If you hold a full, valid driver’s license from another country and are registered in Korea (Alien Registration Card, resident registration, or overseas Korean residence report), you can exchange it for a Korean Class II driver’s license for ordinary motor vehicles (Class II Ordinary) at any driver’s license examination office. If your country recognizes Korean licenses, you only take an aptitude test (physical check). If it doesn’t, you take the aptitude test plus a written test. Expect to pay 10,000–15,000 won for the license card, 7,000 won for the health check, and 10,000 won for the written test if required (checked October 2026).
Who can exchange
- You hold a full license that has not expired. Temporary licenses, learner/provisional/probationary licenses and driving permits cannot be exchanged.
- You obtained it while staying more than 90 days in the issuing country. This is checked with your passport stamps and an immigration record certificate; if 90+ days can’t be confirmed, the exchange is refused.
- You are a registered foreign resident, a Korean resident, an overseas Korean with a domestic residence report, or a recognized refugee (Road Traffic Act Art. 84(1)3 and (2); Enforcement Decree Art. 52).
Recognized countries, other countries, and some US states
| Your license is from | What you take | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| A country that recognizes Korean licenses | Aptitude test only | Decree Annex 3, item 2 |
| A country that does not | Aptitude test + written test (40 multiple-choice questions) | Decree Annex 3, item 3 |
| Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada (US) | Recognized, but written test still required | KoROAD notice |
The written test is offered in Korean, English, Chinese and Vietnamese, and 60/100 is a pass for Class II (Decree Art. 50). The list of recognized countries is published by the Korean National Police Agency (latest notice 6 April 2026, 133 countries). Check it with the “국내면허 인정 국가 보기” (recognized countries) button on the KoROAD exchange page. Places with their own license systems, such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, are listed separately.
Major countries (KoROAD lists, October 2026)
| Issuing country | Category | Your foreign license |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand | Recognized → aptitude only | Returned to you |
| Japan, Uzbekistan | Recognized → aptitude only | Retained |
| China, Nepal, Indonesia, Mongolia | Not recognized → aptitude + written | Returned to you |
| United States | Depends on the state | Depends on the state |
In the US, states such as Texas, Florida, Washington State, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey and Arizona are recognized. California, New York and Illinois are not on the list, so holders take the written test. The lists change, so check again right before you apply.
Document checklist
- Original foreign driver’s license
- Original passport (showing your departures from and entries into the issuing country)
- Original Alien Registration Card (overseas Koreans: residence report card; Korean citizens: resident ID)
- 3 color photos taken within 6 months (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
- Embassy confirmation or apostille for the license. It must be issued within 1 year before you apply, in Korean or English. The confirmation comes from your country’s embassy in Korea or the Korean embassy in that country. If your country is party to the Apostille Convention, you can get an apostille there.
- Certificate of entry and exit (출입국사실증명) covering your birth year to today. You can get it from Gov24 or an immigration office.
If the stapled or tied confirmation/apostille shows signs of having been separated, it may be rejected. If your name or date of birth differs between your license and passport, bring a document that proves they are the same person.
Step by step
- Go in person to an examination office with all documents. Proxies aren’t accepted, except for holders of IDs issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Your documents are reviewed. You may be asked for more.
- Take the aptitude test at the office’s medical check room. The Mungyeong, Gangneung, Taebaek, Gwangyang, Chungju and Chuncheon offices have none, so get a medical certificate from a hospital first.
- If your license is from a non-recognized country, take the written test. Exchange applicants do not need the pre-test traffic safety education.
- Receive your Korean license.
Exchanges take time. Applications are accepted until 17:00, and if you need the written test, arrive before 16:00. Embassy confirmations can take several days, so start early.
Fees (checked October 2026)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Aptitude test / physical check (Class II Ordinary) | 7,000 won |
| Written test (non-recognized countries only) | 10,000 won |
| License card — standard (Korean/English) | 10,000 won |
| License card — mobile IC (Korean/English) | 15,000 won |
Which Korean license you get
Normally Class II Ordinary only. It covers passenger cars, buses (vans) with up to 10 seats, trucks with a load capacity up to 4 tons, and motorcycles (원동기장치자전거, 125 cc or less) (see license types). Licenses from Belgium, Poland, Spain, Italy and Ireland, which have separate mutual-recognition agreements with Korea, can be exchanged for the matching class.
What happens to your foreign license
Under the current law, KoROAD keeps your foreign license only if the issuing country asked for it, or if that country keeps Korean licenses when it exchanges them (Road Traffic Act Art. 84(3); Decree Art. 52(5)). Otherwise it is given back to you. A retained license may be sent to the issuing country at its request.
FAQ
Can I drive with my foreign license before exchanging it?
Not with the foreign license alone. With an international driver’s license (International Driving Permit, IDP) or a mutually recognized foreign license, you can drive for 1 year from entry (Road Traffic Act Art. 96). See the international driver’s license guide.
Do I need a notarized translation?
KoROAD’s document list does not include a separate translation. The embassy confirmation or apostille must be in Korean or English instead. Offices may ask for extra documents, so call ahead.
Can I get a Class I Ordinary license instead?
Except for the agreement countries above, exchanges stop at Class II Ordinary. For Class I Ordinary, you can take additional tests later, or upgrade after 7 accident-free years (Decree Annex 3). Ask the office for the exact conditions.
How do I prepare for the written test?
It’s 40 multiple-choice questions on the same traffic law and vehicle check subjects as the regular test. Read the written test guide and practise with our mock exam.
My license has expired. Can I still exchange it?
No, only valid full licenses qualify. Renew it in your home country first, or see how to get a new Korean license.