Belarus is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so Belarusian driving licences are exchanged in Poland without theory or practical examinations, with every category entered in them. We have already covered this in our general guide to exchanging Ukrainian and Belarusian licences. Here we go deeper into the Belarus-specific points - where clients most often hit delays: verification through the Belarusian MIA, the difference between the old and new licence formats, apostille, and how the consular channel works. Below - how to complete the procedure in Mazowieckie in 2026 and where not to lose unnecessary weeks.
In Short: What You Need to Know in 30 Seconds
- Exams: not required, whatever categories are in the licence (Vienna Convention). To work on C, D, C+E, D+E you separately need Kod 95 and badania
- The key nuance: the urząd sends the verification request to the Belarusian MIA directly or through Belarus's diplomatic mission in Poland - the reply is slower than for Ukraine
- Waiting time: usually 60-90 days
- Licence format: new plastic ID-1 cards exchange more smoothly; older formats carry a higher risk of an additional-confirmation request
- Apostille: may be needed for older licences or if the Belarusian MIA does not respond (~60 PLN + time)
- Cost: for cat. B usually 180-210 PLN (higher if apostille is needed)
- Where: in Warsaw - the delegatura Biura Administracji i Spraw Obywatelskich (commonly called the Wydział Komunikacji, the transport department) of the district where you live
- Validity of the Polish licence: at most 15 years for A and B (5 years for C, D); if the Belarusian licence expires sooner, that date is carried over
Who Must Exchange and When
Polish law (Ustawa o kierujących pojazdami, art. 5 ust. 4 - the Act on Drivers) lets you drive on a licence issued outside the EU, Switzerland and the EFTA countries for 6 months from the start of your permanent or temporary stay. After that you need a Polish prawo jazdy (driving licence): foreign licences lose their legal validity for driving - even if formally "recognised" under the convention.
There is no exception for Belarusians. Unlike Ukrainians with PESEL UKR, whose home licences remain valid until the end of temporary protection, Belarusian citizens may drive on their own licence only for those six months - with no transitional period for driving, and applying for the exchange does not extend the period.
The 185 days are a different rule, a condition for being issued a Polish licence: you sign an oświadczenie (statement) that you live in Poland for at least 185 days in each calendar year, and attach a copy of your karta pobytu or visa. Driving with an invalidated licence is driving without uprawnienia (entitlement): a grzywna (fine) of at least 1,500 PLN and a driving ban, decided by a court. More important than the fine is something else: after an accident the insurer will pay the injured party under OC but may recover that sum from you, leaving you to cover the entire loss yourself. More on penalties for delay - in the article on the 185-day rule and ITD fines.
Are Exams Required
No - no exams are taken, whatever categories are entered in the licence. Belarus ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and Poland accepts Belarusian licences for exchange directly, without theory or practice.
The professional categories are a separate story. C, D, C+E, D+E are carried over in the exchange the same way, without exams or medical certificates, but to work as a driver the exchange alone is not enough: you need Kod 95 (the professional driver qualification) and, with it, valid badania - medical and psychological certificates. This is a separate process, which we cover in the Kod 95 guide. If you plan to work as a driver in Poland, it makes sense to run the licence exchange and Kod 95 in parallel - this saves 2-3 months.
If the licence is not Belarusian but issued by examination in a country outside the Vienna Convention (e.g. the USA, Canada, India), the procedure is different - there you cannot avoid the theory part of the WORD examination. For Belarusian licences, that is not your case.
The Belarus-Specific Point: Verification Through the MIA and Apostille
This is the core point worth reading on for. The Polish urząd does not issue a licence "on trust" - it confirms the authenticity of your document through the issuing country. For Belarusian licences the request goes to the Belarusian MIA, and this channel is not as fast as the Ukrainian one.
The urząd sends the request by one of two routes: either through Belarus's diplomatic mission in Poland, or directly to the authority that issued the licence. In practice the reply comes more slowly than for Ukraine - on average 60-90 days versus the Ukrainian 30-60. This is neither an error nor the fault of the urząd: that is how the inter-agency channel works.
What happens if the Belarusian MIA does not respond within a reasonable time, or your licence is of an older format? Then the urząd may require additional proof that the licence was issued. In practice this means:
- an apostille on the licence or on a certificate from Belarus confirming that the licence was indeed issued, or
- a notarised copy + confirmation of issuance.
