Converting a Foreign Driver’s License in Italy

Do you have a foreign driver’s license and live in Italy? If you want to continue driving in our country, it’s important to know how long you can use your foreign license and when you need to convert it to an Italian license.

The procedure varies depending on whether the driver’s license was issued by a countryin the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), or by a country outside the EU/EEA.

For non-EU/EEA driver’s licenses, conversion is possible only if there is a specific reciprocity agreement between Italy and the country that issued the license, and if the conditions set forth in the agreement are met.

Foreign Driver’s License: How Long Can I Drive in Italy?

If you have a driver’s license issued by a country outside the EU or the EEA, you may drive in Italy for up to one year from the date you became a resident of Italy, provided that the license is valid and authorizes you to drive the vehicle you are operating.

During this period, in addition to your foreign driver’s license, you must carry the following with you:

an international driver’s permit issued by the country that issued the driver’s license;

an official translation into Italian of the driver’s license.

One year after obtaining residency, a non-EU/EEA driver’s license can no longer be used to drive in Italy. At that point, if the country that issued the license has a reciprocity agreement with Italy, you can apply to have it converted; otherwise, you must obtain a new Italian driver’s license.

When is it possible to convert a non-EU driver’s license?

The conversion of a foreign driver’s license is not automatic.

In general, to obtain an Italian driver’s license without having to retake the exams, certain basic conditions must be met:

The foreign driver’s license must be valid;
must have been obtained before establishing residence in Italy;
The country that issued the driver’s license must have a reciprocity agreement with Italy;
The application must be submitted by the deadline specified in the relevant agreement.

There is no single term that applies to all non-EU driver’s licenses.

For some countries, the period specified in the agreement is 4 years from the date of acquiring Italian residency; for others, it is 6 years. For certain agreements that do not expressly specify a timeframe, the Ministry applies the 6-year rule, and, under certain conditions, conversion after that period may require a reassessment of the driver’s technical fitness to drive.

For this reason, before submitting your application, it is essential to verify which agreement applies to your driver’s license and what the applicable deadline is.

Be Aware of Driver’s Licenses Obtained Through Conversion

In Italy, it is not possible to convert a foreign driver’s license that was itself obtained through the conversion of another foreign driver’s license that cannot be converted in Italy.

This requirement must therefore also be verified before beginning the procedure.

Which driver’s licenses can be converted in Italy?

Among the non-EU/EEA countries for which the MIT currently indicates the possibility of conversion are the following, subject to the conditions set forth in the individual agreements:

Algeria
Andorra
Argentina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Philippines
Japan
Israel
Kosovo
Lebanon
Macedonia
Morocco
Moldova
Principality of Monaco
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Republic of Korea
Republic of San Marino
Serbia
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine

Some agreements have an expiration date, while others include specific conditions. There are also countries where conversion is limited to certain categories of citizens, such as diplomatic and consular personnel or personnel on government missions.

European Driver’s License: What’s Changing?

If the driver’s license was issued by a country in the European Union or the European Economic Area (EEA), the situation is different.

The EU/EEA driver’s license is recognized in Italy, and the holder may drive using that license, provided they comply with Italian regulations regarding its validity and medical examinations.

The conversion does not necessarily have to take place on the due date; in many cases, it can be requested earlier.

What documents are required to convert a foreign driver’s license?

The application for conversion is filed with the Motor Vehicle Department (Motorizzazione Civile).

For a non-EU/EEA driver’s license, the Ministry lists the following as required documentation:

Model TT2112;
receipt of payment via PagoPA for the conversion fee;
original foreign driver’s license, for inspection, and a complete photocopy of both sides;
receipt for the physical and mental fitness examination conducted by a licensed physician;
any official translation of the driver’s license, when required by the terms of the agreement with the country that issued it;
Documents required of non-EU citizens in connection with their stay in Italy.

How much does it cost to convert a foreign driver’s license?

The procedure no longer uses the old payment slips mentioned in many online guides.

Currently, MIT specifies fee code N003 for the conversion of foreign driver’s licenses, with:

€10.20 in fees;
€32 in stamp duty.

Payment is made through PagoPA. In addition to these amounts, there may be costs for the medical examination and, when necessary, for an official translation.

What if the driver’s license isn’t convertible?

If the driver’s license was issued by a country that does not have a reciprocity agreement with Italy, it cannot be converted directly into an Italian driver’s license.

In this case, after the period during which you are allowed to use your foreign driver’s license in Italy, in order to continue driving, you must obtain an Italian driver’s license by passing the required exams.

The same may occur when the conditions set forth in the conversion agreement are not met, for example, because the driver’s license was obtained after establishing residency in Italy.

Foreign nationals who are awaiting the initial issuance of a residence permit for work purposes or the renewal of their residence permit may also obtain a driver’s license.

A Brief Guide to Converting a Foreign Driver’s License

If you live in Italy and have a foreign driver’s license, you do not necessarily have to retake the driving test. However, the possibility of converting your foreign driver’s license to an Italian one depends on the country that issued it, the agreement in effect with Italy, the date you became a resident, and the characteristics of the license.

The most important rule is this: Before submitting your application, always check the agreement that applies to your driver’s license and the deadline by which you can request the conversion.

Procedures and regulations may change over time; for this reason, it is always advisable to check the latest guidelines from the MIT and, when necessary, contact the appropriate Motor Vehicle Department.