Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzIf you have a driving license from a third country outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) and have moved to Germany, you must have your driving license transferred.
For driving licenses from the following non-EU or EEA states, you do not need a transfer:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- French Polynesia
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Japan
- Jersey
- Canada
- Kosovo
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Namibia
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Republic of Korea
- Republic of North Macedonia
- San Marino
- Switzerland
- Serbia
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom (UK)
- United States of America (USA)
In addition, your driving license from a third country outside the EU and EEA is still valid if your normal place of residence is not in Germany and you belong to the following groups:
- Commuter
- Student
- Pupil
You apply for the transfer of your driving license at the local driving license authority.
When the driving license is transferred, the driving license authority retains the foreign driving license and sends it back to the competent authority in the issuing country or the local driving license authority.
Special information for Administrative District Rhein-Lahn-Kreis
8. information sheet on transferring foreign driving licenses (EU countries).pdf
9. information sheet for the transfer of foreign driving licenses (non-EU countries).pdf
Information sheets in other languages can be found under the tab "Forms"
To apply for the transfer, you must appear in person at the driving license authority of the district or city in which you have your main residence.
- You have a driving license from a third country outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) for which there is no exemption.
- You are resident in Germany. Means:
- You live in the same home for at least 185 days a year.
The fee is based on the scale of fees for road traffic measures (GebOSt).
If the driver's license is sent directly to your home address, an additional shipping fee will be charged.
Your driving license from a third country outside the EU or EEA will be recognized for 6 months after you move to Germany. To continue driving in Germany, you will need a driving license issued in Germany.
There are no indications / special features.
23.01.2023
Your responsible office:
Kreisverwaltung Rhein-Lahn-Kreis - Sicherheit, Ordnung und Verkehr
Address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Building access
Lift available, wheelchair accessible
Contact
Telephone
02603 972-0
Fax
02603 972-199
Website
Opening hours
Zulassungsstelle DiezMonday-Friday8:00 a.m.-12:00 hWilhelmstraße 42aThursday14:00 h-17:30 h65582 Diez
Zulassungsstelle NastättenMonday-Friday8:00 h -11:00 hPestalozzistraße 2
56355 Nastätten
Contact person
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-125
Fax
02603 972-6125
Website
room
E 06b
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-129
Fax
02603 972-6129
Website
room
E 03
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-430
Fax
02603 972-6430
Website
room
E 06a
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-148
Fax
02603 972-6148
Website
room
E 06b
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
Remark:
Building: Rhein-Lahn district administration
56130 Bad Ems
Remark:
Building: Rhein-Lahn district administration
Telephone
02603 972-521
Fax
02603 972-6521
Website
room
E 08
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-521
Fax
02603 972-6521
Website
room
E06a
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-126
Fax
02603 972-6126
Website
room
E 34
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-424
Fax
02603 972-6424
Website
room
E 06 B
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-323
Fax
02603 972-6323
Website
room
E 06a
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-425
Fax
02603 972-6425
Website
room
E 06a
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union
Visitor address
Insel Silberau 1
56130 Bad Ems
56130 Bad Ems
Telephone
02603 972-294
Fax
02603 972-6294
Website
room
E 06b
Responsible for:
- Rhein-Lahn-Kreis:
- Apply for a driving license for categories AM, A, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for a new driving license
- Apply for a workshop card for the first time
- Apply for accompanied driving from the age of 17 with an existing driving license
- Apply for an extension of the A1 or A2 driving license to the next higher category
- Apply for an extension of the driving license for categories AM, A1, A2 or A
- Apply for an international driving license
- Apply for issuance of the driver qualification certificate
- Apply for key number 96 or key number 196 for class B
- Apply for trailer class E
- Applying for a category B driving license
- Applying for a category B extension to your driving license
- Applying for a category L driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a category T driving license
- Applying for a company card for the first time
- Applying for a driver card for commercial goods and passenger transport for the first time
- Applying for a driving instructor's license
- Applying for a new driver's license due to theft, illegibility or loss
- Applying for an extension of the driving license to category L
- Applying for the renewal of a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving license
- Driving licence – issuance express (express driving licence)
- Driving licence: Conversion of a service driving licence into a civilian driving licence
- Driving license for categories B and BE for accompanied driving from the age of 17
- Exchange old driver's license for a new one
- Existing driving license extended by category C, C1, CE or C1E
- Existing driving license extended by driving license category D, D1, DE or D1E
- Extension of a driving license for passenger transport with a limited period of validity
- Extension of a temporary driving license
- Extension of a temporary driving license for categories C, CE, C1 or C1E
- Hand in your driver's license
- Having an expired driver's license reissued
- Issuing a driving license for passenger transport
- Temporary driving licence – apply for a transitional driving licence
- Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
- Transferring driving licenses from third countries outside the European Economic Area or European Union