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How to Convert a Foreign Driving Licence in Turkey: Time Limits, Documents and Fees
By Turkey Residence Agency advisory team · Updated · 6 min read
Foreigners may drive in Turkey on a foreign licence for up to six months from entry, and a residence permit does not extend this. After that, you convert the licence at a Nüfus Müdürlüğü. Licences from Vienna Convention countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland are converted without tests; you need a certified translation, a Turkish health report and an appointment. Tourists need only their national licence.
Key takeaways
- Foreigners may drive on a foreign licence for six months from entry; Turkish citizens for two years.
- Licences from 1968 Vienna Convention countries are converted into the matching Turkish class without tests.
- Bring the licence with a colour copy, certified translation, passport, residence permit card, health report and photo.
- The NVI lists the 2026 conversion fee at 2,115 TL; translation and the health report cost extra.
- After conversion, the foreign licence is sent back to the country that issued it.
Foreigners may drive in Turkey on a licence issued abroad for up to six months from the day they enter the country. If you live in Turkey and want to keep driving after that, you convert the foreign licence into a Turkish one at a Nüfus Müdürlüğü (population directorate); licences from countries that are party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, are converted without driving school or tests. For a holiday, your national licence is enough.
How long can you drive in Turkey on a foreign licence?
The rule is in Article 88 of the Turkish Road Traffic Regulation (Karayolları Trafik Yönetmeliği), which is based on Highways Traffic Law No. 2918; the article applies in the version of 5 June 2020. Under it, foreigners may drive on a licence issued abroad for at most six months from the date they entered Turkey. To keep driving after six months, they must convert it into a Turkish licence. Turkish citizens, including dual nationals who hold Turkish citizenship, have a longer period of two years from entry.
A residence permit (ikamet izni) does not extend the six months. If you live in Turkey on a residence permit, plan the conversion early, ideally as soon as you receive your residence permit card. Driving on a foreign licence after the period has ended can lead to a fine under Article 39 of Law No. 2918. If you are bringing your own car, read our guide on how to import your car to Turkey; if you plan to buy one here, see the guide to buying a car in Turkey.
| Your situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| Holiday or short visit | Your national licence, for up to six months from entry |
| Living in Turkey on a residence permit | Six months from entry, then conversion at a Nüfus Müdürlüğü |
| Turkish citizen with a foreign licence | Two years from entry, then conversion |
| Licence from a country outside the convention and without an agreement | No conversion; get a Turkish licence through a driving school and the exams |
Visiting Turkey: what tourists need
For a holiday you do not need to apply for anything. The German Federal Foreign Office, for example, states that a German licence is recognised for tourist stays in Turkey. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not a licence in its own right: it is only valid together with your national licence, and it cannot be converted into a Turkish licence. Whether you should carry one depends on the country that issued your licence, so check with the Turkish embassy or consulate in your country before you travel. Car rental companies can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age, so ask when you book.
Who can convert without a test?
Licences from countries that are party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (Karayolu Trafiği Konvansiyonu) are converted into the matching Turkish class. The driving school training and the exams that Law No. 2918 otherwise requires do not apply. Turkey is a party to the convention, as are Germany, Austria, Switzerland and many other European countries. Turkey also has bilateral agreements with some countries on recognising each other's licences.
A licence from a country that is not party to the convention and has no agreement with Turkey is not converted. In that case you obtain a Turkish licence from the start, with a driving school course and the theory and practical exams; our guide on how to get a driver's license in Turkey explains that route. International Driving Permits and temporary licences are not converted either. The Nüfus Müdürlüğü checks whether your country qualifies, and it can have the authenticity of your licence confirmed through the Turkish mission in the issuing country, which can take some time.
Documents for the conversion
According to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVI), you bring the following to your appointment:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Foreign licence | The original and a colour photocopy |
| Turkish translation | Made by a sworn translator (yeminli tercüman) and certified by a Turkish notary (noter), or certified by a Turkish consulate |
| Identity document | Passport and residence permit card with your foreigner identification number (it starts with 99) |
| Health report | Driver health report (sürücü sağlık raporu) from a health institution in Turkey |
| Blood group | A blood group document or a written declaration, if requested |
| Photo | One recent biometric photo |
| Payment receipts | Card fee and foundation share, paid before the appointment |
Since 1 January 2021, health institutions send the driver health report to the NVI online, and reports brought in by hand, for example a certificate from your doctor at home, are not accepted. Since 15 June 2025 the report is subject to a charge, and it only appears in the system once it has been paid. For how sworn translation and notarisation work in Turkey, see our guide to apostille, translation and notarisation of documents.
