Medical exam for a Polish driving licence: up to PLN 200, explained
The medical exam before a Polish PKK profile costs up to PLN 200. Learn who may perform it, why it must be in person, what to bring and how a second exam works.
A medical examination is one of the first steps before Poland issues your PKK, the driver-candidate profile used by the licensing authority, driving school and examination centre. There is no need to guess what happens: an authorised doctor assesses whether your health allows you to drive safely and records the result in a medical certificate.
The short answer
The examination must be carried out by a doctor authorised and registered to examine drivers. The statutory ceiling for this examination is PLN 200. Since 3 June 2026, the examination must take place through direct, in-person contact with the patient. The doctor verifies your identity, asks you to complete a health declaration and checks areas relevant to safe driving, including vision, hearing, balance, mobility and conditions that may affect your reactions at the wheel.
If more information is needed, the doctor may request a specialist consultation or a diagnostic test. That is not an automatic refusal. It means the decision needs reliable medical evidence.
1. Book the right doctor
Not every family doctor can issue a Polish driving-candidate certificate. The doctor needs the qualifications required by the Act on Vehicle Drivers and an entry in the register maintained by the regional authority. When booking, say that you need an examination for a driving licence and name every category you are applying for.
A driving school may recommend a clinic, but you do not have to use the school’s preferred provider. The doctor’s authorisation matters; a commercial link with the school does not.
2. Bring information that supports a sound decision
You need a valid identity document. If you use glasses or contact lenses, take them and wear them as you normally would. If you receive ongoing treatment, prepare the names of your medicines and any medical record that clearly explains a relevant condition or recent specialist opinion.
A useful checklist:
- an identity card, passport or another accepted identity document;
- glasses or contact lenses if you use them;
- your current driving licence if you are adding a category;
- a medicine list and relevant medical records;
- a referral if an authority has formally sent you for the examination.
Do not conceal a diagnosis or medicine because you fear losing the certificate. The doctor may be able to record a proportionate condition, such as mandatory vision correction, instead of finding a complete medical contraindication.
3. It is more than a vision-chart test
Vision matters, but the statutory scope is broader. It also covers hearing and balance, mobility, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, neurological conditions, diabetes, kidney function, mental health, sleep apnoea and the effect of medicines or substances on driving.
The doctor adapts the examination to your health and licence category. Two appointments therefore need not look identical. A person without a relevant condition may finish quickly, while a chronic condition can require records, a specialist consultation or an additional result. A promise that every examination takes a fixed number of minutes would be misleading.
4. A condition on the certificate can still mean a positive result
The certificate may confirm no medical contraindication, find a contraindication or impose health-related restrictions. A restriction may affect the period of validity, the vehicle or its adaptations, or a special requirement for the driver.
The familiar example is a requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses. Another possible outcome is a shorter licence period followed by a new health review. There is no single validity period that applies to every certificate and every person; it depends on health and the requirements of the category.
You receive the original certificate. It forms part of the documents used to create your PKK. Keep a photo or copy for your records, but submit the document in the form required by your local authority.
5. One appointment can cover several categories
If you apply for more than one category at the same time, the regulation provides for one examination covering all of their requirements. Tell the clinic before the appointment. The medical requirements for categories including C or D are broader than those for category B, so the doctor needs the complete scope from the start.
Do not book only a “category B exam” if you are actually preparing applications for several categories. Correct information at registration avoids a return visit and inconsistent paperwork.
6. You can request a second examination
If you disagree with the certificate, you have 14 days from receiving it to submit a written request for a second medical examination. You file the request through the doctor who issued the first certificate. The second examination is carried out by a designated higher-reference institution, usually the competent regional occupational medicine centre. Its fee is also capped at PLN 200.
The certificate issued after the second examination is final. Note the day you received the first document and ask the clinic for clear filing instructions.
What to do today
- 1Decide which category or categories you are applying for.
- 2Book a doctor authorised to examine drivers.
- 3Prepare identification, vision correction and relevant treatment information.
- 4Budget up to PLN 200 for the examination.
- 5Check your details, categories and any restrictions on the certificate.
Once the certificate is complete, collect the remaining PKK documents. That is safer and simpler than starting a course before your medical eligibility has been confirmed.