Are Ukrainian driving licences no longer valid in Poland? New requirements for 2026
For most holders of PESEL UKR, Ukrainian driving licences in Poland remain valid for driving a car — until temporary protection ends in March 2027. For all other foreigners, a different rule applies: 185 days of stay — and after that you may drive only with a Polish licence.
International Law Firm "Zahist" assists drivers with document exchange in Poland. In our practice, fines or insurer refusals most often affect not those who knew nothing about the exchange, but those who changed their ground of stay.
For example, a person moves from temporary protection to a residence card through work or business — and does not notice that the rules on driving licences changed together with their status.
We explain when Ukrainian licences are still valid, when exchange becomes mandatory, and what the risks are of driving without a Polish document.
Validity of Ukrainian driving licences in Poland — what applies in 2026
The validity of Ukrainian driving licences in Poland depends not on Ukrainian citizenship as such, but on the specific ground on which the person stays in the country.
This is the detail most often overlooked: two drivers with the same Ukrainian licences may have completely different validity periods depending on their residence status.
Confusion is increased by the fact that licences of the Ukrainian standard remain physically valid — the issue is not the document itself, but the right to use it on the territory of Poland.
Temporary protection and PESEL UKR — licences valid until March 2027
Temporary protection gives the right to drive a car with a Ukrainian licence without exchange for the entire period of protection — the EU mechanism was last extended until 4 March 2027.
This is an exception to the general rule: it is the PESEL UKR status that exempts from mandatory licence exchange for as long as that status remains valid.
The 185-day rule — when the exchange obligation arises for others
For foreigners without temporary protection, the general rule applies: a foreign document is valid for driving for 185 days (about half a year) from the start of permanent or temporary stay in Poland.
After this period ends, a legal obligation arises to exchange the Ukrainian licence for a Polish one — driving without exchange after 185 days is treated as a violation, even if the licence itself has not yet expired under Ukrainian documents.
This period is counted from the start date of the specific stay, not from the date of first entry into the country many years ago — so the date should be recorded in documents.
When licence exchange becomes mandatory
Licence exchange in Poland becomes mandatory not only because time has passed, but also because the ground of stay itself has changed — and this is what most often catches drivers by surprise.
Change of residence status — a hidden trap for drivers
The temporary protection exception works only while that status remains valid. If a person moves to a residence card through work, business or study, the PESEL UKR privilege no longer applies automatically, and it is worth checking separately whether the 185-day countdown has started anew.
In consultations we always advise checking this issue immediately after obtaining a new residence title, rather than waiting until a police officer stops you on the road.
The problem is that no authority sends a separate reminder about licence exchange — the decision on a new residence title and the validity of the driving licence are handled by different bodies, and there is no automatic information exchange between them.
Professional drivers — licence exchange is always mandatory
The situation of professional drivers is separate: if a person is employed specifically as a driver, a Polish licence is required regardless of residence status or the temporary protection period.
Employers in the transport sector usually require the exchange already at the hiring stage — without a Polish document, official employment as a driver is not possible.
This applies to truck drivers, taxi drivers and delivery service drivers working under an employment contract — unlike private driving of one’s own car, there are practically no temporary protection exceptions here.
How to exchange a Ukrainian driving licence for a Polish one
Because Ukraine has acceded to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, the exchange takes place without retaking the theoretical or practical exam — provided the authority has no doubts as to the authenticity of the document.
- Apply to the transport department (wydział komunikacji) at the place of actual residence
- Submit the original Ukrainian licence and a certified translation by a sworn translator
- Attach proof of residence in Poland and a medical certificate if required
- Pay the state fee and wait for the decision — usually up to 30 days
A translation is not required only when the licence is bilingual or already contains an entry in Latin script — in practice this is rare, so the translation should be ordered in advance.
The authority may refuse exchange without exams if doubts arise as to the authenticity of the document — for example, signs of forgery or inconsistency of data across the applicant’s documents.
Documents and cost of licence exchange in Poland
| Cost item | Approximate cost |
| State fee for issuing the licence | PLN 100.50 |
| Sworn translation of the licence | PLN 50–150 |
| Medical examination (if required) | about PLN 200 |
| Application processing time | up to 30 days |
The total amount usually fits within PLN 350–450, and the main variable is the cost of translation, which depends on the translator and the city.
A medical examination is not always required — most often it is requested for categories related to driving goods or passenger transport, or if the authority has doubts about the applicant’s health.
What you risk when driving with an expired licence entitlement
Driving a car after the 185 days have expired without exchanging the licence is a violation punishable by a fine of PLN 200 to 2,000.
- Fine of PLN 200 to 2,000 for driving without a valid document
- Possible insurer refusal to pay compensation after a traffic accident
- Additional police questions about the lawfulness of stay in general
- Delay at the border or during checks due to inconsistency in documents
The most tangible risk is insurer refusal: after an accident it turns out that the licence had long required exchange, and neither the driver’s own car nor the injured party receives payout for the damage.
In that case, compensation to the injured party still has to be paid — not from the insurance policy, but from the pocket of the driver who was refused cover.
Legal assistance with driver regularisation in Poland
Whether Ukrainian licences are still valid, and whether the 185-day countdown has started after a change of status, should be checked individually — there is no universal date for everyone.
Lawyers at International Law Firm "Zahist" help determine the current ground of stay, check whether licence exchange is required, and support the document filing process itself.
If you have recently changed your residence status or are simply unsure whether you need a licence exchange, contact International Law Firm "Zahist" — we will review your situation in a consultation.
The check takes little time, while a fine, insurer refusal or delay with a Polish licence during an important trip costs far more than an early consultation.
