Many of us arrive in Germany with a driving licence from Accra, Kumasi, Lagos or Abuja and assume it will work forever. It does not. There is a time limit, and for Ghanaian and Nigerian licences there is a second surprise: you cannot simply swap them. You have to pass German driving tests.
Here is what to do, and when.
The Six-Month Rule
If your licence was issued outside the EU/EEA, you can drive in Germany with it for six months from the day you establish your residence here, which for most people is the date of your Anmeldung. After six months, your foreign licence is no longer recognised for driving in Germany.
If you will live in Germany for no more than 12 months in total, you can ask the authority for a one-time extension of another six months, but you have to be able to prove your stay is limited.
Note the date on your Meldebescheinigung and put a reminder in your phone.
Ghana and Nigeria: Tests Are Required
Germany keeps an official list of countries (Anlage 11 of the driving licence regulation, FeV) whose licences can be exchanged without exams. Ghana and Nigeria are not on that easier route. City licensing offices list both countries as follows:
- An eye test certificate is required.
- Proof of medical fitness is required.
- Proof of a first aid course is required.
- A theory test and a practical test are required for every licence class.
The good news: you do not have to start driving lessons from scratch. Applicants from countries like yours take the German theory and practical tests without a mandatory training course. In practice, though, most people book a few lessons with a driving school to learn German rules and test expectations.
The licensing office will ask you to name the driving school and the test centre when you apply, so you will need to pick one early.
Documents You Usually Need
- Your original Ghanaian or Nigerian licence, which must still be valid
- Passport and residence permit
- Meldebescheinigung (proof of registration)
- A biometric photo
- An eye test certificate from an optician or eye doctor, not older than two years
- A medical certificate on the official form, not older than one year
- A first aid course certificate
- The name of your driving school and test centre
- A translation of your licence, if the office asks for one. Licences in English are often accepted without one, but this depends on the office and on whether the details match EU standards, so ask first.
Your office may ask for more, so check its website before you go. The fee for the application itself is usually around 50 euros, plus separate costs for the tests, the course and driving lessons.
Step by Step
1. Check your deadline
Count six months from your registration date.
2. Choose a driving school
Ask for a price list and whether they teach in English. Many do, and the theory test is also available in English.
3. Get your eye test, medical certificate and first aid certificate
These take a few days to a few weeks, so do them in parallel.
4. Apply at the Führerscheinstelle
You usually have to go in person, by appointment. Hand in your documents and your licence.
5. Pass the theory test, then the practical test
Study with an official app and practise questions. For the practical test, a few lessons help you with German road rules, right-of-way and test routes.
6. Collect your German licence
Once you pass, you receive your German licence.
What If Your Six Months Have Passed?
You can still apply, because there is no deadline for applying for the exchange. But you may not drive in Germany in the meantime. That is why it is better to start early.
Common Mistakes
- Waiting for the six months to run out. You can lose the ability to drive while you prepare for the tests.
- Assuming a simple swap. For Ghana and Nigeria, tests are required.
- Driving on an expired foreign licence. It can lead to fines and serious insurance problems.
- Handing in your only original without asking how long the office keeps it and whether you can drive meanwhile.
- Skipping lessons. German test standards are strict, so be ready for them.
Your Next Steps
Make the licence exchange part of your first months. Our first month checklist shows where it fits with everything else.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules were checked against official city and ADAC sources in October 2026, and they differ slightly by city and change over time, so confirm details with your local Führerscheinstelle before you apply.