Country Check: Which Route Applies to You?

The first step is finding out whether your home country qualifies for a simplified exchange or whether you'll need theory and practical exams. This single decision shapes the entire process.

✓ Verified: 18/10/2026

WHAT TO DO

Look up your country in Annex 11 of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (FeV) via the KBA website

Contact your local Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (driver licensing authority) to confirm your category and required documents
Check that your foreign license is still valid — expired licenses cannot be exchanged
Book an appointment (Termin) early — waiting times in major cities can reach 6–10 weeks

AUTHORITY

Fahrerlaubnisbehörde / Straßenverkehrsamt

Municipal authority

The driving licence office belongs to your district or city administration. Enter your postcode and we will show yours.

Enter 5 digits — we show your local office

Where to go in your city →

Three possible routes — one applies to you

Germany divides foreign license holders into three categories. Which one you fall into determines how long and how expensive the process will be.

EU / EEA countries — administrative exchange
No exams, no driving school. You simply submit documents and receive a German license.

Annex 11 countries and equivalents — simplified exchange
Countries Germany recognizes as having equivalent driver training (e.g. Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand). No theory or practical exam. Some documentation is still required. Ukraine has been on this list since 18 August 2026, for twelve classes from A1 to DE (see the questions below).

All other third countries — full licensing process
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Vietnam, Turkey, most of the Middle East and Africa, and many others. You must complete a first aid course, enroll in a driving school, and pass both theory and practical exams.

The 6-month rule is about driving, not the exchange

Under § 29 FeV, your non-EU foreign license lets you drive in Germany for only 6 months after you register your home address (Anmeldung). This is one of the most important deadlines in the whole process.

Important: after 6 months, driving on the foreign license is illegal — but this only ends your right to drive, not your right to exchange. As long as your foreign license is valid, you can still exchange it after the 6 months (exam-free for Annex 11 countries, otherwise with exams); you simply may not drive until it’s done. A full licensing process from scratch is only needed if your country is not on Annex 11 — independent of the 6-month rule.

Finding your local authority

The Fahrerlaubnisbehörde is part of your local Straßenverkehrsamt (road traffic office) or Landratsamt (county administration). Search online for “Fahrerlaubnisbehörde [your city/postcode]” or use the KBA’s authority finder.

› Details and tips

👨🏻‍💻

Max recommends:

Book your appointment at the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde as soon as you register your address in Germany — don't wait until you have all the documents. Appointment slots in large cities fill up fast, and the 6-month clock is already ticking.

👩🏼‍💼

Lea recommends:

Even if English is your primary language, try calling the authority directly — most staff speak basic English. Alternatively, bring a German-speaking friend or colleague to the appointment to help with any unexpected questions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is 'Anlage 11' and how do I know if my country is on it? ▾

Anlage 11 (Annex 11) is a list appended to Germany's Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV) that identifies countries with driver training systems deemed equivalent to Germany's. License holders from these countries can exchange without sitting theory or practical exams. Well-known countries include Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and some US states and Canadian provinces. Check the current list at the KBA (Federal Motor Transport Authority) website — it is updated periodically.

What changed for Ukrainian license holders in 2026? ▾

Ukraine has been on Annex 11 of the FeV since 18 August 2026 — we re-checked the consolidated text on 2 October 2026. The legal basis is the amending regulation of 12 August 2026 (Federal Law Gazette 2026 I No. 236, published on 17 August); under its Article 7 it took effect the day after publication. Ukraine is listed for classes A1, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE — all without a theory or practical test. For classes C1 to DE you must also prove medical fitness (Annex 5) and eyesight (Annex 6); Ukrainian class A1 corresponds to German class AM. Montenegro was added by the same regulation. The footnote itself names one exception: if the Ukrainian classes C or D were issued without class B, a theory and practical test are required after all.

I'm from Russia / Belarus / Kazakhstan — do I need to take exams? ▾

Yes. These countries are not on the Anlage 11 list. You will need to complete the full process: a first aid course, driving school enrollment, theory exam, and practical driving test. However, your years of experience will reduce the number of driving lessons required — the instructor assesses your level on a trial drive.

What exactly happens after 6 months? ▾

You may no longer drive on your foreign license (§ 29 FeV) — this is strict. But the exchange itself stays possible as long as your license is still valid: exam-free for Anlage 11 countries, and with theory and practical exams for other third countries. A full re-qualification from scratch is only required for non-listed countries — regardless of whether the 6 months have passed.

Does an International Driving Permit (IDP) extend the 6-month window? ▾

No — this is a common misconception. Under § 29 (2) FeV an International Driving Permit only serves to *prove* your foreign licence and is valid solely together with the underlying national licence; it grants no driving entitlement of its own and does not extend the six-month window. There is exactly one way to extend it, and it is a different one: under § 29 (1) sentence 5 FeV the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde may, **on application**, grant up to six further months, but only if you credibly show your ordinary residence in Germany will not last longer than twelve months. If you are staying for good, that route is closed and the exchange is the only way.