Anyone moving to the UK from outside the EU almost always asks the same question: how long does my existing driving licence remain valid?
The legal basis
Holders of a valid full driving licence from a country outside the EU/EEA can drive in Great Britain for up to 12 months from the date they become resident.
When does the clock actually start?
What matters is not your date of entry but the date you become a resident — generally when you settle and begin living in the UK, not simply the date you arrive on a visit.
Exceptions to the rule
- Certain visiting students may fall under different provisions depending on their visa category
- Licences issued in the EU/EEA are not subject to this 12-month rule
Once the 12 months expire, driving on the foreign licence alone is no longer valid — regardless of how long that licence remains valid back home.
