How to get a PKK number step by step? The Lauto driving school in Warsaw explains how to start your driving license journey.
When Kasia decided to take her category B driving course, she already had a driving school in Warsaw in mind, recommended by friends. She took her boyfriend, an American named William, with whom she studied in the capital, along for the training.
They arranged to meet with the head of the OSK in his office. Once there, the head of the center got down to business with humor:
— If you are over 17 years and 9 months old and your stay in Poland — he turned to William — is at least 185 days and you have a document confirming your legal stay in the country on the Vistula, you can definitely take a category B course together…
– Yes, we are already adults – William replied in decent Polish and with a smile – and I have lived in Poland for more than 185 days, so I guess we are starting…
„That’s great!” replied the school principal. „However, before you begin your course at my school, you must complete a Driver Candidate Profile (PKK), an electronic document containing essential information about you as a driver candidate. In a moment, I’ll tell you how to obtain your PKK number in four steps…”
Step 1: Medical Examination. Warsaw Driving School Explains the Procedure for a Doctor’s Visit
As a first step, the center’s director gave Kasia and William the contact information for a certified medical examiner who worked with his school. They immediately scheduled an appointment to obtain a medical certificate stating they were legally fit to drive, which currently costs 200-250 PLN. They took along their ID and other necessary items, which we mentioned in the article about the Category B driving test process .
What does a visit to a medical examiner look like?
- First, we will complete a health declaration for the medical examination.
- Secondly, the doctor – based on our statement – will conduct an interview in the form of a conversation, referring to the answers provided.
- Thirdly, the doctor will perform the necessary tests, such as: vision, hearing, balance, blood pressure, pulse and breathing.
- Fourthly, the doctor will immediately issue a certificate stating – if he or she does not detect any health obstacles to being a driver – that we are capable of driving category B vehicles.
Step 2: Take a photo for your driver’s license. The Warsaw driving school will list the photo’s parameters.
As a second step, the center’s director recommended a photographer to the students who took photos for their driving license. A few minutes later, Kasia and William showed up at his art studio. They said they had come on a recommendation, so they received a discount.
As William took his appointed seat, a broad smile lit up his face.
„Please don’t laugh like that!” said the photographer.
„Why?” William asked. „I’m happy that Kasia and I are getting our driver’s license… I understand that Poles aren’t exactly smiling every day, but I’m bursting with joy and optimism!”
“OK,” the photographer replied, “be cheerful, but if you want the photo to be accepted by the officials from the Department of Transportation, make your smile subtle…”
William adapted his American smile to Polish requirements and a moment later he had photos in his hand that met the statutory requirements .
What should a driving license photo look like?
- Firstly, it should be in color, up-to-date (made no more than 6 months ago), sharp with natural contrast, on a uniform light background and measuring 35 45 mm.
- Secondly, it should show the entire head and extend no further than the top of the shoulders; furthermore, the skin colour should be natural and the eyes, especially the pupils, should be clear.
- Thirdly, it should clearly show the face: we are looking straight ahead, we are not wearing a hat or dark glasses, our eyes are open and not covered with hair, the facial expression is natural, our mouth is closed, the face takes up 70-80% of the photo, and the outline of the head is clear.
- Fourthly, if we have a vision defect, we can take a photo wearing dark glasses, but under certain conditions: we must have a similar photo with glasses in our ID document and attach to the application a certificate of disability or a certificate of the degree of disability due to a congenital or acquired vision defect.
- Fifthly, if we wear a head covering because of the faith we profess, we can certainly have it in the photo, but under certain conditions: the entire face is visible, we have a similar photo with the head covering in our ID document, and we have attached to the application a certificate of belonging to a religious community registered in Poland.
Step three: complete the application. The Warsaw driving school advises you on what documents you need to prepare before visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles.
In step three, Kasia and William met with the center’s director, who helped them fill out the application. They downloaded it from this website: https://www.gov.pl/attachment/241061ea-86ce-42b7-8fc0-38e5147c5a78
They then prepared the required documents that they intended to submit to the Department of Communications along with this application.
What documents should be submitted to the Communications Department?
- Application for a driving license.
- Medical certificate.
- Current photo.
- ID card or passport, and in the case of foreigners, passport or residence card.
- A document confirming your registered address. This could be an ID card, a residence card, or a certificate of permanent or temporary residence. The office can also check your registration in their system. If you don’t have a registration, ask an official what to do next.
- Written consent from parents or legal guardians if you’re about to turn 18. Go to the office with your parent or legal guardian, who will sign the document in front of the official, consenting to the start of the course and the issuance of your driving license.
- A copy of your current driving license if you already have a category B license and want to obtain a higher category.
- Polish citizens sign a declaration of residence in Poland for at least 185 days.
- the foreigner presents confirmation of legal residence in Poland for 185 days, e.g. work or university contracts, a stamp in the passport with the date of arrival, etc.
Step four: Submit your application and receive your PKK number. Your Warsaw driving school will show you where to do this.
In step four, Kasia and William went to the communications department of their district office and submitted the above documents. Because their applications were complete, they received their PKK numbers immediately. Otherwise, if the office needed to verify their information, they would have received them within two days. If additional clarifications were required, it could take up to two months…
The PKK number was issued free of charge. In principle, this profile is valid for the period for which the medical certificate was issued, which ranges from one to 15 years. Students then returned to the OSK, where they presented a paper printout with the PKK number, allowing them to begin their Category B course.
How did Kasia and William’s story unfold? A driving school in Warsaw explains the steps involved in getting your driver’s license.
As it turned out, obtaining the PKK number was the easiest part of the category B course. Then came the theoretical and practical training, as well as the theoretical and practical exams at the WORD. However, with the help of the „Lauto” driving school in Warsaw, Kasia and William made it through the stages without a hitch and obtained their dream license on the first try.
Course may be taken by a foreigner who has been staying in Poland for at least 6 months, has a document confirming legal stay in Poland.
All the above items for Pkk number can be obtain personally at City Hall in the department of communication.
We help you complete the necessary documents. On Saturdays at 10 a.m. an information meeting. And also a medical examiner’s duty, the cost of the examination is PLN 200-300. Reservation at 698 535 181.