How to get a Polish driving licence: step by step

The Polish system looks bureaucratic from the outside, but it is a fixed sequence. Do the steps in order and nothing gets stuck. Here is the whole route for Category B in Warsaw.

1. Get your photo and medical certificate

Start with a compliant 3.5 × 4.5 cm colour photo and a medical examination by a doctor authorised to examine driver candidates. The visit costs around 200 PLN, and the certificate is normally issued the same day. You need both documents before applying for your PKK.

2. Apply for your PKK number

Take the photo, medical certificate, your ID and proof of residence to the district office responsible for your Warsaw address, or apply online through gov.pl with a trusted profile. The PKK is usually ready within a few working days.

3. Choose a driving school

Give the school your PKK number and they register you. Ask two questions before paying: does the instructor teach in English, and can you take the state exam in the school car? Both matter more than the headline price.

4. Complete 30 hours of theory

Traffic rules, road signs, right of way, first aid and vehicle basics. Done online in our school, so you can study in the evenings and finish at your own pace.

5. Complete 30 hours of driving

Starting on the manoeuvring yard, then quiet streets, then real Warsaw traffic — roundabouts, trams, bus lanes and the exam routes around your WORD centre.

6. Pass the internal exam

A short theory and practical check inside the school. Passing it releases your PKK for the state exams.

7. Book and pass the theory exam at WORD

Book through info-car.pl or at the centre. 32 questions, 74 of 100 points to pass, 50 PLN, available in English. The result appears on screen immediately and stays valid indefinitely.

8. Pass the practical exam

200 PLN per attempt: manoeuvring yard first, then city driving with an examiner. Failing is common and carries no penalty beyond rebooking — around half of candidates in Warsaw need more than one attempt.

9. Pay for the document

100.50 PLN to your district office. The card is usually ready in one to two weeks and you can track it on info-car.pl.

10. Two years of probation

New drivers have a probationary period: lower speed limits in the first eight months and no zero-tolerance mistakes. After two clean years the restrictions end.

Common mistakes that cost weeks

• Leaving the PKK application to the last moment — the office is the slowest step
• Booking the practical exam before you have driven the exam-area streets
• Studying theory only in Polish when the exam will be in English — learn the English wording
• Taking the exam in an unfamiliar WORD car instead of your school car

Frequently asked questions

These are the questions we hear most often before someone starts the process. The answers apply to a Category B licence in Warsaw and cover the formal steps before you even sit in a car.

What kind of photo do I need, and where do I get it?

You need a current colour photograph sized 3.5 × 4.5 cm — the same format used for a Polish ID card. Any photo studio or photo booth that does identity photos can produce it, and it is usually ready in a few minutes. Keep it plain: a light, uniform background, your face uncovered, no headwear unless worn for religious reasons. The photo is handed in with your PKK application, so order it before you go to the district office.

What does the medical exam involve and how much does it cost?

The exam is a short visit to a doctor authorised to examine driver candidates — not your family GP unless they hold that authorisation. They check your eyesight, hearing, general fitness and ask about conditions that could affect driving. It takes about 15–20 minutes, costs around 200 PLN, and the certificate is normally issued the same day. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them to the appointment; the doctor will note that you must drive with them, which then appears as a restriction code on your licence.

What is a PKK number and why do I need it?

PKK (Profil Kandydata na Kierowcę) is your candidate profile number. The district office creates it from your photo, medical certificate and ID, and it is the key that lets a driving school register you and later lets you book the state exams. Without a PKK you cannot start a course or book an exam — it is the single most important document in the whole process.

In what order do I complete the formalities?

The fixed order is: photo and medical exam first, then the PKK application, then the driving school, then the course hours, the internal exam, and finally the state theory and practical exams. Doing the photo and medical exam together makes sense because both are needed for the PKK — the doctor signs the certificate and you bring it with the photo to the district office in one visit. Skipping ahead, for example paying for a course before you have a PKK, is the most common reason a start gets delayed.

How long is the medical certificate valid?

The certificate is valid for the whole duration of your course and exams, so you do not need to repeat it before booking the state tests. If you pause the process for more than a year, ask the district office whether a new one is required — rules can change and it is worth confirming.

Can I apply for the PKK online?

Yes. If you have a trusted profile (Profil Zaufany) or a Polish e-ID, you can apply through gov.pl without visiting the office in person. Foreign residents without a trusted profile apply in person at the district office responsible for their registered Warsaw address, bringing the photo, medical certificate, ID and proof of residence.

If you want the whole sequence handled in English, our Warsaw courses cover every step, including help with the district office paperwork.

Related guides for foreign drivers

Once you have the overall route mapped out, these guides go deeper into the individual steps: