If you move to Cyprus with a driving licence from another country, one of three things applies: your licence is valid as it is, you can exchange it for a Cyprus licence without a test, or you need to take the Cyprus tests. It depends on the country that issued your licence. Use the checker below, then read the details for your case.
Last checked: 17 October 2026, against the Driving Licence Law, the official list of countries (ΚΔΠ 5/2021) and the Road Transport Department (RTD) conversion page.
Can I exchange my licence?
Choose the country that issued your driving licence to see which rule applies
EU licences
A driving licence from an EU country is recognised in Cyprus just like a Cypriot one, for as long as it is valid. You do not have to exchange it. If you live in Cyprus, you can exchange it after six months if you want to, for example when it is about to expire.
Countries on the exchange list
The RTD exchanges licences from these countries without a test (notification ΚΔΠ 5/2021, in force since 8 January 2021):
Australia, Canada, China, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the United States and Zimbabwe.
How long you can drive on it: up to six months. After six months in Cyprus, the RTD says you must exchange it.
Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are on this list rather than treated like the EU. If your licence is from one of them, ask the RTD whether you need to exchange it after six months.
UK licences have been on the list since January 2021. The UK government says you cannot use an international driving permit instead of exchanging, and that licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man cannot be exchanged.
Ukrainian licences are on the list. People under EU temporary protection can also use their Ukrainian licence under a separate EU rule. Ask the RTD which applies to you.
Everyone else: taking the test
If your country is not on the list, your licence cannot be exchanged. Once you live in Cyprus, you get a licence the same way as a new learner:
- Pass the oral theory exam: an examiner shows you road signs and you say what they mean. You can take it in Greek or English.
- Get a learner's licence, valid for two years.
- Take at least 10 lessons at a licensed driving school. The law makes no exception for experienced drivers. See mandatory driving lessons.
- Pass the practical test, at least 21 days after getting your learner's licence.
Experienced drivers often find the signs the hardest part, because Cyprus signs and markings differ from home. Practise with the road signs test, browse the road signs library and check the rules with the rules test. Our theory exam guide explains the exam.
Visitors from these countries can drive on their national licence for up to 30 days, or for their whole stay with a valid international driving permit.
The 185-day residence rule
To exchange a licence, you must live in Cyprus for at least 185 days. Non-EU applicants also show their residence permit or alien registration certificate. Students show at least six months' attendance at a university or college.
The RTD accepts documents such as utility bills, a rental agreement, bank statements, social insurance or GESY records, or a Cypriot phone bill as proof that you have lived here for six months in the last year.
Documents for an exchange
- Form TOM 7Δ (application for a driving licence)
- One recent colour photo, 45 x 35 mm
- Your alien registration certificate or ID card, original and copy
- Your passport, original and copy of the data page
- Your foreign licence, original and a copy of every page
- An official translation if the licence is not in English or Greek, made through the Press and Information Office's authorised translators
- A health certificate if you are 70 or over, or exchanging a lorry or bus licence
You apply in person at the driving examiners' office in your district. They check and approve the application, and the RTD district office then issues your licence. Our driving licence guide lists every office with phone numbers.
Your foreign licence is not returned. The RTD sends it back to the authority that issued it.
Fees
The RTD conversion page does not list a separate fee. The standard fee for issuing a driving licence is €40, and it is free if you are over 65. Confirm the amount when you apply.
International driving permits
Cyprus is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on road traffic. A visitor with a valid international driving permit (IDP) can drive in Cyprus during their stay. An IDP is a translation of your licence, so always carry it together with your national licence.
If you hold a Cyprus licence and want to drive abroad, the RTD issues IDPs: form TOM 26A, two photos, your ID and your Cyprus licence. It costs €30 and is valid for one year.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in Cyprus with a foreign licence?
Yes, for a limited time. EU licences are valid for as long as they are valid. Licences from countries on the exchange list can be used for up to six months. Other licences can be used for up to 30 days, or for your whole visit with an international driving permit.
Which countries can exchange their licence in Cyprus without a test?
EU countries, plus Australia, Canada, China, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the United States and Zimbabwe.
Can I exchange an Indian or Israeli licence in Cyprus?
No. India and Israel are not on the official list, so residents need to pass the Cyprus theory exam and practical test.
How long does it take to exchange a licence?
The RTD does not publish a processing time. Apply as soon as you have lived in Cyprus for 185 days and have all your documents.
Do I need an international driving permit in Cyprus?
You need one as a visitor if your licence is not from the EU or the exchange list and you stay longer than 30 days. Residents cannot use an IDP instead of exchanging or taking the test.
Do I get my foreign licence back after the exchange?
No. The RTD sends it to the authority that issued it.