Foreign Driving License Conversion
EU and EEA driving licenses are recognized in Austria. This means that they do not have to be reissued, but you can do so voluntarily.
Non-EEA driving licences
Holders of a non-EEA driving license who relocate to Austria are generally allowed to continue driving for six months. After that, their license expires and must be transferred.
As a rule, foreign driving licenses can only be converted if they are still valid. The expiry dates set in the driver's license holder's country of origin also apply in Austria.
When converting non-EU/EEA driving licences, it is usually necessary to take a practical driving test. In order to do so, holders must provide a suitable vehicle from the relevant licence category.
Conversion of Non-EU-driving licenses
Without residence in Austria, the foreign driver's license can be used for 12 months from entry into the federal territory, provided the holder has reached the age of 18.
If a residence is established in Austria, the foreign driving license is valid for 6 months from the establishment of the residence if the holder has reached the age of 18. After the 6 months have expired, it may no longer be used to drive a vehicle.
Driving licenses from the following countries are currently NOT recognized in Austria: Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burundi, China (incl. Taiwan), Costa Rica, El Salvador, Indonesia, Yemen, Cameroon, Colombia, Kosovo, Libya, Nepal, Nicaragua, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga.
Note: This list is subject to constant change and is not exhaustive.
Holders of driving licenses from these countries cannot use the document to drive in Austria and therefore cannot drive a rental car. A transfer to an Austrian driving license is nevertheless possible.
Special regulation
When converting non-EU/EEA driving licences, it is usually necessary to take a practical driving test. In order to do so, holders must provide a suitable vehicle from the relevant licence category. However, no practical driving test is required upon converting the following non-EU/EEA driving licences:
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For all categories: Andorra, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Switzerland, Serbia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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For category B: Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hong Kong, Israel, Canada, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Republic of South Korea (if issued after 1 January 1997), USA, United Arab Emirates
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Austrian nationals having acquired a driving licence outside of the EU/EEA must also have their foreign licence converted. However, conversion is only possible if they were resident in the country in which they acquired the foreign driving licence for at least six months.
Required documents
The following documents are required for a conversion of a non-EU/EEA driving licence:
- Passport
- Foreign driving license
- In some cases, a translation of the driving license
- One photo (portrait, 35 mm x 45 mm) in which the applicant can be clearly recognized (if possible in line with passport photo criteria)
- Medical certificate
- The medical report is issued by expert doctors who are authorized to do so. They test your state of health to determine your fitness to drive (also known colloquially as a "driver's license examination"). The driver's license applicant must not have been treated by the selected doctor within the last five years (general practitioner regulation).
- Confirmation of residence registration in Austria (Meldezettel) (ZMR) (facilitates processing for the authority)
In certain cases, the driving license authority may request additional documents.
Costs and fees 60.50 Euro
Driving test and medical certificate fees are not included in the costs listed above.
Additional Information
Here is a list of all doctors approved to issue the medical report.
