Naturalization
Who needs to naturalize their driver's license, what is the process and how long can you use your foreign driver's license?
May I drive in Hungary?
A foreign driving licence issued by a non-EEA state may be used in Hungary only if it contains the required data (e.g. photograph, identification details, category and validity, etc.).
When is conversion (nationalisation) required?
- If the driving licence was issued in a third country (i.e. not in an EEA state), it may be used in Hungary for one year from the start of the holder’s stay in Hungary; after that it must be converted (nationalised).
- A driving licence issued by the competent authority of another EEA state entitles its holder to drive in Hungary for the duration of its validity. However, if the document does not show an expiry date, it must be exchanged for a Hungarian driving licence after two years from the start of continuous residence.
Member States
The Contracting Parties to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Republic of South Africa, Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Philippines, Greece, Guyana, Croatia, Iran, Israel, Yugoslavia, Central African Republic, Cuba, Kuwait, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldova, Monaco, Niger, Norway, Germany, Italy, Russian Federation, Pakistan, Romania, San Marino, Switzerland, Seychelles, Sweden, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Zaire, Zimbabwe
Member States of the European Union
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia
Ways to convert (nationalise) a foreign driving licence
Conversion without an exam
A driving licence may be converted without an exam if the licence to be converted was issued in a country that is a Contracting Party to the1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
When used in Hungary, the document must be accompanied by an official Hungarian translation.
Conversion with a theoretical basic-traffic knowledge exam
If the licence was issued in a “third country” (i.e., not covered by the first option) and, on the basis of its official translation, can be equated with one of the international categories listed in Annexes 1 and 2 of the Government decree, conversion is possible after passing the theoretical basic-traffic knowledge exam.
In this case the applicant is entitled to an exam-only (course-free) procedure and may sit the theoretical exam without attending a course.
Conversion with a practical driving exam and theoretical exam
If the licence was issued in a “third country” (i.e., not covered by the first option) and, on the basis of its official translation, cannot be equated with any of the international categories listed in Annexes 1 and 2 of the Government decree, conversion is possible only after passing both the practical driving test and the theoretical basic-traffic knowledge exam.
In this case the applicant is entitled to an exam-only (course-free) procedure and may sit the theoretical and practical exams without attending a course.
The naturalization process and details
Where can the procedure be initiated?
Only in person
Address: 1133 Budapest XIII., Visegrádi utca 110-112.
Costs that may arise
- Fee for issuing a driving licence when converting (requested in person at a government customer service centre): HUF 9,000.
- Fee for issuing a driving licence when converting (requested by post): HUF 11,000.
- If, during the conversion of the foreign driving licence, it is necessary to sit the exam-only tests (theory and/or practical), an administrative service fee of HUF 6,200 must be paid for each exam.
Required documents
- Identity card or passport
- Address card (lakcímkártya); if unavailable: at minimum a residence permit valid for at least six months and a temporary accommodation registration form
- Driving licence issued by the foreign authority
- Medical certificate confirming fitness to drive
- A document containing the statement(s) justifying the issuance of the driving licence
- Proof of payment of the procedure fee: by card on site or by the payment slip provided on site (csekk)
- In some cases, an official Hungarian translation of the foreign driving licence
The detailed list of vehicle categories that can be entered on a Hungarian driving licence is contained in Annex 2 to Government Decree No.326/2011 (XII.28.).
How to get the converted driving licence
- The previous driving licence issued by the third country must be surrendered.
- The Hungarian driving licence can be collected in person at the Central Government Office or at a local government customer service centre, or it can be requested to be delivered by post.
- Collection can be arranged by an authorised representative.
- SMS and/or e‑mail notification may be requested for the day the completed driving licence is posted and/or the day it arrives at the traffic administration authority.
- If the authority that issued the foreign driving licence has restricted the driving entitlement or made its exercise conditional, the traffic administration authority will take the official translation of the document into account in accordance with Section 17 (5).
Get more confident driving in Hungary
Do you need help with Hungarian traffic rules or driving etiquette? Are you coming from a country that drives on the left? Would you like to practice driving in Hungary?
Get refresher lessons from our professional instrutors!
Do you still have questions?
Give us your phone number and we'll call you back!
info@jovoautosiskola.hu
+36 70 680 8010
1122 Budapest, Városmajor u. 6. Ground Floor 2., Doorbell: 2
Opening Hours
Monday: 13:00 - 18:00
Tuesday: 8:00 - 12:00
Wednesday: 13:00 - 18:00
Thursday: 8:00 - 12:00
Friday: 13:00 - 16:00
© Future Driving School (Jövő Autósiskola) 2026 | Privacy Policy | Website: Vagabond Webdesign