How to Get a Driving Licence in Cyprus from Scratch (2026 Guide)

To get a Cyprus driving licence from scratch, you pass a short oral theory exam and an eyesight check, get a learner licence from the Road Transport Department (RTD), train with a licensed instructor and then pass the practical test. A car learner licence is available from 17½, and the car test from 18.

This guide is for first-time drivers and for anyone whose foreign licence cannot be exchanged. If you already hold an EU, UK or other recognised licence, read our guide to exchanging a driving licence in Cyprus first: you may not need a test at all.

Who needs to take the Cyprus driving test?

You go through the full process if:

• you have never held a licence;
• your licence was issued by a country Cyprus does not recognise for exchange; or
• your licence is from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, which cannot be exchanged in Cyprus.

You need to live in Cyprus to apply. Driving schools and local guides say the RTD asks for proof of residence covering at least six months, such as a utility bill or tenancy agreement, together with your residence document. Confirm what your district office expects before you apply, and see our residency permits guide if you are still waiting for your residence papers.

How does the process work, step by step?

Step 1: Choose a driving school or instructor

You don't have to sign up with a school before the theory exam, but most learners do, because the school prepares you for the oral questions, books the tests and supplies a training car for lessons and the practical test. Schools and instructors must be licensed by the RTD, and training cars must carry a clear distinctive mark.

Step 2: Pass the eyesight check and theory exam

The theory exam is a short oral test with an RTD examiner on road signs and the Highway Code, taken in Greek or English (the language available can vary by office). You also have a simple eyesight check. The exam fee is paid in advance, and gov.cy offers an online service to pay the examination fee for a driving licence.

Step 3: Apply for your learner licence

Once you pass, you apply for a learner licence at an RTD district office or a Citizen Service Centre. Driving schools list these documents:

From 1 July 2026 a learner licence is valid for two years for all vehicle categories, according to the RTD. Before that, it was valid for one year.

Step 4: Learn to drive

With a learner licence for a car you can take lessons with a licensed instructor or practise with an experienced driver. Driving schools explain the accompanying-driver rules like this:

• Learners under 18 must be accompanied by a driver aged over 30 who has held a full licence for that category for at least five years, or by an instructor.
• Learners aged 18 and over must be accompanied by a driver aged over 25 with at least five years' full licence, or by an instructor.

Your car must show learner plates, and your insurance must cover a learner driver; check this with your insurer before you practise. Schools give conflicting information on whether a minimum number of lessons is required, so ask yours to confirm before you book the test. One school we checked says there is no fixed number of lessons, and that it depends on your experience and on whether you learn in a manual or an automatic.

Step 5: Take the practical test

Your school usually books the practical test with the RTD and lends you the car. The test lasts about half an hour, mixing normal driving on local roads with manoeuvres such as parallel parking. Expect a few questions from the examiner too.

Manual or automatic? If you pass in an automatic car, your licence is restricted to automatics. Pass in a manual and you can drive both.

Step 6: Get your full licence

After you pass, you apply for your full licence and pay the licence fee at the RTD. Check the current fees on the RTD pages of gov.cy before you go, as we could not confirm the 2026 amounts from an official source.

What are the rules for learner motorcyclists?

The rules for motorcycles changed in 2026. Under the Driving Licence (Amendment) Law of 2023, a learner rider in categories AM, A1, A2 and A may use public roads only:

• for training, with a licensed instructor following on another motorcycle of the same category;
• during the riding test; or
• in official Police, Fire Service or National Guard training.

These rules were first due on 1 January 2026, and the RTD confirmed in June 2026 that they apply from 1 July 2026. Riders must wear the protective equipment set out in the law at all times, including on the test. In practice, this means you can no longer ride alone on a learner licence, so budget for supervised lessons with a motorcycle school.

Where are the Road Transport Department offices?

The RTD has district offices in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta district, and its head office is in Engomi, Nicosia. Some applications can also be made at Citizen Service Centres. Offices handle the tests, learner licences and full licences, but test slots and languages vary by district, so book early.

Where can you find a driving school?

There are driving schools in every town. A few we could confirm as operating in 2026:

To compare schools in other towns, ClickClickDrive Cyprus lists driving schools in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Paralimni. Lesson prices are set by each school, so ask for the price per lesson, whether the test-day car hire is included and whether the instructor teaches in English.

Common problems

• Not enough proof of residence. Bring your residence document and a recent bill or tenancy agreement in your name.
• Learner licence about to expire. Book your practical test well before the end of the validity period; the RTD has asked learners to arrange their tests in good time.
• Learning in an automatic by accident. If you might ever drive a manual, take the test in one.
• Insurance gaps. Tell your insurer you are a learner, and again once you pass. See our guide to car insurance in Cyprus.

What to do next

1. Pick a licensed driving school and ask about theory exam dates in your district.
2. Gather your residence document, photos and proof of address.
3. Once you pass, keep up road tax and MOT on your car: see how to pay road tax and our MOT guide.