Find out whether you can apply for a Korean driving licence, which documents you need, and whether you should obtain a new licence or exchange your existing foreign licence. You do not need to have a driving licence from your home country to apply for a new Korean licence.
Registration requirements can vary according to your residence status and the licence category you need. Send us a photo of the front of your ARC with sensitive numbers covered if you would like us to check your eligibility before visiting.
Yes. A foreign resident can apply for a new Korean driving licence when they meet the age, identification and physical examination requirements. For SDA's English driving licence programme, applicants normally need a valid Alien Registration Card or Residence Card, two recent colour ID photos, the minimum age required for the chosen licence, sufficient vision and physical ability to drive safely, and an eligible residence status.
A licence from your home country is not necessary. A complete beginner can study, practise and take the required Korean driving tests.
Choose this if you've never held a licence, your foreign licence can't be exchanged or is expired/unauthenticated, or you'd rather train and test in Korea from the start.
Steps: traffic safety education + physical exam → written test → skills test → road-driving lessons → road test → licence issuance.
Choose this if you hold a valid foreign licence that can be authenticated (embassy confirmation or Apostille), can prove 90+ days in the issuing country, and your ID/licence details match.
Handled at an official Korean driving examination centre — not the same as enrolling in SDA's new-licence course. May require a physical exam only, or a physical exam plus written test.
No need for another licence. SDA offers English road-driving practice for Seoul traffic, parking, lane changes, expressway driving, navigation and road signs, or returning to driving after a break.
SDA's full programme is for eligible foreign residents and requires a valid ARC or Residence Card — a passport alone is not sufficient. Short-term visitors should check whether an officially recognized International Driving Permit (used with the original licence and passport) applies. An online "international driving licence" is not automatically equivalent.
SDA commonly assists foreign residents holding D, E, F and H visa categories. Eligibility can still depend on the specific visa, ARC validity and individual circumstances. Contact us before registering if your ARC will expire soon or your residence status is being renewed.
| Requirement | Confirmed SDA policy |
|---|---|
| Identification | A valid ARC or Residence Card is required |
| Domestic Residence Report Card | Not accepted |
| Passport | Not required on registration day |
| Passport-only registration | Not accepted |
| Foreign driving licence | Not required |
| Photos | Two recent colour photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
| Additional photos | Not required during the new-licence process |
| Minimum remaining visa period | No minimum period |
| Minimum age | Depends on the licence category |
| Driving experience | Not required |
| Korean language ability | Not required for SDA's English programme |
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A valid ARC or Residence Card is required to register for SDA's full driving licence programme. A passport or Domestic Residence Report Card cannot replace the ARC for SDA registration — you do not need to bring your passport on the registration day.
There is no minimum remaining visa period. However, your ARC must still be valid when you register.
Prepare two recent colour ID photos measuring 3.5 × 4.5 cm. These two photos are sufficient for the complete new Korean driving licence process through SDA — you do not need to prepare additional photos for later stages.
Foreign licence exchange is a separate government procedure and may require three photos.
| Licence category | Vehicle type | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 Regular | Manual passenger vehicles & qualifying commercial vehicles | 18 |
| Class 2 Regular | Standard passenger vehicles, including automatic cars | 18 |
| Class 1 Large | Buses and other large vehicles | 19, plus 1 year holding Class 1/2 Regular |
| Class 1 Special | Certain special-purpose vehicles | 19, plus 1 year holding Class 1/2 Regular |
| Class 2 Small | Motorcycles over 125cc | 18 |
| Motorized Bicycle | Motorcycles and scooters up to 125cc | 16 |
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Your age is checked using your official identification.
Applicants must pass the applicable physical examination.
Applicants must distinguish red, green and yellow traffic-signal colours, and must be able to control the vehicle safely — independently or with an approved driving aid or adapted vehicle.
If you have a visual, hearing or physical condition that may affect the examination, check with an official driving examination centre before paying for a course.
Foreign residents with valid long-term residence status may be eligible to apply. SDA commonly receives applicants holding D, E, F and H visas.
Having one of these visa letters does not automatically guarantee registration. SDA may need to check the exact visa category, ARC validity, remaining period of stay, current residence registration, licence category and any previous licence restrictions or disqualifications. Tourist status and passport-only entry are not accepted for SDA's full driving licence course.
Foreign licence exchange is different from applying for a new Korean licence. A foreign applicant will generally need to visit an official driving examination centre in person with the following documents.
| Document | Important details |
|---|---|
| Original foreign driving licence | Must be valid and suitable for exchange |
| Original passport | Must show the relevant entry and exit history |
| Original ARC or Residence Card | A valid Korean residence document is required |
| Colour photos | Three recent photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, taken within 6 months |
| Licence authentication | Embassy confirmation or Apostille |
| Certificate of Entry and Exit Records | Generally required from birth year to present |
| Supporting identity documents | Required if names, dates of birth or spellings don't match |
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New licence enrolment at SDA: prepare two photos. Foreign licence exchange at an examination centre: prepare three photos. Do not use the SDA registration checklist as the document checklist for a foreign licence exchange.
