EN

Exchange of the driving licence after the return from other countries

Keičiu vairuotojo pažymėjimą grįžęs (-usi) iš trečiųjų šalių

The applicants who wish to exchange their driving licences issued in the countries other than the Member States of the EU and other than the countries of the EEA must pass a theory test and a practical test in "Regitra".

There is no need to pass the tests if the applicant holds a driving licence:

  • that was issued in Switzerland;
  • that was issued in the Republic of Korea (this applies for drivers of category B and BE vehicles);*
  • issued in the United Arab Emirates to the citizen of the Republic of Lithuania or of the United Arab Emirates (this applies for drivers of category A1, A2, A, B and D1 vehicles);*
  • that was issued in the Republic of Moldova (this applies for drivers of category AM, A1, A2, A, B1 and B vehicles);*
  • or all the categories specified in a driving licence to be exchanged were obtained in the Member State of the EU or in the country of the EEA.

Only a valid national driving licence that was issued in a third country can be exchanged. If a driving licence has expired when its holder already resides in Lithuania, it may be exchanged within 1 year of arrival to Lithuania.

*More information on the bilateral Agreements with the Republic of Korea, the UAE and Moldova is provided below.

  • Bilateral agreements

    Lithuania has signed the following bilateral agreements on the mutual recognition and/or change of driving licences:

     

    1. On 14 October 2014, the Agreement was signed with the Republic of Korea.

    The Agreement ensures that:

    • The residents of Lithuania and of the Republic of Korea, who are changing the categories B and BE driving licences of the Parties to the Agreement, will not have to take theory and practice exams.

     

    2. On 11 July 2017, the Memorandum of Understanging was signed with the United Arab Emirates.

    The Memorandum of Understanding ensures that:

    • The residents of Lithuania and of the UAE, who are changing the categories A1, A2, A, B and D1 driving licences of the Parties to the Understanding, will not have to take theory and practice exams.

    IMPORTANT. The Memorandum is only valid for the citizens of the UAE and of the Republic of Lithuania.

     

    3. On 7 October 2021, the Agreement was signed with the Republic of Moldova.

    The Agreement ensures that:

    • The residents of Lithuania and of Moldova, who are changing the categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1 and B driving licences of the Parties to the Agreement, will not have to take theory and practice exams.

     

    When changing the driving licence issued in the UAE, the Republic of Korea or the Republic of Moldova to the Lithuanian driving licence:

     

    • The documents listed below have to be provided:

    - a valid driving licence, that has been issued in these countries, and its official translation into Lithuanian;
    - a personal identity document;
    - a medical certificate of the driver medical check (its data are automatically obtained from the health examination facility).

    • The place of residence in Lithuania must be registered for at least 185 days per calendar year or it is necessary to substantiate own relations with Lithuania.
    • Who will not have to take theory or practice exams:

    - In case of driving licences issued in the Republic of Korea: when only category B is acquired – holders of the 1st extended, 1st ordinary, 1st special and 2nd ordinary driving licence, and when category BE is acquired – holders of the 1st special driving licence;
    - in case of driving licences issued in the UAE: when categories A, B and D1 are acquired respectively – holders of the driving licences of motorcycles, passenger cars of a net weight not exceeding 2.5 tonnes and of minibuses, that are designed for the carriage of no more than 14 passengers;
    - in case of driving licences issued in the Republic of Moldova: only the holders of categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1 and B driving licence.

    • The person must be of the age which is required in order to be able to change a driving licence of a specific category.

     

    IMPORTANT. Citizens residing in the United Arab Emirates or in the Republic of Korea and wishing to drive in Lithuania (during a vacation or a short visit) must obtain an international driving licence that is issued in these countries.

  • When can you exchange your driving licence?

    You can exchange the driving licence if you have the permanent place of residence in Lithuania*. You can prove this in two ways:

     

    1. Your place of residence must be declared in Lithuania for at least 185 days in each calendar year. We will receive this data automatically from the Population Register.

    The procedure of declaring your place of residence is extremely simple. You can do this online HERE.

     

    2. In case your place of residence is not declared within the Republic of Lithuania or it has been declared for less than 185 calendar days within a given calendar year, you may use the documents of your choice for substantiating your personal or working relationship with the Republic of Lithuania.

