How to Get a Driving License in Turkey as a Foreigner

Last checked: 21 October 2026

Foreigners who live in Turkey get a licence the same way Turkish citizens do: a health report, a course at an approved driving school, a theory exam and a driving test. Here is each step, what is different for you, and what it costs in 2026.

In short: get a driver health report, enrol at an MEB-approved driving school with your passport and residence permit, pass the computer-based theory exam (available in a translated version, including English) and then the driving test, pay the official fees and collect your card from a population directorate. For class B, the official payments in 2026 total 8,869.60 TL, plus the driving school fee.

Already hold a licence from another country? You may not need to do any of this: see converting a foreign licence in Turkey.

1. Check that you can apply

For a class B licence (cars and light vans) you must be at least 18 and have finished at least primary school. Certain criminal convictions can prevent a licence being issued; this is checked when you register.

As a foreigner you also need to be registered in Turkey's official systems. Driving schools usually ask foreign candidates for a residence permit (ikamet izni) and a notarised Turkish translation of the passport. Your residence permit card shows your foreign identity number (yabancı kimlik numarası), which starts with 99; this is the number your records are kept under. If you are in Turkey as a tourist, ask the school whether it can register you before paying.

2. Get the driver health report

You need a health report stating that you are fit to drive (sürücü olur raporu). It is issued by a family doctor (aile hekimi), who may refer you to a hospital department such as eye testing. The report is recorded electronically, so the driving school and the population directorate can see it. If you are not registered with a family doctor, ask your driving school where candidates in your area usually get the report.

3. Enrol at a driving school

Courses are run by private driving schools approved by the Ministry of National Education (özel motorlu taşıt sürücüleri kursu, often shortened to MTSK). Typical documents for foreign candidates:

passport and its notarised Turkish translation,
residence permit,
proof of education (ask whether a document from abroad needs a translation),
the driver health report (seen electronically) and photos, if the school asks for them.

The course has classroom lessons in four subjects (traffic and environment, first aid, engine and vehicle technology, traffic etiquette) and driving lessons. Schools set their own prices, so get the full fee and payment terms in writing before you sign up. If you need lessons in a language other than Turkish, ask before enrolling: not every school can offer this.

4. Pass the theory exam (e-Sınav)

After the classroom lessons you take MEB's computer-based exam: 50 questions in 45 minutes, and you pass with 70 points or more. Read how the Turkish driving licence exam works for the full breakdown.

Language: MEB's e-Sınav guide allows foreign nationals to see the questions in a foreign language set by the ministry; press reports of a Mersin Governorate statement list Arabic, Chinese, English, German, French, Persian and Russian. Your driving school has to select the language in the system at least 48 hours before the exam, or the questions will appear in Turkish. Check with your school that this has been done.

Practise with our free tests in English: practice test 1 and practice test 2.

5. Pass the driving test

Once you have passed the theory exam and finished your driving lessons, you take the practical test. The examiner checks that you can drive safely, follow the rules, park and manoeuvre. It is worth learning the basic driving instructions in Turkish (left, right, stop, park) with your instructor, and asking how the test will be run for a foreign candidate. When you pass, your driver certificate is issued and recorded in the system.

6. Pay the fees and collect your card

The licence fee (harç) and the card fee are paid to a tax office or online through the Digital Tax Office; the foundation fee (vakıf payı) is paid at partner banks. Then you book an appointment at a population directorate (nüfus müdürlüğü) and apply with your ID; your certificate and health report are already in the system.

Official payment for class B (2026)	Amount
Licence fee (harç)	6,754.60 TL
Card fee (kart bedeli)	1,690.00 TL
Foundation fee (vakıf payı)	425.00 TL
Total	8,869.60 TL

The licence fee depends on the class: 2,239.90 TL for A, A1, A2 (motorcycle), 2,239.90 TL for F (tractor), 11,271.20 TL for B1, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE, G. These official amounts are updated every January; the driving school fee is separate. The Turkish ehliyet ücreti page has the full table.

After you pass: two years as a probationary driver

Everyone who gets a licence for the first time is a probationary driver (aday sürücü) for two years. Under the rules as revised by Law No. 7590, the licence is cancelled if, during that time, your penalty points exceed 75, you commit an offence that calls for temporary withdrawal of the licence, you drive any vehicle with more than 0.20 promille of alcohol in your blood, or you break one of these rules three times: turning, giving way at pedestrian crossings, or seat belt/helmet use. If it is cancelled, you start the whole process again.

Frequently asked questions

Can a tourist get a driving licence in Turkey?

Driving schools register candidates in MEB's system, and foreign candidates are generally asked for a residence permit along with their passport. If you are in Turkey on a tourist visa or visa exemption, ask the driving school whether they can enrol you before you pay anything.

Is the Turkish theory exam available in English?

Yes, as a translated version. MEB's e-Sınav guide allows foreign nationals to see the questions in a foreign language set by the ministry, and English is among the announced languages. Your driving school must select it in the system at least 48 hours before your exam.

How much does a driving licence cost in Turkey in 2026?

The official payments for a class B licence add up to 8,869.60 TL: the licence fee (harç) of 6,754.60 TL, the card fee of 1,690.00 TL and the foundation fee of 425.00 TL. The driving school fee comes on top and is set by each school.

I already have a licence from my home country. Do I need to start from scratch?

Not necessarily. Foreign nationals can drive on their own licence for up to six months from entry, and licences from many countries can be exchanged for a Turkish one at a population directorate without taking the exams. See our guide to converting a foreign licence.

Sources

Last checked on 21 October 2026. Requirements can differ between schools and offices and can change; your driving school and the population directorate have the final word. This page is general information, not legal advice. Türkçe: Ehliyet nasıl alınır?

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