Georgia is a straightforward place to hold a driving licence — you can either sit the local exams for a new one, or, in many cases, simply exchange the foreign licence you already have. Here is how each route works, who qualifies, and one thing you should never do.

Who can get a Georgian licence

You do not have to be a citizen, but you do need a real link to the country. As a foreigner you generally qualify if you either hold a Georgian residence permit (temporary or permanent) or have legally resided in Georgia for at least 185 days in the previous 12 months. If you are just visiting short-term, that requirement is the first thing to sort out. If residence is your goal anyway, start with our guide to the Georgian residence permit.

Getting a new licence: the exams

If you do not have a licence to exchange, you take the standard exams. There are three parts:

1. Theory (the “tickets”). A computer test on the traffic rules. This is the part people mean when they talk about “learning the tickets” — the question bank is published, so it is a matter of studying and practising the tests.
2. Practical on a closed course (autodrome). Basic manoeuvres in a controlled area.
3. Practical in the city. Driving in real traffic with an examiner.

The theory test can usually be taken in several languages, which makes it accessible to foreign applicants. Pass all three and the licence is issued.

Exchanging a foreign licence (Russian, Ukrainian and others)

If you already hold a valid foreign licence, you can often exchange it for a Georgian one without taking the exams — this is the popular route for relocators from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and elsewhere. Two conditions matter most:

• You must be eligible — i.e. hold a Georgian residence permit or meet the 185-day residence rule. The direct exchange is for residents, not short-term visitors.
• The licence must be valid. Only a current licence can be exchanged — an expired or revoked one cannot.

You will typically need your passport and residence document, the foreign licence, a document confirming the licence is genuine and valid, proof of your Georgian residence, a medical certificate, and the application. Requirements can change, so confirm the current list before you go.

Do not try to “buy” a driving licence

A word of caution. You will find people online offering to “sell” you a Georgian licence “without exams”. Do not do it. There is no legal way to buy a driving licence in Georgia — a genuine licence is only ever issued by passing the exams or by a lawful exchange. Anything else is a forged document: it will not survive a police check, it can be cancelled, and using a fake licence exposes you to fines and criminal liability, in Georgia and abroad. The legal routes above are quick and accessible enough that there is simply no reason to risk it.

Using your Georgian licence abroad

Once you hold a Georgian licence and later move to another country, the local authority may ask for official confirmation that it was genuinely issued before they will exchange or accept it. That is a separate document — see how we obtain a certificate confirming your Georgian driving licence, with translation and apostille for use abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions: Driving Licence in Georgia

Can a foreigner get a Georgian driving licence?

Yes, if you hold a Georgian residence permit or have legally lived in Georgia for at least 185 days in the past 12 months. You then either sit the exams or, if you already hold a valid foreign licence, exchange it.

Do I need to take an exam to exchange my Russian or Ukrainian licence?

Generally no. Eligible residents can exchange a valid foreign licence for a Georgian one without exams. The licence must be current — expired or revoked licences cannot be exchanged.

What does the exam involve if I take one?

A theory test on the traffic rules (the “tickets”, from a published question bank, available in several languages), then practical driving on a closed course and in the city.

Can I buy a Georgian driving licence?

No. There is no legal way to buy a licence — a genuine one comes only from passing the exams or a lawful exchange. Anything sold as a licence “without exams” is a forgery that carries fines and criminal liability. Use the legal routes.