Driving Licence Conversion in Germany: Sworn Translation

Is this page for you?

• You registered your address in Germany (Anmeldung) and your licence was issued outside the EU.
• Your six months are almost over and you need to start the conversion now.
• Your licence is in Turkish, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Cyrillic or an Indian language, and the office cannot read it.
• Your Führerscheinstelle asked for a translation of your licence.

Start early. Driving schools and test dates can take weeks or months to book.

Do I need a test to convert my licence?

It depends on the country that issued your licence. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia and India are not on the list in Anlage 11 FeV, the list of countries with an easier exchange. With a licence from one of these countries, you must pass a theory test and a practical test. Ukraine has special rules.

Documents by country

Ukrainian licences. Valid Ukrainian licences remain valid in Germany under special rules. Since 18 August 2026, they can be exchanged more easily, and for certain classes no theory and practical test is needed. Check with your Führerscheinstelle which classes qualify and which translation it wants.

How to convert your licence, step by step

1. 1Register your address (Anmeldung). Your six months usually start here.
2. 2Get your papers ready: eye test (Sehtest), first-aid course (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs), a biometric photo and the German translation of your licence.
3. 3Apply at your Führerscheinstelle. The office checks your papers and, if tests are needed, allows you to take them.
4. 4Take the theory test. It is offered in English as well as German, and in several other languages.
5. 5Take the practical test. Driving school lessons are not mandatory for a conversion. Many people still take a few, because German test routes and rules can be new.

Only the office decides your case. We do not give legal advice and we do not apply for you.

Documents for Führerschein umschreiben

Your Führerscheinstelle decides the final list. Most offices ask for the same core documents, and only your foreign licence usually needs a translation. Many offices ask for:

If your office doubts the licence. Some offices ask for proof from the issuing authority, for example when the first issue date is unclear or the card was replaced. This is often a Karteikartenabschrift (licence record extract) or Echtheitsbestätigung (confirmation that the licence is genuine). For Afghan and Iraqi documents, German missions currently cannot help with verification, so the office decides at its discretion. If your office asks for such a record, we translate it too.

Holding an Indian licence? Our page on Indian driving licence translation explains smart cards, booklets and state formats.

ADAC or sworn translator: which one does your Führerscheinstelle want?

Many Führerscheinstellen accept both an ADAC translation and a sworn translation. Check yours before you order.

There is one more point. For the conversion, some offices want your foreign classes matched to German classes (for example B for cars, A for motorbikes). The ADAC does this as a "classification". A sworn translation translates the classes exactly as printed. So ask your office whether a sworn translation alone is enough for them.

Why people choose a sworn translation from us:

• Many scripts, one standard. Names in Arabic, Cyrillic, Persian script and Devanagari are transliterated the same way on every document you order.
• Every class translated as printed. From LMV and MCWG on Indian cards to the categories on Turkish or Russian licences, with all dates.
• One order for everything. Add documents for other offices to the same order.

Why licence conversions get delayed

1. 1Only the front was translated. Many licences show classes, restrictions and dates on the back. We translate both sides.
2. 2Validity dates don't match. Each class can have its own validity. Every date is translated exactly as printed.
3. 3Your name looks different in your passport. Common with Arabic, Dari and Cyrillic names. We transliterate the name as written and add your passport spelling in a translator's note.
4. 4Your licence was renewed or reissued. Renewal stamps and dates are translated, so the office can see your first issue date.
5. 5You waited too long. Book your eye test and first-aid course early.

How your licence translation works

1. 1Upload your licence. Usually a clear scan or photo of both sides is enough. Some offices want the translator to see the original, so check your letter.
2. 2Get your fixed price. You see the price and delivery date before you pay.
3. 3Check your PDF. You receive the PDF of your sworn translation in 3 working days.
4. 4Receive the signed original. We post it to your German address. It usually arrives in 1–3 working days.

Want the full picture? Read how our process works.

How much does driving licence translation cost?

Prices cover front and back, the PDF and the signed original by post.

All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.

Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).

If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.

You can also see all prices for other documents.

What language is your licence in?

Syrian and Iraqi licences are in Arabic (some Kurdistan Region cards also in Kurdish), Afghan ones in Dari or Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian ones in Cyrillic. Most Indian licences are in English. We translate every word on the card. A sworn translation is valid throughout Germany; the office makes the final decision.

Languages we translate into German: Turkish · Arabic · Kurdish (Kurmanji/Sorani) · Dari · Pashto · Persian (Farsi) · Ukrainian · Russian · English · Hindi · Punjabi · Urdu · Tamil · Telugu · Bengali · Marathi · Gujarati · Malayalam and other Indian languages.

Planning to stay longer in Germany?

Preparing your permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis), your citizenship application or family reunion documents? Add those documents to the same order.

Frequently asked questions about licence conversion