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Licence paths

How to get an Estonian driving licence

Your route depends on the country that issued your current licence: exchange, state exams, or full driving school.

Exchange your licence

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

For people staying in Estonia longer than a year who hold a licence from approved countries and mainly need an administrative exchange process.

  1. Go to the Traffic Registry service office at Heli 6 in Tallinn.
  2. Pay the 26 euro state fee with your bank card on the spot.
  3. Present documentation proving you have lived in Estonia for at least 185 days during the last year.
  4. After verification, collect the ordered Estonian driving licence within about 10 days.
  5. Take your existing licence with you when you exchange it.

Pass the state exams

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Georgia, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Guyana, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

For licence holders from countries that require state theory and driving tests before the Estonian licence can be issued.

  1. Prepare for the state theory and driving tests.
  2. Check the detailed eligibility and testing conditions before booking.
  3. Use targeted theory and practical preparation if you want support before the exams.

Go through driving school

Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hong Kong, India, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Korea (South), Lao PDR, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United States of America, Venezuela.

For people who have never had a licence or whose country requires the full Estonian driving-school route before state exams.

  1. Complete online tests, learning materials, online lessons, and video lessons.
  2. Take the mandatory driving lessons.
  3. Complete first aid, slippery-road training, and night-driving training.
  4. Finish school requirements, then move on to the state theory and driving tests.

Additional costs mentioned in the source include the health certificate, extra driving lessons, closed-area parking rent, state duties before ARK exams, and the option to use the school's automatic car for the ARK exam.

A translator may be required for non-Estonian speakers.

Driving School Blog

Exchanging Your Foreign Driving Licence in Estonia: The Complete Expat Guide

A step-by-step roadmap to legally driving in Tallinn, understanding Transpordiamet (ARK) rules, and avoiding common pitfalls.

Learn2Drive Team•Published on June 11, 2026

Introduction: Navigating Estonian Driving Regulations

Settling into Estonia as an expat comes with various administrative steps, and figuring out if you can legally drive is one of the most critical. Estonia's transport registry, Transpordiamet (historically known as ARK), has strict guidelines on foreign driving licences. Your path to getting an Estonian licence depends entirely on the country that issued your current one. Here is everything you need to know to navigate the system, avoid fines, and get on the road safely.

Category 1: EU and EEA Licences (Simple Administrative Exchange)

If your driving licence was issued by an EU or EEA member state (such as Germany, France, Italy, or Finland) or Switzerland, the process is straightforward. You do not need to take any theory or driving exams. Once you have registered your place of residence in Estonia (in the Population Register) and have lived here for at least 185 days, you can simply exchange your licence at the Transport Administration office.

  • Visit the Heli 6 office in Tallinn or submit an application online if you have an Estonian ID-card.
  • Provide a valid medical certificate (tervisetõend) which you can obtain from a local family doctor (perearst) or private health clinic.
  • Pay the state fee of €26.
  • Your new Estonian licence will be ready in about 10 days, and you must surrender your old licence.
  • Important: The licence has to be exchanged within 12 months of obtaining your Estonian residence permit (living permission).

Category 2: Geneva/Vienna Convention Countries (Exams Required)

If your licence was issued in a country that is a party to the Vienna or Geneva Conventions but is not in the EEA (such as the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, or Turkey), you can exchange your licence after passing the national exams. You are exempt from attending a full Estonian driving school, but you must pass the state theory exam and the state practical driving test.

  • Obtain an Estonian medical certificate (tervisetõend) online or from a clinic.
  • Translate your foreign licence if it is not in English, Estonian, or Russian.
  • Submit an application to Transpordiamet and register for the state theory and driving exams.
  • Expats often find it highly beneficial to take a few professional driving lessons beforehand to get used to Tallinn's traffic layouts, roundabouts, and the specific requirements of the ARK examiners.

Category 3: Non-Convention Countries (Full Driving School Required)

If your licence was issued by a country that has not signed these conventions (such as the United States, Canada, India, or Australia), Estonian law does not recognize it for direct exchange. To get an Estonian driving licence, you must go through the entire B-category program at a registered driving school (autokool) before you can take the state exams.

  • Enroll in an English-speaking driving school like Learn2Drive.
  • Complete the mandatory theory syllabus (available online via e-learning).
  • Complete at least 28 hours of practical driving lessons with a certified instructor.
  • Complete special modules: First Aid training, Slippery Road training (libedasõit), and Night Driving training (pimeajastus).
  • Pass the driving school's internal exams, and then register for the Transpordiamet state exams.

Essential Tips for Expats in Tallinn

To ensure a smooth transition, keep these expert tips in mind:

  • Check Your Validity: A foreign licence from a non-EEA country is generally valid in Estonia for up to 12 months after you register your residence. You must exchange it before this period ends.
  • Get Your Medical Certificate: Visit digilugu.ee to fill out a health declaration before seeing a doctor for your medical certificate.
  • ARK Exam Language: The state theory exam can be taken in English, Estonian, or Russian. However, for the practical driving exam, the examiner will speak Estonian. If you do not speak Estonian, you are permitted to bring an interpreter to sit in the back seat.
  • Practice Makes Perfect: Tallinn has unique traffic features like tram line interactions, bus lane rules, and unmarked intersections where the 'right-hand rule' applies. Taking refresher lessons saves you time and exam fees.
  • Expired EU/EEA Licences: If your licence (even if issued within the EU or EEA) has been expired for 5 years or more, you cannot exchange it directly. Under EU-wide regulations, you will be required to go through the complete driving school program and pass all state theory and practical exams again to obtain a new licence.