How to Exchange Your Foreign Driver's License in Spain | DGT Guide 2026

Can you drive in Spain with a foreign license? 

You can drive in Spain with your foreign driver's license for six months or longer, depending on some factors. For example, Australians on a 90-day Schengen visa may drive in Spain if they have

• A valid Australian driving license 

• An international driving permit

In contrast, if they are on a long-stay visa, they can drive for up to six months after arriving in Spain. Australians must obtain a Spanish driver’s license within six months. 

Can I convert my driver's license to Spanish?

You can exchange your local license for the Spanish equivalent if 

• You’re a legal resident in Spain and have a valid NIE card (EU members) or TIE card (non-EU members)

• You have a valid license from an EU/ EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) country 

• Your license was issued in a Non-EU / EEA country that has an exchange agreement with Spain 

• You are a professional driver from another country and meet specific requirements.

• You are a diplomat accredited in Spain or a direct relative

Note: The rules for each country vary, so you should confirm from the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) website or other authorised traffic authority in Spain. 

Who must exchange their driving license in Spain? EU, non-EU, and UK rules

Drivers in these categories must exchange their driving license in Spain:

EU/EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) drivers with expired or invalid permits

Generally, EU/EEA license holders don't need to exchange their licenses in Spain, provided it's valid. However, if your EU license has an indefinite validity or is valid for more than 15 years (Group 1: AM, A, B) or more than 5 years (Group 2: C, D categories), you must exchange it for a Spanish license within two years of establishing ordinary residence in Spain. Additionally, you must exchange your EU license for a Spanish one if it expires while in Spain.

Non-EU/EEA license holders taking permanent residence in Spain 

Non-EU/EEA license holders may drive in Spain on their foreign license for a maximum of six months from the date they obtain legal residency (empadronamiento). After six months, you must either exchange your license (if your country has an agreement with Spain) or obtain a new Spanish license from scratch. 

Note: The six-month clock starts from the date of your census registration (empadronamiento), not from your arrival in Spain. 

UK license holders (Post-Brexit)

Since Brexit, the UK is no longer part of the EU. However, Spain and the UK have a bilateral exchange agreement, which means UK license holders can exchange their driving license for a Spanish one without taking a theory or practical driving test. The standard 6-month residency rule applies. You will need a psicotécnico medical aptitude report and your original valid DVLA license.

Countries without an agreement

If your license was issued in a country that does not have an exchange agreement with Spain you cannot directly swap your license for a Spanish one. Once the six-month resident period has passed, you must enrol in a Spanish driving school (autoescuela), pass both the theory and practical Spanish driving tests.

Which countries’ driving licenses can be exchanged in Spain

Spain has reciprocity agreements with many non-EU / EEA countries for license exchange. They include;

• Switzerland

• South Korea

• Japan

• Andorra

• Argentina

• Colombia

• Ecuador

• Uruguay

• Peru

• Morocco

• Chile

• Algeria

• Dominican Republic

• Paraguay

• Bolivia

• Philippines

• Guatemala

• Serbia

• Brazil

• El Salvador

• Ukraine

• Turkey

• Tunisia

• North Macedonia

• Nicaragua

• Monaco

• Panama

• Costa Rica

• United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

• New Zealand

• Georgia

• Moldova

• Honduras

Note: The list of countries is updated often. You can find the complete list on the DGT website.

What documents do you need?

• Completed official DGT license exchange application form

• Valid identity document, such as:

  • Passport

  • Spanish residence card (TIE)

  • NIE certificate for EU citizens

• Proof of residence in Spain, such as a recent certificado de empadronamiento (certificate of census registration)

• Valid foreign driving license

• Psychophysical aptitude report (informe de aptitud psicofísica or psicotécnico) issued by an authorised medical centre

• Proof of payment of the applicable DGT fee

• Recent passport-size photograph (sometimes required depending on the application method or office)
  

How to exchange your driving license in Spain: step-by-step

Here is a breakdown of the steps you must follow to exchange a foreign license in Spain.

