Whether your foreign licence swaps for a German one with a form, or requires two exams, depends on exactly one thing: which list your country is on. German law (Anlage 11 FeV plus the EU directives) sorts every country into three tiers. Here is the complete picture.
Update, 18 August 2026: an amendment to the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung moved Ukraine and Montenegro into the exam-free tier and widened Israel's entry to classes A1, A2, A and B. It also changed §28 FeV so that an EU licence that was itself exchanged from a non-EU licence (code 70 on the back) is now recognised in Germany, which used to be refused for countries outside Anlage 11. Many Führerscheinstelle websites still show the old rules.
Tier 1: EU and EEA, nothing to convert
Licences from these 29 countries are valid in Germany as they are. No exchange needed, no deadline. You only interact with the Führerscheinstelle if your card expires or you want a German one voluntarily.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
Tier 2: Anlage 11 countries, exchange without exams
These countries have proven equivalent licensing standards, so Germany exchanges their licences without theory or practical exams. It is an administrative process: application, translation, fees, done. Budget roughly €75 to €135 and a few weeks of processing.
Andorra, Australia, Botswana, Canada, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Monaco, Montenegro (since 18 August 2026), Namibia, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine (since 18 August 2026), United States (all 50 states and D.C.), South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Detailed walkthroughs: US licence guide · Japan licence guide · Ukraine licence guide
Note: for some countries the equivalence only covers certain licence classes, and a few Anlage 11 entries historically required one of the two exams for specific cases. Your Führerscheinstelle applies the current table, so always confirm your specific case there.
Tier 3: everyone else, both exams, but no mandatory hours
All other countries (including India, Turkey, the UK since Brexit, Brazil, China, Pakistan, Vietnam, Egypt, Nigeria and more) require passing the German theory exam and practical exam.
The crucial advantage over a first-time learner: no mandatory lesson hours. No 12 Sonderfahrten, no minimum practice lessons. A prepared converter often passes with 5 to 15 paid lessons instead of the 40+ hours a beginner buys. That is the difference between roughly €900 and €4,000.
Country guides: India · Turkey · UK · Brazil · China · UAE
What every conversion has in common
- The 6-month rule: after registering residence (Anmeldung), your foreign licence stays valid for 6 months. Apply well before the window closes; the process takes weeks to months.
- The paperwork: passport, Anmeldebestätigung, biometric photo, your licence, usually a certified translation (ADAC or sworn translator).
- For the exam tier additionally: eye test (~€7), first-aid course (€40-60), registration with a driving school to book the exams via TÜV/DEKRA.
- Theory exam in your language: the official exam is offered in 12 languages including English, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese and Mandarin.
- The practical exam is in German: learn the standard examiner commands regardless of what language you learned in.
The honest summary
- EU/EEA: do nothing.
- Anlage 11: paperwork project, budget ~€100.
- Everyone else: two exams, no mandatory hours; preparation quality decides whether it costs €900 or €2,500.