How do you get or exchange a driving licence in Georgia?
Exchanging a foreign licence, the exam and conditions for foreigners.
Short answer
You can exchange a foreign licence for a Georgian one without a test at the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for a fee of about 15 GEL. You need the valid foreign licence and a recent confirmation, no older than 90 days, from the issuing country that the licence is genuine and not revoked, apostilled or legalised. To get a licence from scratch, you pass theory and practical exams.
Why
- Licence exchanges and issuance are handled by the Service Agency of Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- Since 2025 a foreigner must have been lawfully present in Georgia for a set period to obtain a Georgian licence; check the procedure with the agency.
- The confirmation from the issuing country proves the licence has not been revoked.
Details
In practice such a confirmation is currently hard to obtain from Russia, so many Russian licence holders take the test in Georgia instead. When you exchange, you hand in the foreign licence and it is not returned.
People also ask
- How do I exchange my foreign driving licence in Georgia?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Traffic rules and licence exchange procedures may change, so check the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Service Agency websites.
Driving schools in TbilisiRelated questions
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How far over the speed limit can you go in Georgia, and what are the fines?
In Georgia you are fined for exceeding the limit by more than 15 km/h: under amendments passed by parliament in June 2026, 15-30 km/h over costs 50 GEL, 30-50 km/h over 100 GEL, and more than 50 km/h over 300 GEL.
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How much does it cost to clear a car from Georgia through Russian customs?
Clearing a car from Georgia through Russian customs as a private individual involves a single customs duty based on the car's age and engine size, a recycling fee and a processing fee.
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Can you buy a car in Georgia and drive it in Russia on Georgian plates?
A foreigner can buy a car in Georgia and register it in their name at the Service Agency, receiving Georgian plates.
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What do Georgian licence plates look like?
A standard Georgian plate is white with the format two letters, three digits, two letters, for example AA-123-AA, with the Georgian flag and the code GE on the left.