ORDER No.

163 of August 10, 2011 on the exchange of national driving licenses issued by the
relevant authorities of other states with similar Romanian documents.
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF ADMINISTRATION AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Published in the Official Gazette No. 578 of 16 August, 2011

Considering the provisions of art. 83 para. (3) of the Government Emergency Ordinance No.
195/2002 on circulation on public roads, republished, with subsequent amendments and
completions, pursuant to art. 7 para. (4) of the Government Emergency Ordinance No. 30/2007,
regarding the organization and functioning of the Ministry of Administration and Internal
Affairs, approved with modifications by Law No. 15/2008, with subsequent amendments and
completions, the Minister of Administration and Interior issues the following order: Article 1(1)
This order regulates the exchange, upon request, with similar Romanian documents of the
national driving licenses issued by the authorities provided in art. 83 para. (1) of the Government
Emergency Ordinance No. 195/2002, regarding the traffic on public roads, republished with
subsequent amendments and completions, hereinafter referred to as the Emergency Ordinance, as
well as those whose validity is unilaterally recognized according to art. 83 para. (3) of the
emergency ordinance.(2) Individuals who have or establish their domicile or residence in
Romania within the meaning of art. 231 para. (2) of the Emergency Ordinance may request the
exchange of the national driving licenses provided in para. (1) with similar Romanian
documents.(3) The competent authority to carry out the exchange of the national driving licences
laid down in para. (1) with similar Romanian documents is the community public service regime
of driving licenses and vehicle registration, hereinafter reffered to as the community public
service on whose territorial jurisdiction the applicant has his domicile within the meaning of art.
23^1 para. (2) of the Emergency Ordinance.(4) To establish the jurisdiction according to para.
(3) the applicant must declare on sole responsibility that: a) he/she tipically resides at least 185
days in a calendar year at an adress or adresses of which at least one is within the competence
area of the public community service due to personal and professional ties or due to personal ties
which reveal close links with the respective adress or adresses, if the person has no proffesional
ties; or b) he/she regularly returns to an address within the community public service's remit due
to personal connections with that address, although he lives alternately in different places,
located in two or more Member States, because his professional connections are in a different
place than of personal connections; or c) he or she normally resides at an address within the
remit of the community public service due to his or her personal connections with that address,
although he or she resides temporarily in another Member State for a fixed-term activity or
assignment.(5) For the purposes of this order, Member States shall include the Member States of
the European Union other than Romania, the Member States of the European Economic Area,
the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland until the
date of conclusion of the transitional period, as established, as applicable, by Article 126 or 132
of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community. (on 03/09/2020,
Paragraph (5) of Article 1 was amended by Point 1, Article I of ORDER No. 128 of 25 August
2020, published in the Official Gazette No. 811 of 3 September 2020).(6) Proof of domicile or
residence in Romania is made with documents within the validity period, as it follows: a) for
Romanian citizens, with the identity card; b) for the citizens of the Member States, as well as for
their family members who are not citizens of the respective States, with the document issued
under the conditions of the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 102/2005 regarding the free
movement on the Romanian territory of citizens of the Member States of the European Union,
the European Economic Area and of the citizens of the Swiss Confederation, republished, with
the subsequent modifications and additions, which certifies, at the moment of the request, the
right of legal residence on the Romanian territory; c) for foreigners, with the document
certifying, at the time of the request, the right of legal residence on the Romanian territory. (on
8/10/2014, Article 1 was amended by point 1 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of 2 October 2014,
published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of 3 October 2014.) Article 2 (1) National
driving licenses may be exchanged for similar documents in Romanian, without passing an
examination or test by the authorities: a) of the Member States set out in annex No. 1; b) of the
Member States of the Convention on Road Traffic, concluded in Vienna on 8 November 1968
and ratified by Romania by Decree No. 318/1980, with the exception of those mentioned in lett.
a), reffered to in the annex No. 2; c) the states reffered to in annex No. 3)*). (2) Driving licenses
containing additional information/restrictions, under the form of harmonized european codes,
shall be exchanged for similar Romanian documents, provided that these codes are entered under
the heading Restrictions in the driving license. (3) The codes provided in para. (2) are those
included in annex No. 2 to the order of the Minister of Administration and Intern Affairs No.
157/2012 concerning the form and content of the driving license, with subsequent amendments.
