Category: Driving licences
If you obtained your driving licence abroad and now reside in Italy, you may be able to convert it into an Italian driving licence without having to take the theory and practical exams again. This is called foreign licence conversion, and it is possible only if there is a reciprocity agreement between Italy and the country that issued your licence.
In this article you will find the complete list of countries with agreements updated for 2026, the rules to follow and the steps to start the procedure.
Foreign driving licence: what you can do when you arrive in Italy
If you are a non-EU citizen and have just obtained residence in Italy, you can drive with your foreign licence for one year from the date of registration in the municipal registry. After that period you have two options:
- Convert your licence, if your country has an agreement with Italy
- Take the Italian exams from scratch (theory + practical), if no agreement exists
Licences issued by countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) are instead directly recognized in Italy and do not require conversion until their natural expiration.
The basic requirements for conversion
First of all, you must verify that these conditions are met:
- The foreign licence must be valid (not expired)
- The licence must have been obtained before acquiring residence in Italy
- You must have been resident in Italy for less than 6 years since your first registered residence (4 years for Albania, Argentina, Switzerland and Ukraine)
- You must hold a valid residence permit (or residence card); if the permit has expired and renewal is pending, the postal receipt with a copy of the expired permit is accepted
⚠️ Warning: it is not possible to convert a foreign licence that was itself obtained through the conversion of a licence that cannot be converted in Italy.
All countries with agreements with Italy in 2026
Below is the complete list of countries whose licences can be converted into an Italian licence without an exam, divided by geographic area. The list is updated according to official sources from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the North-West Territorial General Directorate.
🇪🇺 EU/EEA countries (licence directly valid, conversion not required)
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Hungary — plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (EEA).
🌍 Non-EU countries with agreements (conversion without exam)
Non-EU Europe
- Albania (agreement valid until 12 July 2026)
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Kosovo
- North Macedonia
- Moldova (agreement valid until 8 November 2030)
- Principality of Monaco
- United Kingdom (agreement valid until 30 March 2028)
- Republic of San Marino
- Serbia
- Switzerland (within 4 years from first residence)
- Turkey
- Ukraine (within 4 years from first residence)
Africa and Middle East
- Algeria
- Israel
- Lebanon
- Morocco (new agreement in force from 3 June 2025, valid until 3 June 2030)
- Tunisia (agreement renewed in 2025)
Americas
- Argentina (within 4 years from first residence)
- Brazil (agreement in force from 28 April 2025)
Asia and Oceania
- Philippines (only categories A and B)
- Japan
- Republic of Korea (South Korea)
- Taiwan
New developments 2025–2026: new agreements
In recent months several important agreements have come into force that concern communities strongly present in Italy, especially in Turin:
- Brazil: from 28 April 2025 it is possible to convert a Brazilian driving licence into an Italian one without an exam
- Morocco: from 3 June 2025 the new agreement with updated equivalence tables is in force
- Tunisia: agreement renewed in 2025 with new conditions (residence less than 6 years)
- Albania: the current agreement expires on 12 July 2026 — holders of an Albanian licence should urgently verify that they are still within the time limits
Documents required to start the procedure
Once you have verified that your country has an agreement, the documents to prepare are:
- Original foreign driving licence (and front/back copy)
- Valid identity document
- Tax code
- Valid residence permit (or renewal receipt)
- Passport
- Historical residence certificate indicating the place of origin
- 2 passport-size photos
How long does it take?
The processing time varies depending on the workload of the competent Civil Motorization office and the completeness of the submitted documentation. On average, after submitting the complete application it takes several weeks up to a few months.
During the procedure, the offices may carry out authenticity checks on the foreign licence, which can extend the time especially for certain nationalities.
My country is not on the list: what should I do?
If your licence comes from a country without an agreement with Italy, direct conversion is unfortunately not possible. In this case the options are:
- Take the Italian driving exams (theory + driving test) to obtain the Italian licence from scratch
- Drive with an international driving permit during the first year of residence, then decide how to proceed
Manage the procedure without stress
The conversion procedure includes several steps: collecting documents, translating and certifying the licence, booking the medical examination, payments and submission to the Civil Motorization office. Each step requires attention to detail, and a mistake can delay everything by weeks.
GR Servizi in Turin manages the entire procedure for you: collects and checks the documentation, translates and legalizes the licence in court, books the specific medical examination, submits the application to the Civil Motorization office and collects your new Italian licence as soon as it is ready.
📞 011 4366827 / 011 4319261 / 011 0266975
✉️
📍 Via della Consolata 17/E – 10122 Torino
🕐 Mon–Thu: 09:00–17:00 | Fri: 11:00–15:00
Sources: Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport – mit.gov.it | North-West Territorial General Directorate – dgtno.it. Bilateral agreements may be updated at any time: always verify the latest situation before starting the procedure.