    Possible relationship with Lithuania Confirming documents
    you started working in Lithuania employment contract; a self-employment certificate; a business licence; a extract from the Employment Service, etc.
    you are a student or a pupil from Lithuania and currently attend an educational establishment abroad a document from an educational establishment translated to Lithuanian and legalized**
    you are a student or a pupil of the foreign countries, and you attend university/college or school in our country for at least 6 months a document from an educational establishment
    you were away on a temporary basis to a foreign country for the purpose of performing or are currently performing a fixed-term professional task or internship a certificate issued by a company on the business trip; the internship agreement entered into with a company or other documents translated to Lithuanian and legalized**

    you live and work abroad, but you are constantly returning to the Republic of Lithuania for personal relationships, for example:

    • your husband/wife and/or minor children live in Lithuania;
    • in the event of illness of the next-of-kin (custody, nursing, etc.);
    • other.
    a statement about the composition of the family and the place of residence declared by the family members from the Center of Registers; a certificate from a medical facility confirming the fact of custody or nursing of the next-of-kin; etc.

    *Place of residence - the applicant's place of residence where he or she normally resides for at least 185 calendar days within a given calendar year due to personal or working relationship, or in case of absence of working relationship, and only the presence of personal relationship which closely links the applicant to the place where he resides; Place of residence of an applicant whose personal and working relationships are in different states and who therefore travels to different places of residence in two or more States shall be deemed to be his or her place of personal relationship only if the applicant returns there constantly (this condition does not apply when the applicant is in a foreign country to perform a task of a defined duration); School or university attendance does not constitute for proper grounds to change the permanent residence address.

    NOTE. Persons representing foreign countries or international organisations within the Republic of Lithuania and their family members exercising diplomatic privileges and immunities in accordance with the international law are not considered to be permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania.

    **The documents issued in some foreign countries must be legalized.

  • STEP 1. Medical facility

    In order to register and order your driver's licence you will be required to present a valid health certificate of a driver. Contact your medical facility for the receipt of the aforementioned health certificate.

    NOTE. Medical facilities issue electronic health certificates that are automatically entered within the database of "Regitra".

  • STEP 2. REGITRA

     You should have the following documents upon arrival to the subdivision:

     

    • personal ID document;
    • a medical certificate (it can be obtained automatically);
    • first aid certificate (when driving tests are being taken);
    • a driving licence to be exchanged with its translation to Lithuanian;
    • if a driving licence to be exchanged will not meet the requirements of international conventions, you will also have to provide an international driving permit.

    NOTE. The staff members of "Regitra" will make a final decision on compliance with international conventions of a foreign driving licence and international driving permit.

     

    Register in advance for a visit to the branch and you will be serviced at the time convenient for you:

    Register

     

    What are the international conventions that the foreign driving licence and international driving permit must comply with?

    A foreign national driving licence must comply with the requirements of the following conventions:

    The requirements of Annex 9 to 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (example on the right side)
    or the requirements of Annex 6 to 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (example on the right side)

    An international driving permit must comply with the requirements of the following conventions:

    The requirements of Annex E of 1926 Paris Convention on Motor Traffic
    or the requirements of Annex 10 to 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic
    or the requirements of Annex 7 to 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
  • STEP 3. Driving tests

    If your driving licence meets the aforementioned requirements, you will have to pass a theory test and a practical test in "Regitra". You can register:

     

    1. Online

    Register

     

    2. By calling a phone number  +370 700 55 151

     

    or


    3. You can arrive to "Regitra" subdivision that is the most convenient to you.

    Register in advance for a visit to the branch and you will be serviced at the time convenient for you:

    Register

  • STEP 4. Delivery

    After having passed the tests successfully, you will be able to exchange a driving licence.

     

    A driving licence can be delivered:

     

    1. Directly to your home

    At the time of ordering a driving licence, you need to note that you want it to be delivered to your home. This service costs 6,99 EUR.

     

    2. To self-service parcel terminals

    At the time of ordering a driving licence, you need to note that you want it to be delivered to a self-service parcel terminal. This service costs 4,90 EUR.

     

    3. To "Regitra" branch

    Before going to "Regitra" branch, you can first check if the driving licence is ready for withdrawal.

    Check

    Then, register in advance for a visit to the branch and you will be serviced at the specified time.

    Register

    To withdraw a driving licence, you must produce your personal identity document.