(On 8/10/2014, paragraph (3) of art. 2 was modified by point 2 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 on
October 2, 2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 on October 3, 2014.) Article 3
(1) The national driving licenses issued by the authorities of the states provided in art. 2 para. (1)
may be exchanged for similar Romanian documents, under the conditions established by this
order, with the categories equivalent to Romanian driving licenses.(On October 8, 2014, para. (1)
of art. 3 was modified by point 12 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 on October 2, 2014, published in
the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 on October 3, 2014, by replacement of a phrase. (2) The
national driving licenses issued by the authorities of the states laid down in art. 2 para. (1) as a
result of the change of the Romanian licenses, which did not equate all the categories in
Romania, are to be exchanged with similar Romanian documents with all the categories
registered in the records of the Romanian authorities, for which the right to drive was not
suspended by the relevant Romanian authorities or the authorities of the states provided in art. 2
para. (1). (On 8/10/2014, para. (2) of art. 3 was amended by point 12 of art. I of ORDER No. 149
of 2 October 2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of 3 October 2014, by
replacing a phrase.)(3) The exchange of national driving licenses issued by the states with which
Romania has concluded bilateral or multilateral treaties in the matter of mutual recognition of
driving licenses is made according to the conditions set out in these treaties. (4) The national
driving licenses issued by the authorities of the states reffered to in art. 2 para. (1) to the
individuals who do not meet the age conditions laid down in art. 20 of the Emergency Ordinance
are exchanged with similar Romanian documents only after the date on which the holder reaches
the minimum age provided by law for the category to which the vehicle belongs.(On 8/10/2014,
para. (4) of art. 3 was amended by point 12 of art. I of ORDER Nr. 149 of 2 October 2014,
published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of 3 October 2014, by replacing a phrase.)(5)
Driving licenses issued by the authorities of Member States, which have been lost, stolen or
damaged shall be exchanged on the basis of information the public community service requested
to replace the lost, stolen or damaged driving license holds on the applicant and the driving
license, or, in the absence of such information, on the basis of a certificate received from the
competent authorities of the Member State which issued the original permit. (On 08/10/2014,
para. (5) of art. 3 was modified by point 3 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014,
published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014.) (6) In order to facilitate the
verification of information concerning the applicant and the driving license in order to exchange
the lost, stolen or damaged driving licenses issued by the authorities of the Member States, in
accordance with para. (5), the network of driving licenses of the European Union can be used
(On 08/10/2014, para. (6) of article 3 was amended by point 3 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of 2
October 2014, published in OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of 3 October 2014.) (7) In the
situation where there is sufficient evidence to suspect that the applicant for a driving license
issued by the competent authority of a Member State is already the holder of another driving
license issued by another Member State, checks shall be carried out with the competent
authorities of the Member States, including through the use of the European Union driving
license network. (8) The procedures for requesting the certification laid down in para. (5) and to
carry out the verification together with the competent authorities of the Member States, under the
conditions provided in para. (7), are established by order of the director of the Directorate for
Driving and Registration of Vehicles within the Ministry of Administration and Internal Affairs.
Article 4 The national driving licenses issued by the authorities of the states provided in art. 2
para. (1) cannot be exchanged with similar Romanian documents in case it is found that their
holders also have another national driving license. Article 5 The following categories of
documents cannot be exchanged with similar Romanian documents, even if they were issued by
the authorities of the states laid down in art. 2 para. (1): a) international driving licenses; b) lost
or stolen driving licenses or whose validity has expired, except for those issued by the authorities
of the Member States (on 08/10/2014, lett. b) of art. 5 was amended by point 4 of art. I of
ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of
October 3, 2014.); c) driving licenses which have been revoked or are subject to restrictions
which do not comply with harmonized European codes, suspensions or withdrawals in another
State; d) provisional, temporary or learner’s driving licenses; e) driving licenses of individuals
who have been convicted by a final court decision for one of the offenses provided in art. 24
para. (6) of the Emergency Ordinance, except for the cases in which one of the situations laid
down in art. 116 para. (1) of the Emergency Ordinance occurs. Article 6 (1) For the exchange of
driving licenses, the applicants submit personally, to the relevant oublic community service
according to art. 1 para. (3), the file for changing the driving license, which must contain the
following documents: a) 1. the national driving license issued by the authorities of the states laid
down in art. 2 para. (1) of whose change is requested, in original. If the driving license has been
issued by the authorities of the states laid down in art. 2 para. (1) lett. b) and c , the legalized
translation of it into Romanian is also submitted; or 2. the document attesting to the loss, theft or
unjustified absence of the driving license, if the latter has been issued by the competent
authorities of the States provided for in art. 2 para. (1) lett. a). If the document is not drawn up in
Romanian, a legalized translation into Romanian shall also be submitted; b) the identity
document, as well as the documents proving the domicile or residence in Romania laid down in
art. 1 para. (6); c) the request of the applicant, the model of which is set out in annex No. 4,
completed legibly, in capital letters, as well as the signature; d) proof of payment of the
equivalent value of the driving license, paid by one of the methods laid down in art. 11^1 of the
Government Emergency Ordinance No. 195/2002 concerning traffic on public roads,
republished, with subsequent amendments and additions. (On 12/06/2017, lett. d) of para. (1),
article 6 was amended by point 1, article III of ORDER No. 58 of May 24, 2017, published in the
OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 431 of June 12, 2017.)(2) In case a driving license with a new
administrative validity is requested, the file for changing the driving license reffered to in para.
