it, you can no longer use it
After reporting you can immediately apply for a new driving licence
Until you receive the new document you can show your driving licence in the mObywatel app
Exchange after loss or damage
Gather documents — duplicate driving licence

After reporting the loss or damage, prepare documents for the new driving licence application:

  • Colour photo 35×45 mm — recent
  • National ID card or passport
  • Damaged driving licence — if you have it (to be returned)

A medical examination is not required unless your medical examination validity has expired.

Documents

  • Colour photo 35×45 mmRequiredRecent, taken no more than 6 months before application
  • National ID card or passportRequired
  • Damaged driving licenceOptionalIf you have it — to be returned
The photo must meet the same requirements as for a national ID card — 35×45 mm, colour, on a light background
You do not need a medical examination if the validity has not expired
Exchange a foreign driving licence for a Polish one
Complete a medical examination (foreign licence exchange)

When exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Polish one, a medical certificate confirming no contraindications to driving is required.

The examination is performed by a doctor authorised to examine drivers.

Additionally, if you are exchanging a licence from a country outside the EU/EEA, you may be required to pass a theory test at WORD (the practical part is not required).

Documents

  • National ID card or passportRequired
  • Foreign driving licenceRequired

Fees

Payment methodFee
cash

Exemptions: Market price — may vary depending on the clinic

200,00 PLN
EU/EEA driving licences can be exchanged without an exam — a medical certificate is sufficient
Exchanging a licence from outside the EU/EEA may require a theory test at WORD
Check whether your country has a mutual recognition agreement with Poland
Exchange a foreign driving licence for a Polish one
Gather documents — foreign licence exchange

To exchange a foreign driving licence for a Polish one you need:

  • Foreign driving licence — original (to be retained by the office)
  • Sworn translation of the driving licence into Polish
  • Medical certificate — from the examination in the previous step
  • Colour photo 35×45 mm — recent
  • National ID card or passport
  • Proof of residence in Poland — e.g. certificate of registered address

The foreign driving licence will be retained by the office and returned to the issuing country.

Documents

  • Foreign driving licenceRequiredOriginal — will be retained and returned to the issuing country
  • Sworn translation of driving licenceRequiredInto Polish — does not apply to English-language documents from EU countries
  • Medical certificateRequired
  • Colour photo 35×45 mmRequired
  • National ID card or passportRequired
  • Proof of residence in PolandRequiredE.g. certificate of registered address or address confirmation document
A sworn translation costs approx. 50–100 PLN — it must be done by a certified translator
EU/EEA driving licences do not require translation if they use the Latin alphabet
The office verifies the authenticity of the foreign licence — the process may take longer
Submit your application at the starostwo

The driving licence exchange application is submitted in person at the transport department of the county starostwo or city hall for your place of residence.

Visit procedure

  1. Submit the completed application with the full set of documents
  2. Pay the fee of 100.50 PLN
  3. Receive the application confirmation

In many offices you can book an appointment online.

Documents

  • Application for driving licence issuanceRequiredForm available at the office or downloadable from the starostwo website
  • Full set of documentsRequiredDepending on the variant — see previous steps

Fees

Payment methodFee
bank transfer
100,50 PLN
Book an appointment online — many offices offer this and it reduces waiting time
The 100.50 PLN fee can be paid by bank transfer to the office account or in cash at the counter
You can submit the application at any starostwo — you do not need to go to the office for your registered address
Collect your new driving licence

The new driving licence is produced by PWPW and delivered to the office. Processing usually takes up to 9 business days.

How to collect?

  1. Check readiness at info-car.pl or by calling the office
  2. Visit the same transport department
  3. Bring your identity document and current driving licence (if you have it — to be returned)
  4. Collect the new document

Until collecting the new licence you can show the document in the mObywatel app.

Documents

  • National ID card or passportRequired
  • Current driving licenceOptionalTo be returned — if you have it
Check the production status at info-car.pl — enter your PESEL number
Check all data on the new driving licence immediately when collecting
The driving licence in mObywatel is a fully valid document — you can use it until collecting the physical card
The new cat. B driving licence is valid for 15 years from the date of issue

After completion

Update your insurance details

If your driving licence number has changed — notify your insurer to update the OC/AC policy.

Check your details in mObywatel

The new driving licence should appear automatically in the mObywatel app — check that the data is correct.

More information
Note the expiry date of the new document

A cat. B driving licence is valid for 15 years from the date of issue. Note the date in your calendar so you don't miss the next exchange.

Consider an international driving permit

If you plan to drive outside the EU/EEA — check whether you need an international driving permit.

More information

Sources