How can I get my driving License Faster in Ireland?

Short guide
Known From
Our clients from Ireland already exchanged their Georgian licenses to irish driving licenses successfully.

It took them 1-4 weeks in Georgia to get it and then couple weeks to exchange in Ireland.

Instead of all the long waiting times.

Thats how it looks like.

70 GA code means it was exchanged from Georgia.

Obtaining a driving licence in Ireland can be a time-consuming process, which many people don't want to go through.

This article from the Irish District Magazine covers the topic of Irish people being creative and soliving the long waiting time problem in an unusual way.

There is a faster alternative that many people may not know about – acquiring a driving licence in Georgia, one of the countries recognised by Ireland for licence exchange.

This could significantly reduce the time it takes to get an Irish driving licence, as long as certain conditions are met.

In this article, we’ll explain how you can get your licence faster by leveraging the Georgian driving licence system and the opportunities it provides.
Why Choose Georgia for Your Driving Licence?

Georgia is part of a select list of countries that have a reciprocal agreement with Ireland, allowing for the exchange of driving licences.

This means that, if you obtain a Georgian driving licence, you can exchange it for an Irish one without having to go through Ireland's often lengthy and complicated driving test process.

This is a massive advantage for residents of Ireland who are looking to get on the road as quickly as possible.

If you’re already a resident in Ireland, you can still benefit from this process. According to the RSA Ireland, you’re allowed to exchange a Georgian licence even if you’re a resident.

The process in Georgia can be finished in just 1-2 weeks with our support, if you already know how to drive and manage all the exams successfully.
Steps to Obtain a Georgian Driving Licence

While the idea of obtaining a foreign driving licence may seem daunting, the process in Georgia is straightforward and efficient, if you know what to do.

You can try getting it yourself or use our service. We will help you in all the steps of preparing and getting Georgian driving license in Georgia.

  1. Visit Georgia: The first step is to travel to Georgia. You cannot apply for a Georgian driving licence remotely or exchange a non-recognised licence for a Georgian one. Unfortunately, the system doesn't allow "double swapping," meaning you can't simply exchange your licence from a non-recognised country for a Georgian licence and then swap it for an Irish one.
  2. Complete the Driving Test: You will need to take a driving test in Georgia. However, many have reported that the driving test process in Georgia is simpler and quicker than in other countries, which makes it a viable option if you're starting from scratch. There are 3 tests to complete in Georgia.
  3. Exchange for an Irish Licence: Once you have your Georgian licence, you can begin the process of exchanging it for an Irish one. According to Irish regulations, you must submit your Georgian driving licence to the NDLS, and in most cases, you won't need to take an additional driving test in Ireland. This process can save a significant amount of time compared to going through the traditional Irish system.


Key Considerations for Licence Exchange
While the process seems easy, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind when exchanging your Georgian licence for an Irish one.

  • Licence Validity: As with all recognised states, you have a limited period to exchange your Georgian licence for an Irish one. You must do this within one year of the licence's expiration. After that, you will need to apply for an Irish learner's permit and potentially go through the entire Irish driving test process. But you need to exchange it anyway before you can use it in Ireland.

  • Legal Requirements: If you are a visitor to Ireland, you can drive on your Georgian licence (or any non-EU/EEA licence) for up to one year. However, once you establish normal residency in Ireland, defined as living there for at least 185 days in a calendar year, you must either exchange your licence or begin the process of applying for an Irish licence.

  • Your Georgian license will be less than 2 years old. RSA told us that your exchanged Irish license will make you a "new/novice driver". You can find more information here. It's different from the Learners Permit! Learners permit is only valid in Ireland but Novice Driver is allowed to drive everywhere, just with some limitations and stricter fines if you e.g. drink and drive.

Is This the Best Option for You?

Obtaining a Georgian licence and exchanging it for an Irish one can be a fantastic way to get your Irish licence faster, especially if you’re looking to avoid the long wait times and complicated testing processes in Ireland.

Here are some screenshots from our conversation with the RSA Ireland and their replies from July 2024.