You may need to prove you stayed in the country that issued your licence for at least 90 days. If passport stamps and official entry records don't establish this, the exchange may be refused or additional evidence requested.
If your licence was issued by a country that recognizes Korean licences, you'll generally take only the physical exam. If not, you'll generally need both a physical exam and a written test — available in Korean, English, Chinese or Vietnamese.
Recognition rules and country lists can change. Check the current official information before visiting an examination centre.
| Question | Foreign licence exchange | New Korean licence |
|---|---|---|
| Need a foreign licence? | Yes | No |
| Where do I apply? | Official examination centre | Driving academy + official exam procedures |
| Need an ARC? | Yes, or accepted equivalent | Required for SDA's full programme |
| Apostille / embassy confirmation? | Usually yes | No |
| Driving lessons required? | Usually not | Yes, when enrolling through an academy |
| Written / skills / road tests? | Usually not, for approved exchange | Yes, all three |
| Best for | Valid, verifiable foreign licence holders | Beginners or non-exchangeable licences |
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Foreign licence exchange sounds simpler on paper, but the paperwork can add up: Apostille or embassy authentication, a Certificate of Entry and Exit Records, document translation, courier costs, and often more than one visit to an examination centre — for some nationalities this takes several weeks before you even sit an exam.
By comparison, SDA's English-language programme takes eligible applicants from Saturday registration to the road test in about six training days, for a total of 875,000 KRW (Class 2) or 905,000 KRW (Class 1) including the first academy test attempts. For many foreign residents — especially if your documents aren't ready, your licence isn't from a recognised country, or you'd rather train on Korean roads before driving alone — going through SDA ends up quicker and less expensive overall than assembling an exchange application.
This depends on your nationality, how quickly you can gather authentication documents, and current examination-centre wait times. Tell us your situation and we'll give you an honest comparison for your case.
Before attending your first SDA registration or English theory class, prepare the following. A foreign driving licence is optional — bring it only if you want SDA to review whether exchange might be possible.
Confirm that your ARC or Residence Card is valid.
Most new drivers choose Class 2 Automatic for ordinary automatic passenger cars, or Class 1 Regular for a manual or broader vehicle category.
Class 1 and Class 2 Regular applicants must be at least 18. Prepare two recent colour photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, for SDA registration.
If you already hold a valid foreign licence, check whether exchange or SDA's programme suits you better — exchange isn't automatically faster once authentication and translation are factored in. Then tell us your nationality, visa category, ARC validity, whether you hold a foreign licence and its issuing country, your preferred licence type and starting date.
For SDA's full driving licence programme, a valid ARC or Residence Card is required. Other official procedures may have their own accepted identification documents.
No. SDA requires a valid ARC or Residence Card. A Domestic Residence Report Card is not accepted for SDA registration.
No. A passport is not required on the SDA registration day. Your valid ARC or Residence Card is the required identification document.
No. SDA does not require a specific minimum remaining visa period. Your ARC must be valid when you register.
No. SDA does not accept passport-only registration for its full foreign-resident driving licence programme.
SDA's full programme is not available to short-term tourists without an ARC. Visitors should check the rules for using an official International Driving Permit.
These visa groups commonly include eligible applicants, but SDA must check the exact visa category and ARC validity before confirming registration.
Yes. A foreign driving licence is not required when applying for a new Korean driving licence.
Prepare two recent colour photos measuring 3.5 × 4.5 cm. These two photos are sufficient for the entire new-licence process through SDA. A foreign licence exchange generally requires three recent photos.
The minimum age for Class 1 Regular and Class 2 Regular is 18.
Applicants must generally be 18 for a Class 2 Small motorcycle licence covering motorcycles over 125cc. The minimum age for a motorized bicycle licence covering vehicles up to 125cc is 16.
Yes, provided that your corrected vision meets the required visual acuity standard.
It may be possible depending on the licence category and the vision of the functioning eye. Additional visual-field requirements apply, especially for Class 1 Regular.
Applicants must be able to distinguish red, green and yellow. Contact an official examination centre if you're uncertain whether you meet this standard.
You may need official supporting documents showing that both names belong to the same person. Resolve the discrepancy before attempting a foreign licence exchange.
An expired or unverifiable foreign licence may not be accepted. In that case, applying for a new Korean licence may be necessary.
No. An International Driving Permit is a temporary driving document used together with the original licence. It is not a Korean driving licence and cannot replace the required documents for SDA enrolment.
Foreign licence exchanges are processed at authorized Korean driving examination centres, not through ordinary driving academy registration.
No. SDA provides English assistance, English theory instruction and guidance for foreign applicants. The official written test is also available in English.
Send us your nationality, visa status and current licence information. We'll help you identify whether you should apply for a new Korean driving licence, exchange your foreign licence, take road-driving refresher lessons, or apply for a motorcycle or another licence category.
Tell us your visa type, ARC expiry date and whether you currently hold a foreign licence.
Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. 경기도 안양시 만안구 안양로 599 — Gwanak Station, Exit 1, Line 1, approximately five minutes on foot.