An apostille costs around 60 PLN plus the time to obtain it. The downside is that the document has to be apostilled under Belarusian rules, which often requires contacting an authority in Belarus or going through the consular channel. So our advice: if you hold an older-format licence, do not wait for a request from the urząd - prepare the apostille in advance, in parallel with the translation. This protects you from a situation where the case "hangs" for 2-3 months waiting on the MIA's reply, and then for just as long while the apostille is being arranged.
Old vs New Belarusian Licences
The main practical dividing line is the format of your document.
| Format | Description | Risk of an additional request | Apostille |
|---|---|---|---|
| New (ID-1, plastic) | an ID-1 standard card, with categories A, B, C, D etc. | low | usually not needed |
| Old format | documents of earlier generations, issued earlier | elevated | may be required |
New plastic ID-1 licences exchange noticeably more smoothly: the format is standardised, the data is easier to verify through the MIA channel, and the urząd less often requests additional documents.
Older formats carry a higher risk of a request for additional confirmation - it is precisely with these that the apostille question most often arises. If you are unsure which generation your document belongs to, assume the cautious scenario: prepare the apostille in advance.
Where to Exchange in Warsaw
The wymiana białoruskiego prawa jazdy (exchange of a Belarusian driving licence) in Warsaw takes place at the delegatura Biura Administracji i Spraw Obywatelskich (commonly called the Wydział Komunikacji) of the district where you live:
- Śródmieście - ul. Kruczkowskiego 2
- Mokotów - ul. Wiktorska 91a
- Ursynów - al. Komisji Edukacji Narodowej 61
- Wola - al. Solidarności 90
- Praga-Południe - ul. Grochowska 274
- Bemowo - ul. Powstańców Śląskich 70
Booking - via the city's visit reservation system rezerwacje.um.warszawa.pl: you select the delegatura of your district and the driving licence matter. In the busy season, book 3 weeks ahead. If you live outside Warsaw, the exchange takes place at the Starostwo Powiatowe or the Wydział Komunikacji of the Urząd Miasta on the same principle - your place of residence decides which urząd you go to, and the meldunek confirms it.
Documents - Full List
The base package is the same for all categories. The differences concern additional documents for old licences and for cases involving a name change; for C, D the exchange needs no extra documents.
Mandatory for everyone:
- Wniosek o wydanie prawa jazdy - the application form completed in Polish (available at the Wydział Komunikacji counter or downloadable from warszawa19115.pl)
- The Belarusian licence - a copy of both sides (clear photo, no glare or shadows); you show the original for comparison and take it back
- Tłumaczenie przysięgłe (sworn translation) of the licence into Polish by a tłumacz przysięgły of Belarusian - 80-110 PLN, done in 1-3 days
- Passport - original + copy of the photo page
- A document confirming legalny pobyt (legal residence): karta pobytu, a D visa, or meldunek + grounds
- Photo 35 × 45 mm - front-facing, no headwear, no older than 6 months
- Proof of payment: 100 PLN opłata za wydanie prawa jazdy
Additionally for old licences (if the urząd requires it):
- Apostille on the licence/certificate of issuance, or a notarised copy + confirmation of issuance (~60 PLN + time)
For categories C, D, C+E, D+E - not for the exchange, but for working as a driver:
- Valid badania lekarskie (medical certificate) from a lekarz uprawniony - up to 200 PLN
- Valid badania psychologiczne (psychological certificate) - 150 PLN
- A Kod 95 certificate - for professional driving
If you changed your surname:
- A marriage or divorce certificate with a tłumaczenie przysięgłe
- The old passport with the former surname (if available)
How Much It Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Opłata za wydanie prawa jazdy | 100 PLN |
| Opłata skarbowa for a pełnomocnictwo (if a representative submits) | 17 PLN |
| Tłumaczenie przysięgłe (from Belarusian) | 80-110 PLN |
| Apostille (if required for old licences) | ~60 PLN + time |
| Badania lekarskie (not needed for the exchange, only for Kod 95) | up to 200 PLN |
| Badania psychologiczne (not needed for the exchange, only for Kod 95) | 150 PLN |
| Total for cat. B | 180-210 PLN |
| Total for cat. B with apostille | higher due to apostille and time |
| Total for cat. C/D with medicals for Kod 95 | 530-560 PLN |
If you go through a lawyer (booking + translations + assistance at the urząd + oversight of the apostille) - add from 1,800 PLN. For a simple cat. B with a new licence this is rarely worthwhile; it pays off with old licences that have complex verification or with a parallel Kod 95.