(1) must also contain the document issued by an authorized healthcare unit stating that the holder
is fit to drive vehicles of the categories mentioned in the driving license submitted for exchange.
(4) The exchange of driving licenses issued by the authorities of the Member States, lost, stolen
or damaged, shall be carried out in compliance with the provisions of para. (3).(5) In order to
facilitate the verifications laid down in para. (3) the network of driving licenses of the European
Union may be used. (6) The procedures for performing the verifications provided in para. (3) and
(5) shall be established by order of the director of the Directorate for Driving Licenses and
Registration of Vehicles within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. (on 08/10/2014, art. 6 was
amended by point 5 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014, published in the OFFICIAL
GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014.) Article 7 1. Upon receipt and verification of the driving
license exchange file, the identity document shall be returned to the applicant. (2) In the case
where the driving license has been submitted, the applicant shall be issued a replacement proof
of the driving license, which shall record the registration number of the file and the date of
submission, the name and surname of the applicant, series and the number of the driving license,
the issuing state and the category/categories for which the document is considered to be valid, as
well as the mention "the driving license has been submitted for exchange". (3) If the validity of
the submitted license has not expired, the replacement proof shall be issued with a right of
circulation with a maximum validity of 30 days, without exceeding the period of validity of the
driving license, and for the other cases, the proof shall be issued without the right of circulation.
(4) The Romanian driving license shall be issued within a maximum of 30 days from the
submission of the file, except for the situations in which the verifications laid down in art. 3 para.
(5) and (7) and in art. 6 para. (3) exceed this term, when the Romanian driving license is issued
within 15 days from the conclusion of the verifications. (On 08/10/2014, para. (4) of art. 7 was
modified by point 6 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014, published in the OFFICIAL
GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014.) (5) In the cases where the verifications laid down in art.
3 para. (5) and (7) and in art. 6 para. (3) are not completed within the term of validity of the
replacement proof of the permit submitted for exchange, a new replacement proof shall be issued
with a validity of no more than 30 days. The procedure continues until the moment when the
answer is received from the competent authority of the issuing state, when the Romanian driving
license is issued. (On 08/10/2014, para. (5) of art. 7 was amended by point 6 of Article I of
ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of
October 3, 2014.) (5^1) On the date of handing over the Romanian driving license, as a result of
the exchange of national driving licenses laid down in art. 1 para. (1), the replacement proof
provided in para. (2) and (5) shall cease to be valid. (On 08/10/2014, para. (5^1) of art. 7 was
introduced by point 7 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014, published in the
OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014.) (6) The change of the driving license issued
by the authorities of the states included in annex No. 2 and annex No. 3, as well as any renewal
or replacement shall be registered on the Romanian driving license issued, by entering under the
heading “Restrictions” the harmonized European codes 70, respectively 71. (On 08/10/2014,
para. (6) of Article 7 was amended by point 6 of article I of ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014,
published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014.) Article 8 (1) The national
driving licenses issued by the authorities of the states laid down in art. 2 para. (1) held by
members of foreign diplomatic missions and foreign consulates, by foreign press correspondents,
as well as by representatives of economic, cultural or other such foreign organizations, with
diplomatic status, accredited in Romania, may be exchanged for all categories listed in these,
regardless of the issuing state. (2) For the exchange of driving licenses provided in para. (1), the
applicant shall submit the file for the change of driving license, containing the following
documents: a) the identity document, respectively diplomatic passport and identity card issued
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or, as the case may be, service passport and identity card
issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the document resulting in the personal
numerical code assigned by the competent authorities from Romania; (on 12/06/2017, lett. a) of
para. (2), article 8 was amended by point 2, Article III of ORDER No. 58 of May 24, 2017,
published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 431 of June 12, 2017); b) the applicant's request, the
model of which is provided in annex No. 4, completed legibly and in capital letters, with a color
photograph of size 35/38.5 mm of recent date, attached in the special space provided, as well as
the signature; c) the documents laid down in art. 6 para. (1) lett. a) and d) and, as the case may
be, at art. 6 para. (2). (3) After receiving and verifying the documents from the file for changing
the driving license, the original of the documents provided in para. (2) lett. a) shall be returned to
the applicant. (On 08/10/2014, art. 8 was modified by point 8 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of
October 2, 2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014.) Article 9
(1) National driving licenses held by personnel on the territory of Romania on official mission,
under the auspices of an international intergovernmental organization, regardless of the issuing
State, may be exchanged for similar Romanian documents, without sitting an examination or test.
