Replacing a driving licence in Cyprus:
assistance with the application process

Yes, if you are a Cyprus resident and have lived on the island for more than 185 days. Tourists may use their foreign licences for up to 90 days. Different rules apply to EU and EEA (European Economic Area) citizens, whose licences are recognised in Cyprus so replacement is not usually mandatory.

If you plan to continue driving, you must replace your foreign driving licence after 185 days of residence in Cyprus. This period is approximately 6 months. Driving with a foreign licence after this period has expired may be considered an offence.

Yes, but only for a limited time. If you become a Cypriot resident and have lived on the island for more than 185 days, you must replace your licence with a Cypriot one. If Cyprus has a mutual recognition agreement with your country for driving licences, you can replace yours without taking any tests. This list includes 22 countries (Current Notice Κ.Δ.Π. 5/2021 of 8 January 2021 - https://www.cylaw.org/KDP/data/2021_1_5.pdf):

• Norway
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Australia
• Switzerland
• Zimbabwe
• United States of America
• Japan
• Canada
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Russia
• Georgia
• Ukraine
• South Korea / Republic of Korea
• Serbia
• United Arab Emirates / UAE
• Qatar
• China
• Morocco
• Montenegro

• Great Britain / United Kingdom

This depends on the country where your licence was issued. If it is included in the official list of states whose driving licences are recognised in Cyprus, in accordance with Κ.Δ.Π. 5/2021 of 8 January 2021, then exams are usually not required, and you can replace your licence with a Cypriot one. This list includes Russia, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Canada, among others.
If your licence was issued in a country not on this list, a simple replacement is usually not possible. In this case, you may need to pass local theory and practical tests to obtain a Cypriot licence.
Official list: https://www.cylaw.org/KDP/data/2021_1_5.pdf

Yes, in most cases, a certified translation of your driving licence into Greek is required when submitting documents to the Road Transport Department. For licences issued in Russia and Ukraine, a translation is mandatory. Even if some of the information on the licence is in English, the presence of foreign-language text may require a full official translation.

To replace a driving licence in Cyprus, it must be translated into Greek. This must be an official translation carried out by a sworn translator. It is submitted together with the original licence and other documents to the Road Transport Department.

To replace a driving licence in Cyprus, you will usually need to provide the following: a completed TOM 7D application form; the original foreign driving licence and copies; a sworn translation of the driving licence into Greek; a passport and a copy of the first page; a document confirming your right to reside in Cyprus; documents confirming that you have resided in Cyprus for more than six months; a photograph, which is usually taken at the Road Department; and proof of payment of the government fee. A medical certificate is not required by all applicants; it is mandatory only for drivers over 70 years of age and for certain categories of vehicles, such as C, C+E, D, D+E, C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E.
Advance appointment booking is also mandatory.

What is the TOM 7D form?
TOM 7D is an application form for replacing a foreign driving licence with a Cypriot one. It can be obtained from the Road Transport Department office or downloaded https://cyprusdriving.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TOM7%CE%94.pdf. Applications are usually completed in Latin or Greek characters and signed by the applicant.

To prove residence in Cyprus, you can provide utility bills, a tenancy agreement, a title deed, a Social Insurance Fund certificate or other documents confirming your actual residence.

If documents are submitted via a spouse, documents relating to the other spouse may also be required, along with a marriage certificate. The marriage certificate must be submitted with a certified translation into Greek.

In general, a valid document confirming the right to reside in Cyprus is required to replace a driving licence, such as a plastic residence permit card. A certificate of residence permit renewal may not be suitable, as it is usually only valid for 4 months. To avoid rejection or the need to make a new appointment, it is advisable to check the set of documents in advance of submission.

The government fee for replacing or exchanging a driving licence in Cyprus is usually €40. For the latest information, visit the official website of the Department of Road Transport: https://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/RTD/rtd.nsf/All/CC889F04CAB36A53C2258A400040CADA?OpenDocument=

The cost of a certified translation of a driving licence varies depending on the type of document, the language, and the urgency. At CY Translation, we charge a minimum of €25 per document for the translation of driving licences and marriage certificates. To find out the exact cost, send a photo or scan of the document to order@cytranslation.com, specifying that the translation is required for the Road Department.

Once the documents have been submitted and the government fee has been paid, the applicant is usually issued a temporary driving licence allowing them to drive until their new Cypriot licence is issued.
The time taken to produce a permanent licence may vary depending on the District Office's workload and other administrative factors. In practice, the wait can range from a few weeks to several months, so it is advisable to check the exact timeframe when submitting documents to the Road Transport Department.

Yes, once you have successfully submitted your documents, you will usually be issued a temporary driving licence. This will allow you to drive until your new Cypriot licence is issued. Remember to keep this temporary document with you while you are driving.

Documents are submitted to the offices of the Road Transport Department in Cyprus. An appointment is usually required. You can submit your documents at the relevant district office; for example, in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos or Famagusta.

If a Cyprus resident continues to drive with a foreign licence after the specified deadline, this may constitute an offence. A fixed fine of €50 may be imposed, and if the case goes to court, the fine could be much higher. There are also insurance implications: if the driver should already have held a Cypriot licence, the insurance company may refuse to pay out in the event of a road traffic accident. Therefore, it is best not to delay replacing your licence.

Yes, when a new Cypriot driving licence is issued, the old foreign licence is usually taken away and sent back to the country where it was issued. It is therefore advisable to make copies of all pages of your old driving licence before submitting your documents.

Yes, driving licence categories are usually retained when a licence is replaced. However, if a category is not specified on the foreign licence or has expired, it will not be added to the Cypriot licence. Additional documents may be required for commercial categories, such as lorries or buses.

Not everyone needs a medical certificate. However, it is mandatory for drivers over 70 years of age and for those driving certain vehicle categories, including C, C+E, D, D+E, C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E. If you hold a standard category B licence and are under 70 years of age, you will not usually be required to have a medical certificate.

We provide certified translations and help you submit documents. We can review your documents, book an appointment on your behalf, and monitor your application status. This service is ideal for those who want to avoid making mistakes when submitting documents to the Road Transport Department.

Send a photo or scanned copy of the document to order@cytranslation.com, stating that it is required by the Road Department, and providing your contact number. We will promptly inform you of the cost and turnaround time and contact you to clarify all details.

A certified translation is usually required, particularly if the licence contains information in a foreign language. The Road Department requires a translation into Greek. However, exceptions are made for languages without sworn translators on the PIO register, such as Portuguese and Hebrew. In these cases, the translation can be provided in either Greek or English.

Our assistance is particularly useful for first-time applicants to the Road Transport Department who are unsure of the requirements, have documents in different languages, are renewing their licence after obtaining a residence permit or wish to avoid reapplying due to errors in their application. Our support service helps you to check your documents in advance and prepare translations in a format accepted by the Cypriot authorities.