How to get a Polish driving license as a foreigner

If you're living in Poland on a residence permit, UKR status or long-stay visa, you can get a Polish Category B driving licence the same way Polish citizens do. This guide walks you through every step — what PKK is, where to apply, what the medical involves, how the theory and practical exams work and roughly how long the whole thing takes. Everything below applies whether you're an American expat, a Ukrainian resident, a UK contractor or a student from outside the EU.

Who is eligible

You can apply for a Polish Category B (cars up to 3.5t) licence if you are at least 18 years old (17 years and 9 months to start the course) and you have a registered residence in Poland — a PESEL number or confirmation that your normal place of residence is in Poland.

Residence permit (karta pobytu), UKR status, EU residence or a long-stay visa with registered address all count. Tourist visas do not.

Step 1 — Apply for a PKK number

PKK (Profil Kandydata na Kierowcę — Driver Candidate Profile) is a digital file at the city office (Wydział Komunikacji) that authorises you to start training and sit the exam. Without a PKK number, no driving school can register you.

Bring: passport or residence card, a colour photo (35×45 mm, like a passport photo), the medical certificate (see Step 2 — many people get both at once) and a completed application form.

It typically takes a few minutes at the counter and you walk out with your PKK number the same day, or it's emailed to you within a day or two.

Step 2 — Get the medical certificate

You need a medical certificate stating you're fit to drive, issued by a certified driving doctor (uprawniony lekarz). The check itself takes 15-20 minutes — vision, blood pressure, general health questions. Cost is in the 200 PLN range as of 2026.

The certificate is required for both your PKK application and your school enrolment, so most students do it before applying for PKK.

Step 3 — Complete the theory course

The Polish course requires lecture hours covering road rules, signs and basic vehicle knowledge. In an English-language school, lectures are delivered in English and you also get access to an English question bank to practise for the WORD theory exam.

Plan on 20-30 hours of study including the lectures, plus self-paced practice tests.

Step 4 — Complete 30 hours of practical driving

The standard Category B course includes 30 hours of practical driving, one-on-one with an instructor. Lessons happen in Warsaw traffic plus exam-area routes near the WORD centres.

You can split lessons however suits your schedule — twice a week is the most common pace, but daily intensive plans and weekend-only schedules are both possible.

Step 5 — Pass the WORD theory exam (in English)

The theory exam at WORD is multiple choice and available in English. You answer 32 questions in 25 minutes; the pass mark is 68 of 74 possible points (questions are weighted). You can book the exam yourself or your school can book it for you.

If you fail, you can book a retake immediately — usually within a few days, depending on slot availability.

Step 6 — Pass the practical exam

The practical exam at WORD starts with the manoeuvring area (parking, slope start) and continues with a city drive on standard exam routes. An examiner with a tablet evaluates you in real time.

If you've prepared on the actual exam routes — which is the entire point of taking a final pre-exam lesson — there are no surprises here.

How long does the whole process take?

Most students get their licence in 4 to 8 weeks once PKK and medical are done. An intensive plan can compress this to 3 weeks; a relaxed plan can stretch over 3 months without any penalty.

Where to start

If you're in Warsaw and want the whole thing in English, that's what Warsaw Driving School does — Category B course, theory in English, WORD exam preparation in English, two locations (Mokotów and Włochy). The most cited reason in 311 reviews: patient instructors who actually teach you to drive, not just to pass.