1. Review of required documents submitted such as embassy confirmation
2. Aptitude test (physical examination) and written test
3. Exchange issuance of domestic license
※ If the person in charge discovers any deficiencies during the document review process, he/she may request submission of additional documents for supplementation.
※ Exemption from written test when exchanging license from a country that recognizes Korean license
2. Required documents
- Original foreign license
- Original passport: A passport that can confirm entry and exit from departure to entry.
※ If your nationality is different from the country where you obtained your driver's license, you must confirm your stay for more than
90 days in the country where you obtained your driver's license.
※ Documents that can confirm a stay of more than 90 days include proof of school or employment, tax invoice, permanent residence
card (US green card, etc.), citizenship, and long-term visa of more than 1 year.
- Original alien registration card (original domestic residence report card for Korean nationals of foreign nationality) or original resident registration card
- 3 color photos taken within 6 months (size 3.5cm*4.5cm)
- Embassy confirmation or Apostille certificate for your license
- Certificate of immigration facts: from year of birth to present
- Issuance fee: Mobile IC (English, Korean) 15,000 won / General (English, Korean) 10,000 won
3. Application information
▷ Application location: Nationwide driver's license test center
▷ Applicant: Applicant ※ Proxy application is not possible (excluding holders of ID card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
▷ Notification of countries recognizing domestic licenses: 2023.11.22. National Police Agency Notice
▷ What are the countries that recognize domestic licenses? Countries that exchange Korean licenses for their own licenses without a separate test
- License issued by a Korean license recognizing country: Only aptitude test (physical examination) is conducted
- License issued in a country that does not recognize Korean licenses: Aptitude test and written test (multiple choice, 40 questions)
* For written test, choose between Korean, English, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
* For U.S. states of Oregon and Idaho, conduct written test even though they are mutually recognized countries.
▷ Aptitude test (physical exam) is available at the license testing center, and the physical exam fee (type 1 large / special license: 7,000 won, other licenses 6,000 won) is separate.
※ There are no physical examination centers within the Mungyeong, Gangneung, Taebaek, Gwangyang, Chungju, and Chuncheon driver's license test centers, so please take a physical examination at a nearby hospital.
Since the exchange and issuance of foreign licenses takes a lot of time, applications must be received one hour before closing (17:00), and if you need to take a written test, we recommend that you visit before 16:00.
※ Please be sure to check [Precautions for exchange issuance].
▷ Check the information below with an embassy confirmation or Apostille certificate for a driver's license issued within 1 year from the date of application (for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of a foreign license).
- A certificate issued in Korean or English by the 「Embassy of the relevant country」 in Korea or the 「Korean Embassy in the relevant country」
- Certificate issued in Korean or English by a country that has signed up to the Apostille Convention (local)
▷ If there are any traces of separation (separation marks from the stapler, separation marks from the knot, etc.) on the submitted Apostille certificate or embassy confirmation, additional documents may be required or application may be rejected.
▷ If the name or birth date on the required documents such as your foreign driver's license and passport are different, please submit an embassy confirmation or other documents (passport, etc.) that can prove this.
▷ In the case of the Colombian Embassy in Korea, you must visit the driver's license test center with both the Apostille certificate and the General Driver Report for your driver's license.
▷ When a copy of a driver's license is attached to the Apostille certificate, both the front and back of the foreign license must be attached.
▷ If the embassy confirmation for a foreign driver's license states that 'the authenticity of the driver's license is not confirmed,' additional documents may be requested or the application may be rejected.
▷ In the case of Australian license holders, even if they are a formal license holder, if they are under 25 years of age, they must pass the written test to exchange for a foreign license. (However, if you hold an exemption visa as shown in Note 1) for exchange issuance, you are exempt from the written test)
▷ For New Zealand license holders,
- Restricted license holders: A foreign license can be exchanged only after taking and passing the written test.
- Full License Holder: If less than 2 years have passed since the date of acquisition, a foreign license can be exchanged only after passing a written test.
(However, if you hold an exemption visa as shown in Note 1) for exchange issuance, you are exempt from the written test)