Driving licence in Latvia for foreigners: India, Pakistan, USA and other non-EU countries
The question drivers from India, Pakistan, the United States and other countries outside the EU tend to ask first is: "I have a licence and years of experience — do I really need to retrain?" The answer depends on how long you plan to live in Latvia.
Can I drive in Latvia on a foreign licence?
Yes — for the first year. If you hold a valid driving licence issued by a country outside the EU/EEA/UK, you may legally drive in Latvia for up to 12 months from the date you register your place of residence.
EU/EEA/UK and everyone else: the key difference
Any driving licence from an EU, EEA or UK country is recognised or exchanged in Latvia without an exam. This post is about the other situation: licences from India, Pakistan, the USA and other countries with which Latvia has no automatic recognition agreement.
Ukraine is a separate case. A Latvia–Ukraine agreement was signed on 27 April 2026, but the terms of its entry into force should be verified directly with CSDD. More in the post on the Ukrainian driving licence in Latvia.
What happens after one year
After 12 months, driving on a foreign licence in Latvia is not permitted. The licence must be exchanged. Where no international agreement exists with your country, this typically involves:
- a document check and verification of the licence's authenticity;
- a medical examination;
- passing the CSDD theory and practical tests.
The exact procedure depends on the country that issued your licence. CSDD maintains a list of current agreements — check it directly on their website.
Verify the current procedure for your specific country at CSDD (csdd.lv) at the time you submit your documents. The information in this post reflects the situation as of June 2026 and is not a substitute for an official answer.
Documents CSDD may ask for
The exact list depends on your country of issue. In general, CSDD may request:
- the foreign licence (original);
- a notarised or officially certified translation into Latvian — if the licence contains entries in a non-Latin script (Arabic, Devanagari, Cyrillic, etc.);
- documents confirming your driving history;
- a medical certificate.
Medical check
A medical examination is required when exchanging a licence. It covers a basic vision and general health check. The specific list of doctors and the required certificate form should be confirmed with CSDD or your GP — requirements differ by category.
When a theory or driving test is required
If no agreement exists between Latvia and your country, you will need to sit the exam. The CSDD practical test does not assess whether you can drive in general — it checks whether you drive safely according to Latvian rules. These are different things, and this is exactly where experienced drivers tend to run into trouble.
For a full breakdown of the test and what to prepare for, see the post on how to prepare for the CSDD driving test.
Lessons and an assessment in English
If you do not speak Russian or Latvian, that is not a problem — lessons are available in English. Road signs, traffic rules, route debrief: everything can be explained in whichever language is more comfortable for you. If you want to understand where you stand and what specifically needs work before the exam, one assessment session is usually enough to get a clear picture. You can arrange one through the booking page.
Why experienced drivers still fail
This is one of the most common surprises. Someone has driven for 10–15 years, yet does not pass. The reasons are almost always the same:
- Right-of-way at intersections. Latvia applies the right-hand rule strictly — the convention differs in many countries.
- Roundabouts. In many countries the entering driver has priority; in Latvia, priority belongs to those already in the circle.
- Lane discipline. The habit of sitting in the middle lane or changing lanes too late.
- Parking rules. Markings and restricted zones follow conventions that differ from what many drivers know.
- The independent stretch. The examiner gives no prompts — this catches drivers who have not practised navigating on their own.
All of these can be corrected. The key is knowing what to adjust, not just logging more hours behind the wheel.
If you are planning to exchange your licence, clarify the procedure with CSDD first, then come to a lesson. A prepared driver needs fewer attempts.