Since then we already had Irish residents getting their driving license in Georgia with our help and exchanging it in Ireland.

They also state the fact that it can not be a license that was exchanged from a non recognized state to Georgia and then to Irish license.

It means you need to get Georgian license from 0 with our help to be able to exchange it in Ireland later.

What to Do Before Travelling
Before you embark on this journey, make sure to contact the relevant authorities in Ireland to make sure your plan works out.

The NDLS website provides comprehensive information about recognised countries for licence exchange.

Make sure to personally ask them about documents needed for exchange. It might be that they will require an official confirmation from Georgia about validity of your license which you can only request personally while in Georgia. Inform us if you need it please.

If you want us to help you in the process of obtaining the driving license, please text us "IRELAND" on Whatsapp.


Advantages:


  • Faster Process: You can get your licence quicker compared to the traditional Irish route. It takes 2 weeks on average to get a car license and 1 week to obtain a motorbike license in Georgia with our help and guidance. If you will do it alone it might take much longer though.

  • Recognised Exchange: Ireland recognises Georgian licences, which means the exchange process is straightforward.

  • No Additional Tests: In most cases, no further testing is required in Ireland after obtaining a Georgian licence of A & B categories.

  • You can decide if you want to complete B manual or automatic categories. Both are possible.

  • No waiting times. In case you fail a test, you can retake it in just one week again. We will prepare your arrival in advance and book the tests to make sure everything goes as fast as possible.

  • We have organized the whole process in English! No need to learn Georgian before coming. We have created Videos in english explaining every challenging topic and exam moments, and found english speaking instructors for you. An english speaking person will accompany you throughout the whole process.

Specifics:


  • Travel to Georgia: You’ll need to travel to Georgia, as there is no remote option to obtain the licence. Its a fully legal official process in Georgia. But Georgia is quite a cheap country to stay in and lowcosters offer cheap direct flights to Kutaisi or Tbilisi. You might eventually spend less per week in Georgia for food and accommodation than in Ireland.

  • Your new Irish licence might not be recognised in certain EU countries like Germany if you obtained and swapped it in Ireland while you had your residency in Germany. But if you have been resident of Ireland during this process you can use it in the EU and outsite normally.

  • Double Swapping Not Allowed: If you already have a non-recognised driving licence (e.g. Iran, some USA states etc., you cannot exchange it for a Georgian one and then for an Irish one. If you exchange it to Georgian license it will have a mark that it was exchanged from your countries license and Ireland will not accept it for exchange. You will need to start the process from the beginning in Georgia to exchange it in Ireland.

We already helped many Irish people to get their driving license in Georgia in just couple weeks. To request more information, please text us "IRELAND" on Whatsapp.
You will need the residency status confirmation in Ireland.

There is no confirmation needed for your residency in Georgia.

Remember to check the rules for the new drivers!

Its not a Learner Permit - its a full driving license, but as a novice driver you have stricter rules for a period of time.


Hazel from Ireland got her Motorbike license in Georgia in just a week for her South-East Asian trip. Back home in Ireland she can exchange it to an Irish license in just couple of weeks, instead of waiting for a year just to take the tests.
Urgent Motorbike Driving License in Georgia
Irish woman gets a Motorbike driving license in Georgia in a week
Conclusion

If you're looking to obtain your Irish driving licence quickly, getting a Georgian driving licence can be an excellent alternative.

Not only does it streamline the process, but it also gives you the flexibility to avoid Ireland’s lengthy and challenging driving test system.

By following the steps outlined above, you can significantly reduce the time and effort required to get your Irish driving licence. Just make sure to do your research, check with relevant authorities, and plan your journey accordingly.

To check your eligibility and learn about the next steps,
please text us "IRELAND" on Whatsapp.


Feedback from our students: we've helped with over 100 licenses!
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Closing Disclaimer:


Every country has different regulations so it's impossible for us to keep up with all changes and all the updates, thus information provided here doesn't have a legally binding character.


Please inform yourself from your country of residence/destination about any regulations that might hinder you from using/exchanging the Georgian driving license in that country or abroad.


We hope now it became clearer for you!

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