Step by Step
Step 1. Translation (and apostille, if needed). You go to a tłumacz przysięgły of Belarusian. You hand over a copy of the licence + a copy of the passport, and collect the translation in 1-3 days (80-110 PLN). If the licence is of an older format - in advance, without delay, you arrange the apostille or notarised confirmation. This is the most common source of delay, so we do it first.
Step 2. Booking. Through rezerwacje.um.warszawa.pl you select the delegatura of your dzielnica → the driving licence matter → a free slot. In the busy season - 3 weeks ahead.
Step 3. Visit to the urząd. You bring all the documents. The urzędnik (official) accepts the wniosek, checks the original licence against the copy and hands it back to you, then requests confirmation from the authority that issued the licence or through Belarus's diplomatic mission. A PKK (Profil Kandydata na Kierowcę - the electronic case file) is not opened when exchanging a Belarusian licence: it is needed only by those assigned the theory exam at WORD.
Step 4. Waiting. Nothing to do - you wait for the Belarusian MIA to confirm the authenticity of the licence. Usually 60-90 days. You can track the status on info-car.pl by PESEL and surname.
Step 5. Collection. Once confirmation arrives, the urząd prepares the plastic card. You collect the Polish licence at the urząd, free of charge, and hand in the original Belarusian licence at that moment: it is sent back to Belarus. The validity date is carried over from the Belarusian licence, but no more than 15 years for cat. A, B (5 years for C, D).
Can You Drive During the Wait
Legally - yes, but only while the six months are running. From the moment of złożenie wniosku (submitting the application) until you collect the Polish licence, the original Belarusian licence stays with you: at submission it is only checked against the copy, and you hand it in when you collect the Polish one. But submitting the application does not extend the six-month period. Driving after it is driving without uprawnienia: a grzywna of at least 1,500 PLN imposed by a court and a driving ban.
There is no "PESEL UKR-style" exception for Belarusians. So if the six months run out before the Polish licence arrives, plan 2-3 months without a personal car in advance. Realistic alternatives for that period:
- Public transport - a ZTM season ticket across Warsaw
- An arrangement with your employer - if your work depends on a car
- Car-sharing (Traficar and similar services) will not help here - renting also requires a valid licence
Tip: do not put off submitting, so that the wait fits within your six months - the submission itself takes about 30 minutes, but the wait then stretches to 2-3 months.
Expired or Lost Licences
Expired Belarusian licences. Since 17 December 2025 they can be exchanged too (Ustawa o kierujących pojazdami, art. 14 ust. 1a), so a trip to Belarus or a visit to the consulate to renew the licence is not required. There are two conditions: the authority that issued the licence must confirm its data, and you attach the documents needed to extend its validity - an orzeczenie lekarskie (medical certificate) and, for categories C and D, an orzeczenie psychologiczne as well. The rule is new, so before applying ask your urząd which documents it will want. You still may not drive on an expired licence.
A lost original. In Poland you cannot exchange a licence on the basis of a copy or duplicate alone, without the original. First restore the original in Belarus (via the consulate or a trip), then begin the exchange. The alternative is to take a course at an OSK and sit the exams at WORD as a "new candidate": faster, but more expensive and without credit for your driving experience - only the category you pass will be opened.
When It Is Worth Turning to a Lawyer
You can complete the process on your own if you have a new plastic ID-1 licence, no problems with the meldunek, and time for a translator, booking, and a visit to the urząd.
A lawyer makes sense when:
- You have an older-format licence and there is a risk of a request for apostille / notarised confirmation
- The Belarusian MIA does not confirm issuance or the case "hangs" longer than normal
- The name on the licence does not match the passport (name change, transliteration discrepancies)
- There was a refusal by the urząd in the past
- You need Kod 95 in parallel - the two processes can be combined and save 2-3 months
- You want to handle the exchange remotely, via a pełnomocnictwo (power of attorney)
At LegalWin we have worked with clients from Belarus and other CIS countries since 2019. We handle the licence exchange as part of the legalisation package - together with the residence card application and, if needed, Kod 95. For Belarusian licences with complex verification we plan for the apostille up front and keep track of the MIA's response times so the case does not stall halfway.
Arrange your Belarusian licence exchange →
This article is informational. Specific timelines and decisions depend on your situation. For individual cases, consult a lawyer for assessment.
Related materials:
- Exchanging Ukrainian and Belarusian licences for Polish in 2026 - the general procedure guide
- Exchanging a Ukrainian licence for a Polish one in 2026
- Code 95 in Poland: how to obtain it - for those who want to work as a driver
- The 185-day rule and ITD fines
- Exchanging US, UK, India licences: the WORD exam
- Service: foreign driving licence exchange