How Much Does an EU Driving License Cost?
Everyone dreams of having a driving license that will never expire. The reality is quite different.
The process of obtaining the Polish driver's license can be a bit complicated. The most important ones are medical examinations, theory and practical lessons. It is also important to meet the age requirements for the category of the driving license.
1. Medical exam
The first thing to be done to get your driving license is obtaining a doctor's approval (orzeczenie lekarskie) that you are able to drive. It may sound odd but this is the way it operates in Poland. The doctor will ask you a lot of questions that aren't really relevant to your health, for instance, the possibility of problems with your eyesight or any other medical issues and will never physically examine you in any way. The cost for this test is about 200 PLN.
If you're from a nation that is part of the EU, EEA, or an EEA member under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic you don't need to take this extra step since your driving license will be accepted as valid in Poland. If you're from a country that is not a member you must pass both a theory and a practice test as well as an examination for medical reasons to get a Polish driving license.
Both of these tests can be taken in English however it is a bit of a hit or miss based on the centre. Contact the centre ahead of time to confirm availability before making an appointment. It is also worth mentioning that in the event that you don't have a sufficient amount of Polish to pass the test, you'll need to book an interpreter for the entire day.
Once you have your medical certificate, you will need to visit the district authority to fill out an individual driver profile (PKK Profile Kandydata na Kierowce). You will need to take an image of your passport, proof of your residency in Poland and a recent photo in colour.
You then go to an office with a specific purpose in which they create your personal file and scan your documents. They then distribute them to your. At this point you can begin preparing for the tests and enroll at a driving academy. WORD is readily available in all major cities, and even in smaller ones. However certain schools require payment to run their courses.
2. Theory test
If you hold a driving license issued abroad, it is valid in Poland as long as you carry an International Driving Permit ('IDP') along with it. You must have an IDP for any car used in Poland for longer than six months. In other cases, it is required to exchange it for the Polish driving license. The process requires that you meet four criteria to be a Polish resident, you must have passed medical exams and pass the state-approved driving test and then take driving lessons in a government-approved school.
You'll need to submit the Driving Candidate Profile, as well as other documents to take the state-issued driving test. Those include your ID and medical certificate, a valid driving instructor's report and a photocopy of your visa or residency permit. The driving test itself consists of two parts: the theoretical portion and the practical. The theory portion consists of 32 multiple-choice questions covering topics like traffic signs, road signs and emergency procedures, as well as safe driving techniques. To pass you must be able to answer 26 questions.
The practical part of the driving exam involves driving a vehicle on a public roadway under supervised supervision. During this period, a driver will be observing your ability to observe the rules of driving on the road particularly in challenging situations such as city streets or highways. The duration of the practical test is about 40 minutes.
Before you can take your state driving test, you must apply for a PKK at the Province Road Traffic Centers. To do this, you will need: your identity document and proof of payment of the required fee and a picture of yourself. If you don't know Polish, a professional translator can accompany you during the examination.
3. Practical test
You'll have to pass the practical test if you're driving with a foreign driver's license. It's a tougher test than the one for theory and the rate of passing is low. fahrschule in polen is only possible to take the test on the spot if you are legally living in Poland. If you're not, the driving licence will be indefinite and when you're stopped by police you may be fined for driving with an official driver's license.
To pass the test, you need to submit a completed application form, which is on the internet and must be filled out in Polish (Google Translate can help). You also need to have medical evidence that shows you're qualified to drive.
Bring a photo ID and evidence of health insurance coverage, and a recent colour photograph (size 3,5cm x 4,5cm). You will be required to be registered as a driver with the Department of Civil Affairs. This requires that you fill out a Driver Profile of the Candidate (RKK) to be issued a code to use within the system.
The process is often complicated and time-consuming, particularly if you're not familiar with Polish language. It's recommended to employ an English-speaking instructor and to schedule your lessons in advance. You can also find driving schools that offer English lessons in some regions.
Anyone who is applying for an Polish driving license has to provide a copy of the residence permit or visa for non-EU citizens. This is required to prove that you've lived in Poland for at least the period of 185 days.
The office will also require a proof of payment for practical and theory tests. The total cost should be approximately 1500 PLN. You can pay in cash however it doesn't guarantee speedier processing of your documents. The whole process takes around two to four weeks. In some locations it could take longer. Contact your local office if are unsure of the deadlines.
4. Documents
For foreigners who have emigrated to Poland and would like to drive, obtaining a Polish driver's license is vital to avoid issues with insurance for cars. However, before they can do that, they must pass the theory test and this costs them. This is easier for foreigners who are citizens of countries which have signed the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968.
The first thing they need to do is verify that they've lived in Poland for at least 6 months. This should be verified through either a local address registration or a residence permit or the issuance of a visa. They must submit a completed application form. The form can be found online or at a local office. A recent 35 x45 millimeter photo and proof of identity like a valid passport, should be submitted. Finally, they must include an official health system that states that they do not have any health issues that prevent them from driving.
The voivodship office then make the driving licence documents for issuance. This could take up to nine working days. In cases that require an extensive examination the wait time could be up to 1 month.
In addition to the document proving the right to reside in Poland, a foreign citizen must also submit a copy of their medical certificate. This is essential since if they don't have an official health certificate, they'll be required to sit for the test in a second time, which can extend the time they wait for the exam by up to two months.
After the driving licence is issued, you will be required to pay an office fee. The fee is 100 PLN for EU citizens and 250 PLN for citizens who are not EU citizens. This cost is payable via bank transfer, debit card or credit card. The applicant will receive their driver's license at their home address. If the driver's license is not issued for any reason, the City Mayor can appeal to the Local Government Appeals Board of Rzeszow.