UK 
EN 
RU 
Losing your driver’s license is stressful in any country. But when it happens in Poland, several questions immediately come to mind: where can you get a replacement, do you need to travel back to Ukraine, and can you continue driving while waiting for your new license?
Fortunately, Ukrainian citizens can replace a lost driver’s license without returning to Ukraine. This can be done through overseas offices of the Ukrainian state enterprise SE Document (DP Document) or, in certain cases, online through Ukraine’s Driver’s Electronic Cabinet with international delivery. However, eligibility depends on whether your license details are available in the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) registers and whether other requirements are met.
Book a Free Consultation With Our Team
The Work Permit team helps Ukrainian citizens navigate the procedures for replacing lost licenses and exchanging Ukrainian driver’s licenses in Poland. Whether you have lost your license, hold an older version, or are unsure where to start, you can contact us for guidance on the next steps.
Replacing a Lost License and Exchanging a License Are Different Procedures
First, it is important to understand the difference between replacing a lost license and exchanging an existing driver’s license. Although both procedures result in a new document, the reasons for applying are different.
A license exchange is generally required when you still have your existing license but need to replace it because it has expired, become damaged, or needs updating after a change in personal details. You may also wish to exchange an older license for a newer version.
A lost license replacement is necessary when your driver’s license has been lost or stolen and you cannot present the original document.
| Situation | Required Procedure | Is the Original Required? |
|---|---|---|
| You still have your license, but it has expired or been damaged | Driver’s license exchange | Usually yes, if the document is still available |
| You want to replace an older license with a new-format license | Driver’s license exchange | Yes, if you still have the physical document |
| Your driver’s license has been lost or stolen | Lost or stolen license replacement | No, because the original is unavailable |
| You only have a digital driver’s license and no physical card | Issuance of a physical license through the applicable procedure | Depends on the service selected and the information in the register |
Since October 2023, Ukrainian citizens have been able to replace lost or stolen Ukrainian driver’s licenses in Poland through SE Document offices. Previously, these overseas centers primarily handled exchanges of existing licenses.
This has made the process considerably easier for many Ukrainians. Losing your license no longer necessarily means having to travel back to Ukraine just to obtain a replacement.
Where Can You Replace or Exchange a Ukrainian Driver’s License in Poland?
The Ukrainian driver’s license replacement service was introduced in four Polish cities: Warsaw, Wrocław, Kraków, and Gdańsk.
According to information published by the Main Service Center of Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the service was provided at the following locations:
- Warsaw — Al. Jerozolimskie 179, Blue City Shopping Center, 2nd floor;
- Wrocław — plac Grunwaldzki 22, 50-363, ground floor (level 0);
- Kraków — Galeria Krakowska, 2nd floor, entrance from the parking area, sector C;
- Gdańsk — Aleja Grunwaldzka 415.
Please note that these addresses were published by the MIA when the service was launched. Before visiting, check the current office locations, opening hours, and availability of lost license replacement services on the official SE Document website.
Appointments may be arranged through an electronic queue system. If you plan to visit without an appointment, check whether walk-in applications are currently accepted.
What Documents Do You Need to Replace a Lost Driver’s License?
To replace a lost Ukrainian driver’s license through SE Document, you will need documents that establish your identity and allow the authorities to verify the details of your previously issued license.
The following documents are generally required:
- a Ukrainian national passport or a Ukrainian international passport;
- an extract confirming your registered place of residence, if this information is not included in your passport and is required for the application;
- your Ukrainian taxpayer identification number (RNOKPP), if one has been assigned;
- documents confirming a change of surname, first name, or other personal details, if applicable;
- any additional documents or information requested during the verification process.
If your license was stolen, you must report the theft to the police. Before contacting SE Document, confirm how the theft must be documented and whether you need to provide a police report or other supporting evidence.
During the period of martial law in Ukraine, a medical certificate is generally not required for standard driver’s license exchange or replacement procedures. However, certain circumstances may require additional checks.
Once your documents have been accepted, an SE Document employee will take your photograph and prepare the application. The application is then reviewed by an administrator at an MIA Service Center in Ukraine. If the verification is successful and your application is approved, a new driver’s license will be produced and issued to you.
