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How to Obtain a Polish Driver's License: The Ultimate Guide for Expats and Residents
Supporting the wheel in Poland provides the flexibility to explore stunning countryside, historical towns, and dynamic urbane areas at your own rate. Nevertheless, browsing the bureaucratic landscape to protect a Polish motorist's license (prawo jazdy) can feel frustrating, especially for beginners.
Whether you are converting an existing license from your home country or beginning completely from scratch, understanding the process is the key to a smooth journey. This thorough guide breaks down whatever a private requirements to understand to effectively acquire a Polish motorist's license.
Comprehending the Basics: Can You Exchange or Must You Test?
Before diving into driving schools and examinations, it is vital to determine whether a foreign license can be straight exchanged for a Polish one. Poland divides non-Polish drivers into three primary categories based on global agreements:
- EU/EFTA License Holders: Drivers holding a license issued by an EU or EFTA member state do not need to exchange their license to drive in Poland. They can drive with it till it ends. However, they might willingly exchange it for a Polish file if they live in Poland for more than 185 days a year.
- Vienna Convention Signatories: Individuals holding licenses from nations that signed the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic can usually exchange their license without taking theoretical or practical tests, offered the license is still valid.
- Non-Vienna Convention/Other Countries: Individuals from nations outside these agreements (such as the United States, Canada, or Australia) should go through the standard Polish testing process from start to finish.
License OriginTheoretical Exam Required?Practical Exam Required?Medical Exam Required?EU/ EFTANo (Voluntary exchange)No (Voluntary exchange)NoVienna ConventionNoNoYesOther Countries (e.g., USA, Canada)YesYesYesStep 1: Secure Legal Residency and Obtain a PESEL Number
To look for a motorist's license in Poland, the candidate needs to lawfully reside in the country. This indicates having a valid house card (karta pobytu), a long-lasting visa, or registration of house for EU citizens (zaświadczenie o zarejestrowaniu pobytu obywatela UE).
In addition, candidates should get a PESEL number (the Polish nationwide recognition number). Without a PESEL number, it is impossible to sign up for the state assessments or open a Profil Kandydat na Kierowcu (PKK).
Action 2: The Medical Examination
Before stepping foot in a driving school or touching a steering wheel, aspiring chauffeurs should pass a medical check-up to ensure they are physically and psychologically fit to drive.
- Where to go: Visit an authorized occupational medicine medical professional (lekarz uprawniony do badań badania kierowców).
- What to expect: A standard vision test, prawo-Jazdy-Wyszkow.pl general physical assessment, and a quick questionnaire concerning medical history.
- Expense: The standard government-regulated fee is 200 PLN.
Step 3: Get Your PKK Number (Driver Candidate Profile)
The Profil Kandydat na Kierowcu (PKK) is a special digital profile number produced by the local municipal workplace (Urząd Miasta or Starostwo Powiatowe). This number tracks the candidate's entire journey towards getting a license.
To get a PKK, send the following documents to the regional office:
- A completed application kind (offered at the workplace or online).
- The medical certificate gotten in Step 2.
- One current photo (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm).
- Evidence of legal home in Poland (Passport and Residence Card/Visa).
- A translated copy of the foreign license (if suitable for exchange).
When processed, the office will hand over the PKK number instantly or within a few days.
Step 4: Driving School (Ośrodek Szkolenia Kierowców - OSK)
For those required to take examinations, registering in a state-approved driving school is mandatory. Even for those transforming a license, taking a couple of professional lessons is highly advised to learn local traffic subtleties and test paths.
What the Course Involves:
- Theory: Typically includes 30 hours of class direction covering Polish traffic laws, roadway signs, and emergency treatment. (Many schools provide English-language courses, though tests in English need a licensed translator).
- Practice: A minimum of 30 hours behind the wheel with a licensed instructor.
Pointer: Always ask if the school supplies instruction and course products in English before paying tuition costs.
Step 5: State Examinations
As soon as the driving school marks the course as finished (or the PKK is activated for a direct exchange), the candidate should sign up for the state tests at the local WORD (Wojewódzki Ośrodek Ruchu Drogowego-- Provincial Road Traffic Center).
1. The Theoretical Exam
- Format: Computer-based test consisting of 32 multiple-choice questions with a points-based scoring system.
- Passing Score: At least 68 out of 74 points.
- Expense: 50 PLN.
2. The Practical Exam
Only after passing the theoretical test can the prospect book the practical driving test.
- Stage 1: Vehicle Preparation & & Checks: The examiner will ask the prospect to check specific fluid levels, lights, or horn operation.
- Stage 2: Maneuvers: Reversing, parking, and starting on a hill (depending upon the license classification).
- Phase 3: City Driving: Driving in real traffic conditions for a minimum of 40 minutes, obeying roadway signs, and reacting to traffic characteristics.
- Expense: 200 PLN (for Category B).
Action 6: Issuing the License
Congratulations! Upon passing both exams, the WORD center updates the digital system. The last step is to return to the local community office (Urząd) where the PKK was developed to pay the license production cost.
- Processing Fee: 100.50 PLN.
- Waiting Time: The physical plastic card usually arrives within 9 to 14 service days. Candidates can track the status of their license online through the main federal government portal (obywatel.gov.pl).
Often Asked Questions (FAQ)Can I take the Polish driving tests in English?
Yes. Many WORD centers permit applicants to take the theoretical examination in English, German, or Russian. However, for the practical test, non-Polish speakers typically must supply an authorities, sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) authorized by the WORD center to sit in the car and translate the inspector's directions.
How much does it cost in overall to get a Polish motorist's license?
For a complete novice taking lessons from scratch, the overall cost usually ranges between 2,500 PLN and 4,500 PLN, depending on the city, the driving school picked, and whether additional driving hours are needed. This includes the medical exam, state exam costs, school tuition, and the last card issuance charge.
What happens if I stop working the state examination?
Stopping working an exam prevails and nothing to fret about. Prospects can retake the theoretical or useful exam as lot of times as necessary. Nevertheless, each retake requires paying the exam fee again (50 PLN for theory, 200 PLN for practice). If a candidate stops working the practical test numerous times, some driving schools suggest taking a couple of additional hours of instruction.
Can I drive while waiting on my physical license card to be printed?
Once the system signs up that you have actually passed your exams and paid the issuance fee, you can get a short-lived digital certificate of entitlement to drive (zaświadczenie) via the mObywatel mobile app. This enables you to lawfully drive in Poland before the physical card shows up in the mail.
https://prawo-jazdy-wyszkow.pl/