Lesson 5: Foreign License Conversion in Germany (Umschreibung)
EU/EEA licenses: no mandatory exchange (FeV § 28). Non-EU: valid for 6 months after establishing residence (FeV § 29), license transfer under FeV § 31 — with or without exam depending on Annex 11 status. All deadlines and procedural steps.
1. EU and EEA Driving Licenses (FeV §§ 28, 30)
- No mandatory exchange: Anyone holding a valid EU or EEA driving license and having their normal residence in Germany is entitled to drive within the scope of their entitlement (FeV § 28 para. 1).
- Upon application, a German license can be issued at any time without taking an exam (FeV § 30 para. 1) — useful if your foreign license is about to expire.
- Pay attention to restrictions (FeV § 28 para. 3 and 4): Truck and bus classes C/D are subject to the German 5-year validity rule; under certain circumstances (such as domestic license revocation or licenses obtained abroad while residing in Germany), driving is prohibited.
2. Licenses from Third Countries (Non-EU/EEA, FeV § 29)
- 6-month validity rule: Once you establish normal residence in Germany, your foreign driving license remains valid for only six months (FeV § 29 para. 1).
- This period can be extended by up to six months upon application if you can verify that your residence in Germany will not exceed twelve months in total (FeV § 29 para. 1).
- After this deadline expires, you are no longer permitted to drive with your foreign license — conversion (Umschreibung) or acquiring a new German license is required.
3. License Conversion - Umschreibung (FeV § 31)
- Annex 11 countries: If your license originates from a country listed in Annex 11 FeV and matches the listed category, no examination is required (FeV § 31 para. 1) — the German driving license is issued directly.
- All other countries: Driving school attendance is waived, but you must pass both the theory and practical exams (FeV § 31 para. 2). With our free learning platform (thousands of questions with explanations + exam simulation), you can prepare thoroughly for the theory test.
- Procedure: Apply at the local driving license authority (in Freiburg: Führerscheinstelle, see Lesson 6) with your license (with certified translation if required), ID, proof of residence; eye test and first aid certificate as applicable.
4. Common Misconceptions
- An international driving permit is not an independent driving license, but only an official translation of your national license — it does not extend the 6-month validity deadline.
- License conversion is not a new license from scratch: mandatory driving hours are not prescribed (except for voluntary preparation for the exam under § 31 para. 2).
- Licenses issued before establishing residence in Germany are generally eligible for conversion; if obtained in a third country after establishing German residence, they are generally not recognized in Germany (preventing evasion of German licensing requirements).