Information for Foreigners - Driving with a Foreign Driver's License

A foreigner who has registered residency based on a residence permit in the Republic of Slovenia (RS) is allowed to drive with a valid driver's license issued in a foreign country for 1 year from the day of residency registration in RS.
A citizen of RS who temporarily or permanently resides abroad and temporarily returns to RS is allowed to drive with a valid driver's license issued in a foreign country for 2 years from the day of residency registration in RS.

Driving in RS after the expiration of the one-year or two-year period is an offense punishable by a fine. However, it is possible to exchange a foreign driver's license for a Slovenian one.

Exchange of Driver's License for a Slovenian License

According to Article 61 of the Road Traffic Safety Act, a valid foreign driver's license can be exchanged for a Slovenian driver's license:

• for a foreigner who has registered residency in RS for more than six months based on a residence permit, and
• for a citizen of RS who returns from abroad to RS due to permanent residency or has temporary residency registered in RS for more than six months, provided they meet other conditions prescribed by this law for driving motor vehicles (minimum age, physical and mental fitness for driving motor vehicles - medical certificate, etc.).

A Slovenian driver's license is issued if the holder of a valid foreign driver's license passes the practical driving test for the vehicle categories they are entitled to drive with the foreign driver's license.
Holders of foreign driver's licenses from certain foreign countries, determined by the Minister responsible for traffic, are not required to pass the practical driving test. The determination is based on an assessment of the quality of education, theoretical knowledge, driving skills of drivers, and traffic safety conditions in each foreign country. These countries include EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and Croatia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia [Uradni list RS], No. 4/2011, dated January 21, 2011).

The exchange procedure can be carried out at any Administrative Unit in RS. The Slovenian driver's license is issued as a replacement for the driver's license issued in a foreign country.