CONFIRMATION OF THE VALIDITY OF AN ITALIAN DRIVING LICENCE
Pursuant to Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Circular No. 107/97 and Article 126(9) of the Italian Highway Code, holders of an Italian driving licence who have been residing or staying for at least six months in a country outside the European Union may apply to the Consular Office for confirmation of the validity of their Italian driving licence.
Confirmation of validity may be issued only for driving licences that:
- are lawfully held and in good condition;
- are approaching their expiry date (confirmation may be requested starting four months before the expiry date) or, in any event, have expired no more than five years earlier;
- do not fall within the cases referred to in Article 119(2-bis) and (4) of the Italian Highway Code (for example, licences held by drivers with diabetes or by persons whose physical and mental fitness to drive must be certified by specific medical boards).
HOW TO APPLY FOR CONFIRMATION OF VALIDITY
To obtain confirmation of validity, applicants must undergo a medical examination to verify that they meet the required physical and mental fitness standards and are therefore fit to drive. The medical examination must be carried out, by prior appointment, by one of the Well-Regarded Doctors recognized by the Embassy.
Once the medical examination has been completed and the relevant medical certificate obtained, applicants may book an appointment online through the Prenot@Mi portal. On the day of the appointment, they must appear in person at the Consular Office and submit the following documents:
- the driving licence for which confirmation of validity is requested;
- a valid Italian identity document;
- two passport-size photographs;
- a medical certificate issued by one of the doctors recognised by the Embassy;
- documentation proving residence or domicile for at least six months within the consular district of this Embassy;
- the Application for Confirmation of the Validity of a Driving Licence.
Once the documentation has been verified and the applicant’s eligibility confirmed, the Consular Office will issue a certificate confirming the validity of the driving licence.
WHERE THE CONFIRMATION OF VALIDITY IS RECOGNIZED
A confirmation of validity issued by an Italian diplomatic mission or consular office allows the holder to drive both in Italy and abroad. In the event of a roadside or other official check, the confirmation of validity must be presented together with the original driving licence.
UPON RETURNING TO ITALY
Anyone who has obtained confirmation of the validity of their driving licence from an Italian diplomatic or consular authority in a country outside the European Union or the European Economic Area must, within six months of re-establishing their residence or domicile in Italy, apply to renew the driving licence in accordance with the standard procedure laid down by the Italian Highway Code.
FORMS
Application for Confirmation of the Validity of a Driving Licence