Egyptian driving licence for foreigners, how to get one

When a foreigner needs an Egyptian licence

Under the Egyptian Traffic Law (No. 66 of 1973), foreign and international licences are valid for the periods allowed by international agreements, and no longer than their validity in the issuing country. A home licence together with an international permit is meant for people who come for a limited time.

Those who live in Egypt on a residence permit need an Egyptian licence. The British Foreign Office, for example, tells its citizens they can drive with a national licence and an international permit for up to six months. Public official sources give no separate period for citizens of CIS countries, so students and anyone with residency should not put it off.

What a tourist needs to rent a car is covered in our article on car rental and driving licences in Egypt. This article is about people who live in the country.

How long an international permit is valid

The validity is printed in the international driving permit (IDP) itself. Under the 1968 Vienna Convention it is issued for three years at most, under the 1949 Geneva Convention for one year, and in any case it is not valid longer than your national licence. Egypt is a party to both conventions and joined the Vienna one in December 2023.

For a resident an IDP is not a substitute for a local licence. In essence it is a translation of your licence. A traffic police expert explained to the Egyptian press that you can drive with it during a visit, while people living in the country need an Egyptian licence. You get an IDP at home, in Egypt it is not issued on the basis of a foreign licence.

Can you exchange your licence for an Egyptian one

According to expat guides, Egypt has no simple exchange where you hand in your licence and get an Egyptian one without a test: no mutual licence exchange agreements have been signed. Your own licence is still useful. Its Arabic translation shows that you can already drive and is part of the document package.

The procedure can differ slightly between offices, so before applying ask your office which tests you personally need to take.

Where to apply

Licences are issued by the traffic police, called «murur» in Arabic. You apply at the office for the area where you live. In Cairo a separate traffic office for foreigners handled their documents for many years, but addresses and procedures change, so check in advance with your local office or with friends who got a licence recently.

Since 1 October 2026 the Egyptian Interior Ministry has been piloting «one window» payment at traffic offices: fees are paid electronically in one go, with no extra charges. According to Egyptian media, fees for personal licences were cut at the same time, by up to 500 pounds. The office will show you the final amount.

Which documents you need

The list differs slightly between offices. According to the Egyptian press, they usually ask for the following.

• A passport and a valid residence permit. Egyptian media give different minimum periods, from three months of valid residency to a year of living in the country.
• Proof of address, for example a recent letter from your embassy.
• Your driving licence or an education certificate translated into Arabic by an accredited office, sometimes legalised. See how in our article on translation and legalisation of documents.
• Two medical certificates, from a general physician and an eye doctor.
• Photos, usually 4 by 6 cm.
• Security clearance. The office requests it after you submit your documents, and it can take time.

The medical check and the test

The medical check includes an eye test and an examination by a general physician, and your blood type is usually determined right at the office. Egyptians getting their first licence also need a drug test, ask whether it is required for you.

The test usually has two parts: theory on road signs and rules, and a practical drive. According to reviews and guides, it is held in Arabic, so bring someone who can help with the language. Learn the main signs in advance and consider a few lessons with an instructor to get used to local traffic.

If you have no licence of your own, you will have to learn from scratch. Egyptians take a course at a traffic police training centre before the test, ask the office about the requirements for foreigners.

How long the licence lasts and how to renew it

Egyptians get a personal licence for 10 years. According to Egyptian media, a foreigner gets one for a year or for the length of the residence permit, so the licence has to be renewed together with the residence permit. Renewal may again require security clearance.

Keep track of both dates. Driving with an expired licence or an expired residence permit is not allowed, and at a police checkpoint it will cause trouble. Read how to renew your residence permit in our article on residence permits in Egypt.

Tips to save time

• Start with the licence translation and the embassy letter, this is usually the slowest part.
• Make copies of all documents and bring the originals with you.
• Come to the office early and expect to make several visits.
• Do not pay middlemen who promise a licence «without a test». Such licences may turn out to be invalid, and you will lose your money.
• If your period of driving on a foreign licence has already ended, do not drive until you get an Egyptian one.

How Tullab can help

Once you have your licence, take a look at cars, where Russian-speaking residents of Egypt sell their cars. Help with translations and paperwork is offered in documents, visas, translations, but always check the provider before paying.

Always confirm the current rules at your traffic police office and on the website of the Egyptian Interior Ministry.