By exception from the terms of art. 1 para. (3), the authority that os competent to carry out the
change is the community public service within the radius of which the public authorities
organizing the mission are based. (On 08/10/2014, para. (2) of art. 9 has been modified by point
9 of Article I of ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE
No. 725 of October 3, 2014.) (3) For the exchange of driving licenses laid down in para. (1), the
applicant submits the file for changing the driving license, containing the documents laid down
in art. 6 para. (1) lett. a), b) and d) and, as the case may be, para. (2) and to art. 8 para. (2) lit. b),
as well as a document issued by a Romanian public authority/institution stating that he/she was
on an official mission in Romania, under the auspices of an international intergovernmental
organization (On 08/10/2014, para. (3) of article 9 was amended by point 9 of article I of
ORDER No. 149 of 2 October 2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of 3
October 2014.) (4) After reception and verification of the documents in the file for the exchange
of the driving license, the presented identity document is returned to the applicant. (On
08/10/2014, para. (4) in art. 9 was modified by point 9 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of October 2,
2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014). Article 10 After the
change of driving license, the Prefect’s institution shall send to the competent authority of the
issuing state the old national driving license, through the official address, in which it informs this
authority about the change. Article 11 (1) The Directorate for Driving Licenses and Vehicle
Registration within the Ministry of Administration and Internal Affairs is authorized to undertake
the necessary steps with the competent authorities of the states in which a significant number of
Romanian citizens are established, other than Member States, in order to conclude, under the
conditions of the law, of some bilateral treaties between Romania and the said states for the
reciprocal exchange of driving licenses. (2) The Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration
Regime Directorate provides assistance to Member States in the process of implementing
Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on
driving licenses (recasted), published in Official Journal of the European Union No. L 403 of
December 30, 2006, and exchanges information on driver's licenses issued, exchanged, replaced,
renewed, or withdrawn. Article 12 National driving licenses issued by the authorities of the
states provided in art. 2 para. (1), which are being changed on the date of entry into force of this
order, follows either the legal procedure in force on the date of making the request, provided by
the order of the Minister of Administration and Internal Affairs No. 1480/2006 concerning the
exchange of foreign driving licenses with similar Romanian documents, with subsequent
additions, or the terms of this order, if this is in favor of the applicant. Article 13 The terms of
this order concerning the use of the European Union driving license network shall apply from the
date on which this network becomes operational. Article 14 Annexes No. 1-4 are an integral part
of this order. Article 15 This order is published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I.
