Do I have to retake driving tests to exchange my licence?

It depends where it was issued. EU/EEA licences are exchanged with no extra tests. Most non-EU/third-country licences require passing BOTH a theory and a practical test at Regitra, plus a certified translation. A few countries have exemptions (for example the UK and Switzerland, and certain categories from Moldova, the UAE, South Korea and Ukraine) — check Regitra for your exact case.

What is the 185-day rule?

You count as a permanent resident of Lithuania if your place of residence is declared here and you live here at least 185 days in a calendar year. You can also qualify earlier through work, study or family ties. Reaching permanent-resident status is what ends the validity of a non-EU foreign licence and triggers the exchange requirement.

Does driving on a non-valid licence affect my insurance?

Yes. If your licence is no longer valid here — for example a non-EU licence you should have exchanged — you are effectively driving without a valid licence. That is an offence and can void your motor insurance cover, leaving you personally liable for any damage you cause and exposing your residence permit to risk. Sort the exchange out before you drive.

What documents do I need to exchange the licence?

Typically your current foreign licence, an official (certified) translation into Lithuanian if it is not in Lithuanian, your identity document/residence permit, and a valid medical certificate. A first-aid certificate is needed if you have to sit the driving tests. Confirm the current list on the Regitra page for your country group.

Can you drive on your foreign licence? Exchange rules

Q: How long can I drive on my foreign licence in Lithuania?

An EU/EEA licence stays valid the whole time you live here — you only have to exchange it when it expires or when you choose to. A non-EU/third-country licence is only valid until you become a permanent resident, which broadly happens once you have lived here at least 185 days in a calendar year. After that you must exchange it to keep driving legally.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change — confirm anything important with the official source linked below and your university's international office.

Whether you can keep driving on the licence you arrived with depends on where it was issued and how long you have lived here. An EU/EEA licence is recognised and valid for as long as you live in Lithuania; a non-EU (third-country) licence is only valid until you become a permanent resident — broadly, once you have lived here about 185 days in a calendar year — after which you must exchange it through Regitra, the state body for licences and vehicle registration.

Driving on a non-valid licence can void your insurance

If your foreign licence is no longer valid in Lithuania (for example a non-EU licence you should have exchanged once you became resident), you are treated as driving without a valid licence. That is a traffic offence and can void your motor third-party liability insurance, leaving you personally liable for any damage you cause in a crash — and a driving offence can also put your residence permit at risk. Confirm your status and exchange the licence before you get behind the wheel. Check the rules for your case on the official Regitra driving-licences page.

The quick answer by licence type

Your licence was issued in…	Can you drive on it?	Exchange needed?	Tests at Regitra?
An EU or EEA country	Yes — recognised, same value as a Lithuanian licence	Only when it expires or if you choose to	No extra tests
A non-EU / third country	Yes, but only until you become a permanent resident	Yes, once you are a resident	Usually yes — theory + practical
A non-EU country with an exemption (e.g. UK, Switzerland; certain categories from Moldova, UAE, South Korea, Ukraine)	Until you become a permanent resident	Yes	No tests for the covered categories

These rules are current as of 2026; the exemption list and categories change, so always confirm your exact situation on Regitra.

The ~185-day residency trigger

The exchange clock is tied to becoming a permanent resident, not to your visa type. You are generally treated as a permanent resident if your place of residence is declared in Lithuania and you live here at least 185 days in a calendar year. You can also qualify earlier by showing personal or work links — an employment contract, a business certificate, study documents, or a family-composition certificate.

EU/EEA licence holders: becoming resident does not stop you driving. Your licence keeps its value and you exchange it only when it expires (or voluntarily).
Non-EU / third-country licence holders: your foreign licence is valid only until you become a permanent resident. Once that 185-day threshold is reached, the licence no longer entitles you to drive here and you must exchange it.

As a student, the clock can start sooner than you think

If you declare your address in Lithuania and study here across the year, you can cross into permanent-resident status well within your first 12 months — and study documents themselves can be used to show ties. Don't assume you have a full year of grace on a non-EU licence; check before the 185-day mark.

EU/EEA licences: recognised, minimal fuss

A driving licence issued in an EU member state or EEA country has the same value as a Lithuanian one, so you can drive on it without doing anything. When you do exchange it (on expiry or by choice):

No theory or practical test is required.
You provide a valid medical certificate — Lithuanian medical facilities issue these electronically straight into the Regitra database.
A translation is only needed for documents not in Lithuanian; some countries also require the document to be legalised (Regitra publishes the list).

Typical exchange fees (EU/EEA, 2026)

These are Regitra production fees for the new card; confirm the live amounts when you apply.

Production speed	Fee
15 working days	€17.15
5 working days	€34.30
1 working day	€51.45

Delivery, if you don't collect in person, adds roughly €4.90 (parcel terminal) to €6.99 (home).

Non-EU / third-country licences: theory + practical at Regitra

If your licence was issued outside the EU/EEA, the default rule is that you must pass both a theory test and a practical (driving) test at Regitra before you can exchange it — and the foreign licence is only valid until you become a permanent resident.

What you typically need to bring:

Your current foreign driving licence.
An official (certified) translation into Lithuanian if the licence is not in Lithuanian.
Your identity document / residence permit.
A valid medical certificate confirming you are fit to drive.
A first-aid certificate — required if you have to sit the driving tests.

Don't let the licence expire while you're here

If a non-EU licence expires after you have already moved to Lithuania, Regitra allows you to exchange it within 1 year of your arrival. Beyond that, expect a more involved process — so start early rather than waiting until the card is about to run out.

Exemptions (no tests for some countries)

Some countries have agreements that waive the theory and practical tests for specific categories — for example the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and certain categories from Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Ukraine. The exact categories and conditions differ by country and citizenship and are updated periodically, so verify yours on the official Regitra exchange page for non-EU/EEA licences.

Practical steps and where to get free help

Work out your trigger date. Estimate when you cross ~185 days of residence (or whether work/study ties already make you resident).
Confirm your licence group — EU/EEA, exempt non-EU, or test-required non-EU — on Regitra.
Get a certified translation of your licence if it isn't in Lithuanian.
Obtain a medical certificate (and a first-aid certificate if you'll sit the tests).
Book and prepare at Regitra — including theory and practical tests if your country isn't exempt.

For free, official guidance on this whole process — in plain English — use the Migration Information Centre "I Choose Lithuania" (renkuosilietuva.lt), which has a dedicated driving-licence page. The city's own Go Vilnius driving guide is a useful overview too.

The bottom line

Driving here is fine on a recognised EU/EEA licence, and on a non-EU licence only until you become a permanent resident. Crossing that line without exchanging means driving on a non-valid licence — an offence that can void your insurance and damage your immigration standing. When in doubt, treat the ~185-day mark as your deadline and confirm with Regitra.