Step 1: Confirm eligibility

Check the DGT website to see whether your country has an exchange agreement with Spain. If there is no agreement, you will usually need to complete the full Spanish driving license process, including theory and practical exams.

Step 2: Get your psicotécnico medical report

Visit an authorised Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores. The test covers vision, reaction time, and basic fitness to drive. You should expect to pay approximately €30–€50 fee for the report which is valid for 3 months, so obtain it within 3 months of your intended DGT appointment. 

Step 3: Gather your documents

Collect your NIE/TIE, passport, empadronamiento, original license, photos, and sworn translation (if required). 

Step 4: Book a DGT appointment

Go to the DGT website and select 'Trámites' > 'Canje de permisos'. Choose your nearest Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico. In high-demand cities (Madrid, Barcelona), appointments can be difficult to obtain. You should book as early as possible and check regularly for cancellations. 

Note: From June 2025, the Spanish government began implementing an online exchange system via the DGT website. Under this system, most documentation can be uploaded digitally, reducing the need for multiple in-person visits. A physical visit is still required to hand over your original license and collect your Spanish one, but the full prior-appointment process has been significantly reduced.

Step 5: Attend your appointment

The DGT officer will verify your documents, take your original foreign license, and issue a provisional paper driving permit (Permiso Provisional) that allows you to drive legally in Spain until your final Spanish license arrives. 

Step 7: Receive your Spanish license

Your new permanent Spanish driving license will be posted to your registered address. Processing typically takes 1–3 months. If it does not arrive within a reasonable period, return to your DGT office to report the delay.

Do you need to take any exams to exchange your permit? 

If your license was issued by an EU/EEA country, you don't need an exam. However, you need an additional aptitude test if the permit is for 

• Type C and D vehicles

• Trucks

• Buses

These tests carry higher processing fees. For example, the fee for an exchange procedure is €28.87 without a test. If you need to take a test, the fee is €94.05.

How long does it take to get a driving license in Spain? 

The time it takes to get a driving license in Spain varies from 1 to 2 months. This includes time for both the theoretical and practical driving tests. For example, if you apply for a direct exchange without a test, you can get the license in a month. This is possible if the verification process isn't delayed and demand is low. However, if you need to take a driving test in Spain, you cannot proceed to the next stage until you pass the exams. The process may take longer if you need to take additional lessons or retake exams.

How much does it cost to get a driver's license in Spain?

You can find the cost for other countries on the DGT website. 

Do you need a certified (sworn)translation of your driver’s license?

If your driver's license is not in Spanish, you will need a certified (sworn) translation during the exchange process.  A sworn translation (traducción jurada), also known as a certified translation, is performed by a translator authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These translations include a stamp and signature from the translator, making them legally valid. 

In many cases, driving licenses issued in EU countries and written in widely recognised Latin-alphabet languages, such as English, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese, may not require a sworn translation for the DGT exchange process. UK photocard licenses are also often accepted without translation because they use standardised formats that Spanish authorities can easily interpret.

However, licenses written wholly or primarily in non-Latin scripts, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian (Cyrillic), Thai, Hindi, or Georgian, will usually require an official sworn translation into Spanish.

Even where a license contains some Latin characters, the DGT may still request a certified or sworn translation if important information is unclear, abbreviated, or not easily understood in Spanish.

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Common issues and how to avoid delays when exchanging licenses in Spain

The license exchange process in Spain is mostly straightforward. However, here are some things that can cause delays or rejection. 

Difficulty obtaining appointments

The DGT system can sometimes have high demand. In those seasons, securing an appointment for a license exchange might be challenging. You can avoid this by applying for an appointment early. This ensures you can get a date before your permit expires.

Verification delays

Verifying the authenticity and validity of the foreign license with the issuing country can sometimes take time. This issue can cause delays in the exchange process. Ensure that your license was obtained legally and provide all information. This can help with the verification process.

Incomplete documentation

Incorrect or missing documents can lead to delays or rejection of the application. For example, submitting a foreign license without certified translations or with invalid information. Always cross-check the requirements and submit everything requested by officials.

Don't allow poor documentation to delay your driver's license exchange in Spain. Request a free quote to get certified translation from Translayte.