Step by step
- Get the translation: have your licence translated into Turkish and the translation certified by a notary or a Turkish consulate.
- Get the health report: have the medical check in Turkey and pay for the report so that it appears in the system.
- Book an appointment: appointments at a Nüfus Müdürlüğü are given on randevu.nvi.gov.tr (driving licence section), through e-Devlet and through the ALO 199 helpline. The system also shows which offices near you handle driving licences. Our guide to e-Devlet explains how the portal works.
- Pay the fees: pay the card fee and the foundation share before the appointment and bring the receipts.
- Attend the appointment: you hand in your documents and the office checks the application. Ask there how and when you will receive your new card.
Fees in 2026
The NVI fee table for 2026 lists the conversion of a foreign licence (tebdil) at 2,115 TL: 1,690 TL for the licence card (değerli kâğıt bedeli) and a foundation share (vakıf payı) of 425 TL. The 1,690 TL card price for 2026 is set by the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance. The amounts change every year, so before paying, check the current "Başvuru Ücretleri" table on randevu.nvi.gov.tr, including whether a further fee (harç) applies to your licence class. Translation, notarisation and the health report cost extra.
What happens to your original licence
A colour copy of your licence is taken when you apply. Under Article 88 of the regulation, a foreign licence that has been converted into a Turkish one is sent back to the country that issued it. From then on you drive on your Turkish licence. If you later move back to your home country, ask the licensing authority there how to obtain a licence from them again.
A Turkish licence abroad, in brief
The reverse case is a matter for the authorities of the country you move to. In Germany, for example, a Turkish licence remains valid for six months after you take up ordinary residence there, after which you need a German licence; the local driving licence office (Führerscheinstelle) tells you whether tests are required.
Residence permit and documents
If you live in Turkey you need a valid residence permit anyway, and the card is one of the documents for the conversion. If you still have to apply for the permit, our Turkey residence permit page explains the process. Turkey Residence Agency can check your documents, arrange the certified translation through independent translators and notaries, and help you book the appointment. You apply in your own name, and the decision rests with the office.
Official sources
- NVI: driving licence FAQ (nvi.gov.tr)
- NVI appointment system: 2026 fees (randevu.nvi.gov.tr)
- Road Traffic Regulation, Article 88 (mevzuat.gov.tr)
- e-Devlet (turkiye.gov.tr)
- German Federal Foreign Office: Turkey travel advice (auswaertiges-amt.de)
Last checked: November 2026. Periods, documents and fees change, so check them on the official sites before your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a foreigner drive in Turkey with a foreign licence?
Up to six months from the date of entry into Turkey. To keep driving after that, you must convert it into a Turkish licence; a residence permit does not extend the period.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Turkey?
For tourist stays, a national licence is generally enough; the German Federal Foreign Office, for example, states that a German licence is recognised. An International Driving Permit is only valid together with your national licence and cannot be converted, so check with the Turkish consulate in your country whether you should carry one.
How do I convert my foreign driving licence to a Turkish one?
Book an appointment at a Nüfus Müdürlüğü through randevu.nvi.gov.tr, e-Devlet or ALO 199. Bring your licence with a colour copy, a certified Turkish translation, your passport and residence permit card, a health report from Turkey, a biometric photo and the payment receipts.
Do I need to take a driving test to convert my licence in Turkey?
Not if your licence comes from a country that is party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, such as Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Licences from countries outside the convention and without an agreement with Turkey are not converted.
How much does it cost to convert a foreign driving licence in Turkey?
The NVI fee table for 2026 lists 2,115 TL: 1,690 TL for the card and a 425 TL foundation share. Translation, notarisation and the health report cost extra, so check the current table on randevu.nvi.gov.tr before paying.
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