Last checked against the official source: 29 August 2026
If you move to Germany with a driving licence from a non-EU country, it stays valid for driving here for six months from the day your ordinary residence is established — not from the day you arrived, and not until the licence itself expires. That is Section 29 of the Driving Licence Ordinance (FeV). And when a translation is needed, only two kinds of body may issue it.
The rule at a glance
- Legal basis
- Section 29 of the Driving Licence Ordinance (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, FeV).
- The period
- Six months from the establishment of ordinary residence in Germany.
- Extension
- On application, the driving licence authority may extend the period by up to six further months.
- Condition for the extension
- You must show credibly that your stay in Germany will not exceed twelve months in total.
- Competent body
- The driving licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) where you live.
- Translation
- Required in defined cases, and only from defined bodies — see below.
The mistake that costs the most: the clock starts when your ordinary residence is established, which in practice tracks your address registration — not your date of entry, and not the expiry printed on the licence. Start the exchange process in your first month, not your fifth: some cases require a theory or practical test, and booking those takes time.
When your licence needs a translation
A translation is required when three descriptions apply to your licence together: it is not in German, it was issued outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, and it does not conform to the specifications of the 1968 Vienna Convention. If any one of those is not the case, the translation requirement does not arise from this provision.
Who may issue the translation
- First body
- An internationally recognised automobile club in the state that issued the licence.
- Second body
- A body designated by the German Federal Ministry of Transport.
- Note
- Not every sworn or certified translation is automatically accepted here — the provision restricts the issuing bodies. Ask the driving licence authority before you pay for a translation that may be rejected.
What to do, step by step
- Fix the date the period startsIt is the date your ordinary residence was established. Write that date down and count six months from it — not from your arrival.
- Contact the driving licence authority earlyThey decide whether your licence can simply be exchanged or whether a test is required, and that differs by issuing country. Asking in month one leaves you options; asking in month five does not.
- Get the translation from the right bodyIf one is needed, obtain it from an internationally recognised automobile club in the issuing state, or from the body designated by the Federal Ministry of Transport.
- If your stay is temporary, apply for the extensionIf you will not remain in Germany longer than twelve months in total, apply to extend the period and be ready to show that credibly.
What this page does not say: the provision we checked governs the period and the translation. Whether the exchange itself requires a theory or practical test is governed by other lists and rules that differ by issuing country — and can differ within one country by state or region. Ask the driving licence authority about your specific country, and do not rely on the experience of someone from a different one.
Official source
Please note: this page is general guidance, not legal advice. Driving without a valid entitlement in Germany is a criminal offence with consequences for your insurance and your legal status — do not rely on your own judgement here; check with the competent authority.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a foreign driving licence valid in Germany?
Six months from the date your ordinary residence in Germany is established — not from your date of entry and not until the licence expires. This is governed by Section 29 FeV, and the clock tracks your address registration in practice.
Can the six-month period be extended?
Yes. On application, the driving licence authority may extend it by up to six further months, provided you show credibly that your stay in Germany will not exceed twelve months in total.
Is my non-EU licence recognised in Germany?
Every licence issued outside the EU falls under the same six-month period. What happens afterwards — whether the exchange requires a theory or practical test — is governed by lists that differ by issuing country and can differ by federal state. Ask the driving licence authority about your country specifically.
When do I need a translation of my licence?
When three things are true together: the licence is not in German, it was issued outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, and it does not conform to the specifications of the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Who is allowed to issue the translation?
The provision restricts it to two: an internationally recognised automobile club in the issuing state, or a body designated by the German Federal Ministry of Transport. Not every certified translation is automatically accepted — ask before you pay.
When should I start the process?
In your first month. Some cases require a theory or practical test, and booking appointments for those takes time. Starting in month five is how people end up unable to drive legally.