Use of foreign driving licence

Change of a driving licence issued abroad

If the licence is issued in one of the Member States of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association or United Kingdom, it is valid for driving until the expiry of its validity. At the request of a person, it can be exchanged for a Latvian licence without a special reason, but it must be taken into account that the exchange can be performed only if the person permanently resides in Latvia (see the section of the Law on Road Traffic 22. article 1. paragraph 1. part).

If the licence is issued in another country (outside the European Union), then such a licence may be used for driving a vehicle in Latvia for up to 1 year from the moment of arrival in Latvia. If a person resides in Latvia for more than 1 year, then the licence must be exchanged by passing the driving test at the CSDD (Road Traffic Safety Directorate) in accordance with the established procedure. Before taking the registration tests, a person must apply to the CSDD to perform the necessary driving licence checks.

If it is not possible to verify the issue and validity of the driving licence online, the CSDD shall send a request to the relevant foreign competent authority to provide detailed information on the driving licence and its validity for exchange. Such confirmation may also be submitted to the CSDD by the person who wishes to exchange the licence. In this case, taking into account the procedures established in Latvia for the circulation of international documents, it must be legalized or approved with the certificate "Apostille". For additional information on document legalization see here.

In case of exchange of the licence, the Latvian licence shall grant the same vehicle categories as granted in the foreign licence, or those which most closely correspond to the categories specified in the exchangeable licence (if the categories specified in the licence do not correspond to the categories specified in the Vienna Convention).