Certified Translation of your Driving Licence (Spanish-German / English-German)
As a sworn translator for the language combinations Spanish-German and English-German, appointed by the Regional Court of Berlin, I carry out certified translations of driving licences (Führerschein / Fahrerlaubnis): Spanish-German, German-Spanish or English-German, German-English.
1. Certified Translation of a foreign Driving Licence
(Spanish-German / English-German)
Using foreign Driving Licences in Germany
A driving licence (Führerschein) is the offical certificate of the driving permit for motor vehicles (Fahrerlaubnis). If you hold a driving licence issued in a third country (i.e. a non-member of the EU/EEA), it is valid in Germany only together with the International Driving Permit or a certified translation into German.
If you are just visiting Germany and your main place of residence is not in this country, this regulation is unlimited. As soon as you register in a German municipality, its validity for use in Germany is limited to 6 months and the exchange of the driving licence is required. More information on the requirements can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Transport. If your driving licence is issued in English, ask the competent authority for driving permits (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) if a translation is required in your case (in Berlin: LABO).
Exchanging a foreign Driving Licence for use in Germany
If you are registered in Germany, a driving licence issued in a third country loses its validity for use in Germany normally after 6 months. Therefore, it is recommended to apply for the exchange of your driving licence beforehand (Umschreibung, in accordance with Art. 31 FeV. If your driving licence is issued in Spanish, the legal translation into German is necessary. Is it issued in English, ask the competent authority for driving permits (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) if a translation is required in your case (in Berlin: LABO). In Berlin, you can apply for the exchange of your driving licence at the citizens’ offices (Bürgeramt) or at the authority for driving permits (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) of LABO. More information on the exchange of a driving permit from a third country in Berlin can be found here.
Translation of Driving Licences English-German
- Antigua and Barbuda: Driver’s License
- Australia: Driver Licence
- Bahamas: Driver’s Licence
- Bangladesh: Motor Driving Licence
- Barbados: Driver’s License
- Belize: Driver’s License
- Botswana: Driving Licence
- Cameroon: Driving Licence
- Canada: Driver’s Licence
- Dominica: Driver License
- Fiji: Driver Licence
- Gambia: Driving Licence
- Ghana: Driver Licence
- Grenada: Driver’s License
- Guyana: Driver’s Licence
- India: Driving Licence
- Jamaica: Driver’s Licence
- Kenya: Driving Licence
- Kiribati: Driver’s License
- Lesotho: Driving Licence
- Liberia: Driver’s Licence
- Malawi: Driving Licence
- Marshall Islands: Drivers License
- Micronesia: Driver’s License / Driver License
- Namibia: Driving Licence
- Nauru: Driver License
- Nigeria: National Driver’s Licence
- Pakistan: Driving License
- Palau: Vehicle Operator License
- Papua New Guinea: Driver’s Licence
- Philippines: Driver’s License
- Rwanda: Driving License
- St. Kitts and Nevis: Drivers License
- St. Lucia: Driver’s Licence
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Drivers Licence
- Samoa: Drivers License
- Seychelles: Driving Licence
- Sierra Leone: Motor Driver’s License
- Singapore: Driving Licence
- Solomon Islands: Driving Licence
- South Africa: Driving Licence
- Sri Lanka: Driving Licence
- Swaziland: Driver’s Licence
- Tanzania: Driving Licence
- Tonga: Driving Licence
- Trinidad and Tobago: Driver’s Permit
- Tuvalu: Driving Licence
- Uganda: Driving Permit
- United States: Driver License / Driver’s License
- Vanuatu: Drivers Licence
- Zambia: Driving Licence
- Zimbabwe: Drivers Licence
Translation of Driving Licences Spanish-German
- Argentina: Licencia de conducir / Licencia nacional de conducir
- Bolivia: Licencia para conducir
- Chile: Licencia de conducir
- Colombia: Licencia de conducción
- Costa Rica: Licencia de conducir
- Cuba: Licencia de conducción
- Dominican Republic: Licencia de conducir
- Ecuador: Licencia de conducir
- El Salvador: Licencia de conducir
- Equatorial Guinea: Permiso de conducción
- Guatemala: Licencia de conducir
- Honduras: Licencia de conducir
- Mexico: Licencia para conducir / Licencia de conducir
- Nicaragua: Licencia de conducir
- Panama: Licencia de conducir
- Paraguay: Licencia de conducir
- Peru: Licencia de conducir
- Uruguay: Licencia nacional de conductor
- Venezuela: Licencia para conducir
(No translation is needed for driving licences from Hong Kong and New Zealand as well as for EU/EEA countries.)
2. German Führerschein – Translation of your Driving Permit (German-English / German-Spanish)
If you hold a German driving licence (Führerschein) and travel to non-EU countries with Spanish or English as an official language, a certified translation into Spanish or English may be an alternative to applying for the International Driving Permit, which is valid for 3 years only. Please inquire about the regulations in your country of destination prior to travel.
The German driving licence with its certified translation into English is accepted especially for temporary stays in Australia and New Zealand. More information can be found on the websites of the ADAC and the German Foreign Ministry.