Exchanging a non-EU driving licence

If your licence is from outside the EU, you usually have three months after getting long-term or permanent residence to apply for a Czech one.

If you hold a driving licence from a country outside the EU and you have permanent residence or a residence permit for more than one year, the law expects you to apply for a Czech licence within three months of that permit being granted. If you miss this and have not applied, your foreign licence no longer allows you to drive in Czechia. The office itself may still accept a late application, but driving in the meantime is the risk.

What happens next depends on your licence. A licence that fits the format of the 1968 Vienna or 1949 Geneva road traffic conventions is simply swapped. A licence that does not fit cannot just be swapped: you will need to pass the Czech driving exams (theory and practical) and get a medical fitness certificate from a doctor. Since 2024 you no longer need to take the full driving-school course first; you can go straight to the exams, though many schools want an interpreter and a few test lessons.

Licences from Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are recognised on a reciprocal basis. They can be exchanged without exams, but you need a medical certificate no older than 30 days and an international licence or a certified Czech translation.

Licence exchange goes to the driver register of your city, not the Foreign Police. Bring your foreign licence (it must still be valid), passport and residence card showing your address. If you do not have permanent residence, you may also need to prove you have lived here at least 185 days in a calendar year. The office takes your photo or pulls it from state records.

Fees vary in how they are described: Brno's official expat service quotes CZK 200 for standard issue, while Prague's integration portal describes the standard exchange as free. Both list CZK 700 for issue within five working days. Check the exact amount at your counter.

In Brno

In Brno the driver register is at Kounicova 67 (counters 24 to 28), open Monday and Wednesday 8:00 to 17:00 and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:00 to 12:00. Online booking is recommended. You hand over your foreign licence when you collect the Czech one.

In Prague

In Prague the driver register is at Prague City Hall's Transport Department, Na Pankráci 1685/17, Praha 4 (Business Centrum Vyšehrad).

Step by step

1. Note the date your permanent residence or long-term permit was granted and add three months.
2. Check whether your licence fits the Vienna or Geneva convention format, or comes from Japan, South Korea or the UAE.
3. If it does not fit, book the Czech driving exams through a driving school and get a medical certificate from a doctor.
4. Book an appointment at your city's driver register and bring your licence, passport and residence card.
5. Pay the fee and come back to collect the Czech licence, handing over the foreign one.

Last checked 2026-11-09. Open this guide in the app to add the dates to your calendar.