How to Convert a Foreign Driving Licence in Kenya: NTSA Steps, Documents and Fee

Updated 27 October 2026

If you live in Kenya on a foreign driving licence, you can drive on it for 90 days from the day you enter the country; after that you need a Kenyan licence, which you get by applying for a foreign driving licence conversion on the NTSA service portal through eCitizen. Under the Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving Licences) Rules, 2020, conversion covers motorcycle and light-vehicle classes (categories A and B), the fee is KSh 5,000, and you need your valid foreign licence, an English translation if it is not in English, and a copy of your passport.

This guide is for new arrivals: people on work permits and dependant passes, NGO and UN staff, diplomats, and returnees whose licence was issued abroad. It explains who must convert, who is exempt, what to upload, the step-by-step process and what happens with truck and bus classes.

Conversion at a Glance

Do You Need to Convert?

Rule 37 of the Rules lists the foreign licences that already count as valid Kenyan licences for the class they cover:

• Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia: a valid licence or permit from these countries is treated as valid in Kenya.
• International Driving Permit: one issued by a state that signed the 1926 Geneva or 1968 Vienna road traffic conventions is valid, as long as the holder lives outside Kenya and carries it with the home licence.
• Any other domestic licence of a non-resident: valid for 90 days from the holder’s entry into Kenya.
• Foreign military service permits: only for driving that force’s vehicles on duty.

If you are a tourist or on a short work trip, your home licence (plus an IDP or a translation where needed) is enough. If you have moved here, plan to convert inside your first three months.

When a Foreign Licence Is Not Valid in Kenya

Rule 40 says a foreign licence does not let you drive here if it is a learner or provisional permit, if you are below the Kenyan minimum age for that class, if you were living in Kenya when you obtained it, or if you have been disqualified in the issuing country. The third point matters for Kenyans: a licence picked up abroad while you were resident in Kenya does not count. Learners should start with our guide: How to apply for a provisional driving licence (PDL).

Documents You Need

Rule 41 requires your valid foreign licence, an English translation if it is not in English, and a copy of your valid passport. Diplomats also need a copy of their identity card or a letter from their embassy. Form 11 itself lists these attachments:

• original passport and a copy;
• original foreign driving licence and a copy;
• foreigner’s certificate (alien card);
• work permit or dependant pass;
• two passport photographs;
• the eCitizen payment invoice.

The Embassy of Italy in Nairobi, which publishes the NTSA procedure for its nationals, adds a licence confirmation letter from the issuing country’s embassy or licensing authority for alien card holders. Ask your embassy early, because it can take the longest.

One more point on where your licence is from: NTSA’s eCitizen licensing page describes granting a Kenyan licence to holders of a valid licence from a Commonwealth country or of an International Driving Permit. If your licence is from outside the Commonwealth, such as a US state licence, get an IDP at home before you travel and include it with your application.

Who Can Translate Your Licence

Rule 39 says a translation is needed if the licence is not in English or does not follow Annex 6 of the 1968 Convention. It can be prepared by a Kenyan motoring organisation recognised by NTSA, an internationally recognised motoring organisation of the issuing country, an official agency of that country, or its consulate or embassy.

Step by Step: How to Convert

1. Get your eCitizen account. Non-citizens register with their foreigner certificate number. See how to create an eCitizen account.
2. Open the NTSA service portal, go to Driver Testing and Licensing and choose foreign driving licence conversion.
3. Upload your documents. Scan them clearly; our eCitizen document upload compressor and eCitizen passport photo resizer help if files are too large.
4. Pay the conversion fee on the eCitizen checkout. The Rules set KSh 5,000.
5. Submit and wait for NTSA approval. NTSA sends an SMS when it decides.
6. Apply for the smart driving licence on your eCitizen account after approval, and pay the licence fee (the Rules set KSh 3,000 for a three-year licence).
7. Do biometrics at your chosen NTSA office or Huduma Centre. You can book a Huduma Centre appointment online.

Three Applicant Groups

Source for the three groups: the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi’s summary of NTSA’s procedure. Diplomats should go through their mission’s administration office.

Trucks, Buses and Other Classes

Conversion under rule 41 only covers categories matching A and B. For heavier classes (C trucks, D buses and E professional), Kenya sets its own age and experience rules; our guide to driving licence categories and minimum ages lists them. Rule 30 lets a person converting a foreign licence apply for an NTSA driving test on their own, without going through a driving school, and bring a roadworthy vehicle of the right class. If you plan to drive a matatu, taxi or other public service vehicle, read PSV licence requirements.

Practical Tips for New Arrivals

• Count your 90 days from entry. Leaving and re-entering is not a planning tool; apply as soon as your permit or pass is issued.
• Keep your foreign licence. You need the original to upload and show.
• Check your licence after it is issued; you can check your driving licence status online and later renew a driving licence online.
• Insurance. Tell your insurer once you hold a Kenyan licence, and keep both licences in the car until the smart card arrives.
• Fines. How to pay NTSA instant fines explains the official payment route if you are stopped.

Kenyans heading the other way, to drive abroad, need an International Driving Permit instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I drive in Kenya on a foreign licence?

90 days from your entry into Kenya if you live outside Kenya. Licences from Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia are treated as valid for their class.

How much does it cost to convert a foreign licence in Kenya?

The Rules set KSh 5,000 for conversion, plus the smart driving licence fee after approval. eCitizen shows the amount on the day.

Can I convert a US or UK licence?

A UK licence converts for classes matching Kenyan categories A and B. For a US licence, NTSA’s eCitizen page refers to Commonwealth licences or an International Driving Permit, so bring an IDP with it.

Do I need to sit a driving test?

The Rules do not list a test for category A and B conversions. For other classes you may apply for an NTSA test on your own.

Can I convert a learner’s permit?

No. Foreign learner and provisional permits are not valid in Kenya.

Rules and fees checked against the Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving Licences) Rules, 2020 on Kenya Law, NTSA’s eCitizen pages and the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi’s published NTSA conversion procedure on October 25, 2026. eCitizen shows the amount that applies on the day before you pay.