Whether a foreign driving licence in Poland is enough depends on the country that issued it and on how long you stay. EU and EEA licences are valid for their whole validity. Licences from Vienna Convention countries, such as the UK or Ukraine, are accepted on their own. Licences from countries that signed only the Geneva Convention, such as the USA, Canada, Australia or India, must be carried together with an International Driving Permit (IDP). If you live in Poland, a non-EU licence lets you drive for 6 months from the start of your residence, after which you need a Polish licence.
What documents do you need to drive in Poland?
Polish law accepts a foreign licence in several cases, depending on where it was issued and whether you are visiting or living in Poland (Act on Vehicle Drivers, Articles 4 and 5, in Polish).
| Where your licence was issued | What is enough in Poland | For how long |
|---|---|---|
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | your national licence | for the whole validity of the licence |
| Ukraine, holder of temporary protection (UKR) | a valid Ukrainian licence, no translation and no IDP | while UKR status is active; EU protection until 4 March 2028 |
| Ukraine and other Vienna Convention countries (e.g. the UK, Georgia, Moldova) | your national licence | if you take up residence - 6 months from its start |
| Geneva Convention only (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, India, Japan) | your national licence plus an IDP | if you take up residence - 6 months from its start |
Always carry the original licence. A copy or a photo on your phone does not replace the document.
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Poland?
An International Driving Permit is not a separate licence - it is a translation of your national licence and is valid only together with it. You need one in Poland if your licence was issued by a country that is a party only to the 1949 Geneva Convention. The U.S. Embassy in Poland states that American drivers need either an IDP or a Polish licence, and that a U.S. state licence on its own is not accepted (U.S. Embassy in Poland). Get the IDP in your home country before you travel.
Drivers from the UK, Ukraine and other Vienna Convention countries do not need an IDP. Neither do Ukrainians with temporary protection.
Ukrainian driving licence in Poland
Temporary protection (UKR status)
People from Ukraine with temporary protection can drive in Poland and across the EU on a valid Ukrainian licence. EU countries may not ask them for a certified translation or an IDP, but the police may ask for a passport or a document confirming their stay (Regulation (EU) 2022/1280, Article 3). The EU Council has extended temporary protection until 4 March 2028 (Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912).
UKR status can end earlier: when you collect a CUKR residence card, after more than 30 days outside Poland (Office for Foreigners, in Polish), or if your PESEL was issued without a travel document and you did not confirm your identity by 31 August 2026. The temporary protection rule then no longer covers you, and the residence permit rules below apply. Ask the wydział komunikacji from which date the 6 months run in your case. If you plan to drive after 4 March 2027, check beforehand that your UKR status is still active.
The licence must be valid. Poland accepted expired Ukrainian licences only in 2022-2023. Today an expired Ukrainian licence counts only if Ukraine has officially extended its validity and notified the European Commission - if yours has expired, check with the local vehicle and driver office (wydział komunikacji) before you drive.
Residence permit or permanent residence
If you live in Poland on other grounds, the general rule for all non-EU drivers applies: your licence lets you drive for 6 months from the start of your permanent or temporary residence. Once you live in Poland for at least 185 days a year, exchange it for a Polish one.
How to exchange a foreign driving licence in Poland
You apply at the vehicle and driver office of the district (starostwo), the city office or - in Warsaw - the district office for your place of residence (gov.pl, in Polish). For licences from Vienna or Geneva Convention countries there is no driving test, as long as the licence is valid.
- Documents: application form, a current photo, passport or other ID, residence card or other residence document, proof of registered address, a copy of your foreign licence - usually with a sworn translation.
- Fee: PLN 100 for issuing the licence.
- Time: up to 9 working days after the office receives confirmation of your licence data from the issuing country. That confirmation can take several weeks, so apply early.
- Collection: you receive the Polish licence after handing in your foreign one.
Requirements can differ slightly between offices - check your local office's website before you go.
Your new Polish licence will have its own document number. Where to find it and why it matters is explained in our guide to the Polish driving licence number.
Lost or stolen Ukrainian licence
Report the loss or theft to the police first - you cannot drive legally without your licence. Ukrainians with temporary protection have an extra option: Regulation (EU) 2022/1280 allows an EU country to verify their driving entitlement, including with the Ukrainian authorities, and issue a special licence of the same category, valid for the period of temporary protection. Ask your local vehicle and driver office whether it offers this procedure.
Recognition of a Ukrainian licence does not protect against Polish sanctions: if the police withhold the licence or a court imposes a driving ban, it applies to Ukrainian drivers too.
Penalties for driving without a valid licence
If your foreign licence no longer entitles you to drive in Poland, the police treat it as driving without a licence. The penalty is detention, restriction of liberty or a fine of at least PLN 1,500, and the court must impose a driving ban (Code of Petty Offences, Article 94, in Polish). If your licence is valid but you do not have it with you, the fine is up to PLN 250.
There is a financial risk too: after an accident, the insurer can claim back the compensation it paid from a driver without a valid licence. If you plan a longer stay, count your 6 months and plan the exchange in advance.
Can you rent a car in Poland with a foreign licence?
Yes - a rental company checks two things: whether your licence lets you drive in Poland and whether you meet its own conditions. At BLS, the renter must be at least 21 (23 for VIP cars and convertibles) and must have held a licence for at least 2 years. For the contract you need an ID card or passport, a PESEL number or - for Ukrainian citizens - an identification code, and your driving licence. See the full renter requirements.
BLS accepts Ukrainian and other foreign licences, and the 2-year requirement counts on a foreign licence too. With a foreign licence you can rent a car of any class, as long as you meet the age requirement for that class. We do not ask for an IDP or a translation to sign the rental contract. Road rules still apply, though: if your licence comes from a Geneva-only country such as the USA, you must carry an IDP while driving in Poland.
Most cars in the USA have automatic gearboxes, while manual cars are still common in Poland - if you have never driven one, check the gearbox of the car you book and read our guide on how to drive an automatic car. Need a car in the capital? See how to rent a car in Warsaw.
FAQ
Can I drive in Poland with a US license?
Only together with an International Driving Permit, or with a Polish licence. A U.S. state licence on its own is not accepted.
Can I drive in Poland with a UK licence?
Yes. The UK is a party to the Vienna Convention, so a UK licence is accepted without an IDP. If you move to Poland, the 6-month rule for residents applies.
How long can I drive in Poland with a foreign licence?
On a short visit - as long as your licence is accepted in Poland, with an IDP where required. If you live in Poland - 6 months from the start of your residence. EU licences are valid for their whole validity.
Is a Ukrainian driving licence valid in Poland in 2026?
Yes. With temporary protection a valid Ukrainian licence is recognised while your UKR status is active. The EU Council has extended temporary protection until 4 March 2028. With another residence status - for 6 months from the start of your residence.
Can I rent a car in Poland with a foreign licence?
Yes, if the licence lets you drive in Poland and you meet the rental company's age and licence-age conditions. BLS does not require an IDP or a translation for the contract - just bring your ID or passport, PESEL or identification code and your licence. If Polish law requires an IDP for your licence, carry it while driving.