Processing times depend on whether the details of your previous license can be verified and on other relevant circumstances. Same-day issuance is therefore not always possible and cannot be guaranteed in advance.
It is also important to consider changes to Ukrainian legislation introduced in 2026 concerning the validity periods of driving licenses for different vehicle categories. A 15-year validity period is provided for passenger cars and motorcycles, while licenses for trucks and buses are valid for five years. A separate two-year validity period applies to first-time driver’s licenses.
Can You Replace a Ukrainian Driver’s License Online and Have It Delivered to Poland?
Yes. In certain cases, Ukrainian citizens can apply for a replacement driver’s license online through the Driver’s Electronic Cabinet. Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has also introduced international delivery of issued driver’s licenses, including delivery to Poland.
This option may be particularly convenient if you cannot visit an SE Document office in person.
The general application process is as follows:
- Sign in to the Driver’s Electronic Cabinet.
- Check whether your driver’s license appears in the online system.
- Select the driver’s license replacement or exchange service, if available for your document.
- Complete the application and choose one of the available delivery or collection options.
- If international delivery to Poland is offered, enter your delivery address.
- Pay the applicable service and delivery fees, then track your application status.
Eligibility for online replacement depends on the information recorded in the MIA registers. If your license does not appear in the Driver’s Electronic Cabinet or the system does not allow you to submit an application, you may need to use another replacement procedure.
International delivery also takes additional time. Before choosing this option, consider how urgently you need the physical license.
Older Ukrainian Driver’s Licenses: What If You Lost Your License Years Ago?
A more complicated situation can arise if you previously held an older Ukrainian driver’s license, such as a laminated card issued in 2005 or a paper booklet-style license, but the document was lost or stolen years ago or has become so damaged that its details are no longer readable.
In these cases, replacing the license may be more complicated because of the way older licenses were originally recorded.
If the details of your previous license are available in the Ukrainian MIA registers and can be verified, a new license can usually be issued through the standard procedure.
If the records are missing or incomplete, additional verification may be necessary to confirm that the license was originally issued. However, the fact that an older license does not appear in the Diia app or the Driver’s Electronic Cabinet does not automatically mean that it was invalid.
In this situation, you should:
- check whether information about your previous license is available through the MIA’s electronic services;
- contact the Main or Regional Service Center of Ukraine’s MIA to find out whether your license details can be verified;
- confirm whether SE Document can process a replacement application in your particular case;
- prepare any additional information about your previous license if requested by the competent authority.
You do not always need to obtain separate confirmation of your previous license before starting the procedure. First, find out what verification the MIA Service Center will carry out and whether any additional action is required from you.
After Replacing Your License, Do You Need to Exchange It for a Polish Driver’s License?
Once you receive your replacement Ukrainian driver’s license, another important question arises: can you continue using it in Poland, or do you need to exchange it for a Polish license?
The answer depends on your legal basis for staying in Poland, how long you have lived in the country, whether your license is valid, and the rules governing the recognition of foreign driver’s licenses.
If you have PESEL UKR status.Temporary protection for eligible individuals has been extended until March 4, 2027. However, the end date of temporary protection should not automatically be treated as a universal deadline for the recognition of Ukrainian driver’s licenses. You must also consider the specific rules in force at the time you drive.
If you hold a Polish residence card (karta pobytu). You need to establish when the period of residence relevant to the recognition of your foreign driver’s license began under Polish law. The date your residence card was issued is not necessarily the date this period started.
If you are already required to exchange your license. Obtaining a replacement Ukrainian license does not remove this obligation or restart the period during which your Ukrainian license is recognized in Poland. In this situation, you should check the procedure for exchanging your license for a Polish one.
For more information about who needs to exchange their Ukrainian driver’s license and when, read our article on whether exchanging a Ukrainian driver’s license for a Polish license is mandatory.
If you have lost your license, you should not drive simply because you previously held a valid one. Before getting behind the wheel, make sure your entitlement to drive can be verified and that you have the documents required under Polish regulations.
Free Consultation With No Obligation