Article 16 On the date of entry into force of this order, the order of the Minister of
Administration and Internal Affairs No. 1480/2006 regarding the exchange of foreign driving
licenses with similar Romanian documents, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I,
No. 874 of October 25, 2006, with subsequent additions, shall be repealed. *This order
implements in the national legislation the provisions of art. 2 para. (1), art. 7 para. (5) lett. b), c)
and d), art. 11 para. (1), (3), (4), (5) and (6), the first and second thesis, art. 12 and 15 of
Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006
concerning driving licenses (recasted), published in the Official Journal of the European Union
series L No. 403 of December 30, 2006, as subsequently amended and supplemented. (On
08/10/2014, the mention regarding the transposition of the norms of the European Union was
modified by point 11 of art. I of ORDER No. 149 of October 2, 2014, published in the
OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014)
Minister of Administration and Internal Affairs, Constantin-Traian Igaș

Bucharest, 10 August, 2011. No. 163

Annex No. 1
The list of Member States issuing national driving licenses may be exchanged without examining
or testing the holders of such licenses: 1.Republic of Austria, 2.Kingdom of Belgium, 3.Republic
of Bulgaria, 4.Czech Republic, 5.Republic of Cyprus, 6.Republic of Croatia, 7.Kingdom of
Denmark, 8.Hellenic Republic, 9.Swiss Confederation, 10.Republic of Estonia, 11.Republic of
Finland, 12.French Republic, 13.Federal Republic of Germany, 14.lreland, 15.Italian Republic,
16.Republic of Iceland, 17.Republic of Latvia, 18.Principality of Liechtenstein 19.Republic of
Lithuania, 20.Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 21.Republic of Malta, 22.Repealed (On 03/09/2020,
point 22 of annex No. 1 was repealed by point 2, Article I of ORDER No. 128 of August 25,
2020, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 811 of September 3, 2020). Note: We reproduce
art II from ORDER No. 128 of August 25, 2020, published in the Official Gazette No. 811 of 3 September 2020:
The article regarding art. I point 2, as well as point 49 newly introduced according to art. I point 4, regarding the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, this order enters into force on the date of the end of the
transition period, as established, as the case may be, by art. 126 or 132 of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland Withdrawal Agreement in the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community.
23.Kingdom of Norway, 24.Republic of Poland, 25.Portuguese Republic, 26. Slovak Republic,
27. Republic of Slovenia, 28.Kingdom of Spain, 29.Kingdom of Sweden, 30.Kingdom of the
Netherlands, 31. Hungary ---------- Annex 1 has been replaced by annex 1 of ORDER No. 149 of
October 2, 2014, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 725 of October 3, 2014, according
to point 10 of art. I from the same normative act.
Annex No. 2
The list of Member States of the Convention on Road Traffic, issuing national driving licenses
which may be exchanged without examining or testing the holders of such licenses: 1.Republic
of South Africa, 2.Republic of Albania, 3.Republic of Armenia, 4.Republic of Azerbaijan,
5.Bahamas Union, 6.Kingdom of Bahrain, 7.Republic of Belarus, 8.Bosnia and Herzegovina,
9.Federative Republic of Brazil, 10.Central African Republic, 11.Democratic Republic of
Congo, 12. Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, 13.Republic of Cuba, 14.United Arab Emirates,
15.Russian Federation, 16.Republic of the Philippines, 17.Georgia, 18.Republic of Guyana,
19.Islamic Republic lran, 20.The State of Israel, 21.Republic of Kazakhstan, 22.Kyrgyzstan,
23.Republic of Kenya, 24.State of Kuwait, 25.Republic of Liberia, 26. Republic of North
Macedonia (on 03/09/2020, point 26 of annex No. 2 was amended by point 3, Article I of
ORDER No. 128 of 25 August 2020, published in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 811 of
September 3, 2020), 27.Kingdom of Morocco, 28.Republic of Moldova, 29.Principality of
Monaco, 30.Mongolia, 31.Montenegro, 32. Republic of Niger, 33.Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
34.Republic of Peru, 35.State of Qatar, 36.Republic of San Marino, 37.Republic of Senegal,
38.Republic of Serbia, 39. Republic of Seychelles, 40.Republic of Tajikistan, 41.Republic of
Tunisia, 42.Republic of Turkmenistan, 43.Republic of Turkey, 44.Ukraine, 45.Oriental Republic
of Uruguay, 46.Republic of Uzbekistan, 47.Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 48.Republic of
Zimbabwe, 49.United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (on 03/09/2020, annex No.
2 was completed by point 4, article I of ORDER No. 128 of August 25, 2020, published in the
OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 811 of September 3, 2020). Note: We reproduce art. II of ORDER No. 128
of August 25, 2020, published in the Official Gazette No. 811 of September 3, 2020:
Article II regarding art. I point 2, as well as point 49 newly introduced according to art. I point 4, regarding the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, this order enters into force on the date of the end of the
transition period, as established, as the case may be, by art. 126 or 132 of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland Withdrawal Agreement in the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community.