Converting a Foreign Driving Licence in Saudi Arabia

If you already hold a valid driving licence from your home country, you may not need to start from scratch in Saudi Arabia. Many residents can exchange an accepted foreign licence for a Saudi one—sometimes without a practical test—through a straightforward process handled mostly online via Absher and finalised at a Traffic Department office. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through eligibility, documents, costs and the exact steps, and flags where you should confirm details on the official government portals before you pay.

Who is eligible

To request a direct exchange, you generally need a valid Saudi Iqama and a valid foreign licence issued by a country that Saudi Traffic accepts. Jurisdictions commonly accepted include the GCC states, the EU, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Russia and Singapore.

Acceptance is ultimately decided by Traffic and can vary depending on the specific licence, category and nationality. If your licence is not accepted for direct replacement, you will typically need to register with an approved driving school instead.

Documents you'll need

• Your original, valid foreign driving licence
• A certified Arabic translation of both sides, if the licence is not already in Arabic
• Your original Iqama and passport
• A medical and eye-test report from an approved centre
• Recent personal photographs, commonly 4×6 cm
• Your Absher appointment confirmation
• Your payment receipt for the government licence fee

Traffic may request additional documents, so bring both originals and copies to your appointment.

Step-by-step through Absher

• Activate your Absher Individuals account.
• Complete the approved medical and eye examination at a licensed centre.
• Obtain a certified Arabic translation of your licence if required.
• Pay the government licence fee through the Saudi banking government-payments system.
• Book a Traffic appointment via Absher Individuals → Appointments → Traffic → Book appointment.
• Attend your appointment with all originals and copies.
• Surrender or submit your foreign licence if requested.
• Complete any required verification or driving test.
• Collect your Saudi driving licence.

Will you need a driving test?

Some exchanges from accepted countries are completed without a practical test. However, Traffic can require a test—particularly where the licence, country, category or documents are not eligible for direct exchange. If a direct exchange is refused, the route forward is to apply through an approved driving school using Absher, which also supports driving-school appointment services.

Fees and costs

The government licence fee is charged by the year. Commonly published rates are around SAR 40 per year—for example, SAR 80 for two years, SAR 200 for five years, and SAR 400 for ten years. One source reports SAR 250 for five years, so always confirm the exact amount displayed in the government payment system before you pay.

Beyond the government fee, expect provider charges such as:

• Arabic translation: commonly around SAR 100
• Medical and eye examination: commonly SAR 150–200
• Photographs, copies and printing: commonly SAR 50–75

A typical direct-exchange total lands at roughly SAR 330–575, excluding any driving-school or test charges. The final figure depends on the licence duration you choose, the clinic and the translator.

Validity and key reminders

Your Saudi licence is issued for the period you select and pay for—commonly 2, 5 or 10 years. Your foreign licence should generally be valid at the time you submit the exchange application. If your licence is not accepted for direct replacement, plan for driving-school registration and the associated lessons and tests.

Because acceptance rules and fees can change, confirm current requirements and payable amounts through Absher and the relevant official Saudi government channels before booking or paying.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving