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Conversion or recognition of foreign driver's licence
Published 2008.05.05
Conversion of a driver's licence [patente di guida] issued by a country outside the EU must be done within one year of the bearer acquiring residency in Italy. After that period, the bearer may not drive vehicles in Italy.
Conversion is possible only for the following countries, with which Italy has stipulated a reciprocity agreement (data updated to April 2005):
- Conversion permissible for all citizens: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Philippines, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Moldavia, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Principality of Monaco, Czech Republic, South Korea, Slovakian Republic, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Hungary.
- Conversion permissible only for certain categories of citizens: Canada (diplomatic and consular personnel), Chile (diplomatic personnel and their dependents), United States (diplomatic personnel and their dependents), Zambia (citizens on government missions and their dependents).
Conversion consists of issue of a new Italian driver's licence of the same type as the foreign licence.
Applications for conversion are presented to the Province Office of Motor Vehicles [Ufficio Provinciale della Motorizzazione Civile] (for the Province of Turin it is at via Bertani 41, tel. 011/3012100)
The following documents are necessary:
- Application for conversion of driver's licence, on form TT 2112 (available from the Province Office of Motor Vehicles).
- Receipt for payment of Euro 29.24 on current account no. 4028.
- Receipt for payment of Euro 7.80 on current account no. 9001.
- Original foreign driver's licence (must be exhibited).
- Translation of the foreign driver's licence, bearing a tax stamp, authenticated by the Italian government representative of the issuing country and authorised by the Prefecture [Prefettura].
- Medical certificate bearing a tax stamp (and relative photocopy), with a photograph taken no more than 6 months earlier, issued by a physician from the National Health Service [ASL] unit of residence or one of the following general practitioners: general practitioner in charge of basic services for the district, medical inspector of the state railway, military medical officer in permanent effective service, police doctor, medical inspector of the Labour and Social Policy Ministry [Ministero del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali], medical officer of the National Corps of Fire Fighters [Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco]
- 2 recent card-size photographs on a white background, bareheaded, identical to the one on the medical certificate.
- Valid residency permit or card [permesso di soggiorno] (must be exhibited).
The application for conversion of the driver's licence can also be presented by a different person from the one directly interested, bearing a simple proxy and a photocopy of an identity document of the interested party.
Recognition of the validity of the driver's licence issued by a member of the EU consists of a coupon to apply for the foreign licence.
Bearers of EU driver's licences may drive in Italy without any obligation to convert the licence after a year of residence in Italy, but it is recommended that they request recognition of the validity of their licence, both to facilitate renewal and in case they need to obtain a duplicate.
Applications for recognition are presented to the Province Office of Motor Vehicles (the office for the Province of Turin)
The following documents are necessary:
- Application for recognition of validity, on form TT 746 (available from the Province Office of Motor Vehicles).
- Self-certification [autocertificazione] of residence at the Italian address on unstamped paper.
- Receipt for payment of Euro 14.62 on current account no. 4028.
- Receipt for payment of Euro 7.80 on current account no. 9001.
- Original foreign driver's licence (must be exhibited).
- Valid residency permit or card (must be exhibited) (for citizens of countries outside the European Union in possession of licences issued by an EU country).
If, in accordance with Italian laws, the foreign licence has expired:
Medical certificate bearing a tax stamp (and relative photocopy), with a photograph taken no more than 6 months earlier, issued by a doctor from the National Health Service unit of residence or one of the following general practitioners: GP in charge of basic services for the district, medical inspector of the state railway, military medical officer in permanent effective service, police doctor, medical inspector of the Labour and Social Policy Ministry, medical officer of the National Corps of Fire Fighters.
The application for recognition of the validity of the driver's licence can also be presented by a different person from the one directly interested, bearing a simple proxy and a photocopy of an identity document of the interested party.
Responsibilities of vehicle owners:
- To stipulate a compulsory insurance policy with one of the insurance companies in the area. This policy must be renewed periodically by paying the required premium. The insurance coupon must be displayed on the car window.
- To pay a road tax [bollo] every year at the offices of the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), or authorized motor vehicle agencies, or lottery shops.
For further information, visit the website of Province Office of Motor Vehicles