Driving licence in Poland for foreigners: the complete guide

Getting a driving licence in Poland as a foreigner is perfectly possible in English — the theory exam is available in English at every WORD centre, and driving schools in Warsaw teach international learners every day. What trips people up is the paperwork order, not the driving.

This guide follows the whole route: residence, PKK profile, medical certificate, the course itself, both state exams and the final document.

Who can apply for a Polish driving licence

Poland must be your normal place of residence. In practice this means one of two things: you live in Poland at least 185 days in a calendar year because of personal or work ties, or you study here. EU citizens, holders of a residence card, students and people on a work visa all qualify.

For Category B you must be at least 18 (you may start the course three months before your 18th birthday). There is no Polish language requirement — but the district office may ask for a sworn translation of foreign documents.

Step 1 — the medical certificate

A doctor authorised to examine driver candidates checks your eyesight and general health. The visit takes about 15 minutes, the certificate is issued the same day and costs around 200 PLN. Bring your glasses or lenses if you use them — the certificate will note that you must drive with them.

Step 2 — the PKK profile

PKK (Profil Kandydata na Kierowcę) is a digital driver candidate profile created by your district office. Without the PKK number no school can register you and no exam can be booked.

• Application form, filled in at the office or online through gov.pl
• Colour photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm, front-facing
• Passport or residence card
• Proof of residence or study in Poland
• Medical certificate
• Sworn translation of foreign documents, if requested

Step 3 — the course

A Category B course is 30 hours of theory and 30 hours of driving. In our school the theory is done online (e-learning), so you study in your own time, and the driving lessons are booked around your schedule with an instructor who speaks English.

The internal exam at the end of the course unlocks your PKK for the state exams.

Step 4 — the WORD exams

The theory exam is 32 questions, 74 points needed to pass, and the English version is a standard option you choose on the screen at the start. It costs 50 PLN.

The practical exam is 200 PLN per attempt and runs on the streets around the WORD centre. In Warsaw there are two: Odlewnicza (Targówek) and Bemowo. It starts with the manoeuvring yard, then roughly 25–40 minutes of city driving. You may take the exam in your own driving school car, which most learners do because the car is familiar.

What it costs in total

• Medical certificate — about 200 PLN
• Driving course — from 5290 PLN in our English programme
• Theory exam at WORD — 50 PLN
• Practical exam at WORD — 200 PLN per attempt
• Issuing the licence document — 100.50 PLN
• Extra driving lessons, if needed — 180 PLN per hour

How long it takes

Realistically two to three months: a week or two for the paperwork, four to eight weeks for the driving lessons depending on how often you drive, then two to four weeks of waiting for exam slots. Intensive options compress this considerably.

Can I just exchange my foreign licence?

If you hold an EU or EEA licence, you do not need a Polish one at all — it is valid here. Licences from countries covered by the Vienna or Geneva conventions can usually be exchanged without any exam, or with the theory exam only. Licences outside those conventions generally require the full Polish procedure. Your district office confirms which case applies to you.

We run the whole process in English, from the PKK paperwork to the exam car. Check the course options and prices, or call us and we will tell you exactly which documents your situation needs.