Exchanging a Foreign Driver’s License for a Korean One

Our office receives a lot of inquiries related to the exchange of a national (foreign) driver’s license for a Korean one.

This is a relatively straightforward process that is the same for most countries. A registered foreigner in Korea may apply for the issuance of a Korean license based on his/her national one by submitting the following documents to one of the Driver’s License Test Centers located all over Korea:

1. Valid foreign driver’s license
2. Apostilled copy of the license or a Confirmation Certificate from the relevant Embassy (not issued for the nationals of such countries as the US, the UK, Hong Kong, Finland, the Netherlands, Columbia, etc.)
3. Passport (if the driver’s license was issued by a third country, it is necessary to provide proof of long-term (more than 90 days) residence in that country).
4. Entry/Exit Records for the period from the date of birth to now. Can be issued by a Community Center, Gu-office, Immigration Office.
5. Alien Registration Card.
6. 3 color photos (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
7. Issuance fee (may vary depending on the test center, usually around 10,000 KRW ~ 12,500 KRW).

Please note that it is not possible to have a foreign document apostilled in Korea, so if you cannot procure a Confirmation Certificate from your Embassy or Consulate in Korea, you will have to process an apostille for a driver’s license in the country of its origin.

Korean Drivers License Test

If you are unable to complete the aforementioned, you can opt to take a Korean drivers license test.

Drive safe!