Foreign driving licence

If you do not have a certificate issued by the relevant consulate, you must provide documentary evidence that you were resident in the country (or overseas area of France) where you obtained your driving licence (for a period of at least 6 months including the date when you obtained your driving licence), such as:

• electricity, gas and telephone bills 
• rental receipts
• schooling certificates
• university transcripts
•  employment contract 
•  pay slips, etc.

If your application is incomplete, it will be returned to you.

You will then need to submit a complete new application on our driving licence website.

 

However, you can submit your new application online now, so that you don't lose too much time in processing your application.

• For "European" licences:

Since 1 February 2020, anyone with a "European" driving licence wishing to obtain a French licence can apply online to exchange their foreign or overseas licence.

 

This online service allows you to fill out the full application for a driving licence exchange.

All parts of the application are transmitted electronically: Vital records, photo, signature, and supporting documents.

 

To access this online service, all you need is an ANTS account, which you can use to carry out the necessary procedures.

 

To find out how to create an account, please consult this article How do I create my ANTS account?

• For “Non-European" licences:

If you hold a non-European driving licence and would like to know what steps you need to take, have a look at this article: Exchanging your non-European driving licence.

Yes, you can apply for an exchange by presenting your renewal application receipt.

 

However, you may be asked to provide a copy of your renewed residence permit at a later date.

• If you live outside Paris:

If you wish to report a change of address, please complete the contact form on the Loire Atlantique prefecture website (http://www.loire-atlantique.gouv.fr/Demarches-administratives/FAQ-CERT-de-Nantes-Echange-de-permis-etranger)

Your application must include:

• A proof of residence
• if you have a secure certificate of receipt (attestation de dépôt sécurisée - ADS), you must attach a copy of your ADS (or specify your SURNAME at birth for married women, FIRST NAME, DATE OF BIRTH and NATIONALITY OF THE LICENCE)

 

• If you live in Paris :

The Préfecture de Police is still responsible for processing your application to exchange your driving licence, even if you move to another département.

However, it is essential that you notify them of your new address by e-mail so that a correction can be made.

To do this, send proof of address less than six months old, giving your new address, by e-mail: pp-dpg-permisdeconduire@interieur.gouv.fr

“Normal residence", as defined in Article R 222-1 of the French Highway Code, is the place where a person usually lives, for at least 185 days per calendar year, for personal or professional reasons.

A translation of your driving licence by a sworn translator registered with a French court is one of the documents required to process your application.

It must always be provided, except in cases where the licence presented for exchange is written exclusively in French.

The list of sworn translators of the Paris Court of Appeal is available at this link: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F12956

You can exchange your foreign or overseas licence if there is an agreement between France and your country of residence (list of countries available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website), and if you meet the regulatory conditions for obtaining an exchange (in particular, the deadline for submitting the application).
If you are refused, the appeal procedures and deadlines are indicated in the refusal decision.

You can also go the standard route by taking the driving test.

 

If you hold a foreign or overseas driving licence, you can be exempted from the 20 hours of road test required to learn to drive by registering as an independent applicant. To qualify for this exemption, your driving licence must be valid in the country of its origin. 

 

If your original driving licence was issued by a European Union or European Economic Area country less than 5 years ago, you will also be exempt from the theory test.

The original driving licence must be presented as part of the exchange procedure.

Thanks to agreements between member states of the European Union, a driving licence issued in any of these countries is recognised by the French authorities.

 

You can therefore travel freely on French roads and do not need to exchange your European driving licence:

• if it is in your possession
• if it is currently valid

This licence must be exchanged:

• as its expiry date approaches
• if you commit an offence on French territory
• if your licence is lost or stolen

No, it is not possible to exchange your foreign licence.

 

You can exchange your foreign driving licence if, and only if, there is an agreement between France and the country that issued your original driving licence. There are no longer any exemptions for people with refugee status.

 

To find out whether an agreement has been signed with France, you can consult the list on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A foreign driving licence issued by a country that is not a member of the European Union or the European Economic Area is no longer recognised in France after a period of one year has elapsed since the driver took up residence in France.

 

Presenting an International Driving Permit does not extend this period.

 

To find out whether an agreement has been signed with France, you can consult the list on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This list of countries is updated regularly.

 

Note: The existence of reciprocity with France is assessed on the day the application is processed and not on the date the application is submitted.

Once your application has been processed, the issuing authority will ask you to send it the original of your driving licence.
In return, you will be issued with a secure certificate of receipt (“ADS” in French), valid for 4 months, which you can download from your account on the ANTS portal.
This secure certificate of receipt will allow you to drive without your foreign or overseas licence, until your application has been processed and your French licence has been created.

A driving licence issued by a country that does not belong to the European Union or the European Economic Area is recognised as valid for driving in France until one year after normal residence in France has been acquired.

This date corresponds to the start of validity of the first residence permit (with any status other than student).

 

To be recognised, a driving licence must meet the following conditions:

• be currently valid 
• have been issued in the country where the driver was normally resident
• be written in French or, if necessary, be accompanied by an official, authenticated, or certified translation into French, or by an International Driving Permit
• has not been suspended or cancelled in France or in the country that issued it.

 

In addition, the holder must also:

• be of the minimum age set by the French Highway Code for the category of driving licence held, and comply, where applicable, with any requirements that make the validity of the driving licence contingent on the use of certain vehicle equipment or modifications.

Before exchanging a driving licence, the official authority must ensure that the licence and the driving rights that come with it are genuine.
This verification, required by regulations, requires the presentation of originaldocuments.

• If you hold a European driving licence:

 If you have committed an offence with a foreign European driving licence, you must apply for your licence via the ANTS website.
Once you have logged on to your driver area, click on "Start application", then choose "I am applying to register or exchange my foreign or overseas driving licence".
You can continue the process by answering the questions and providing information.

Please note: It is not necessary to enclose your original licence with this application.
Only when your application is being processed will the officer in charge of it contact the prefecture to collect it.
You only need to intervene when expressly asked to by the processing department.

 

• You hold a driving licence issued by a country outside the European Union or in Overseas France:

Your driving licence will be returned to the issuing authority.

You should also be aware that, after a period of one year following your arrival in France, your foreign or overseas driving licence is no longer recognised as valid for driving in France.

 

You will then need to take the French driving test.

 

However, if you hold a foreign or overseas driving licence, you can be exempted from the 20 hours of road test required to learn to drive by registering as an independent applicant. To qualify for this exemption, your driving licence must be valid in the country of its origin.

Since 11 September 2017, the Nantes prefecture has been in charge of foreign licence exchanges for the whole of France. A major reason for this arrangement was to combat fraud more effectively.

 

Processing times vary depending on the complexity of the case. Every effort is being made to ensure that processing does not exceed the statutory period during which users can drive with their secure certificate of receipt.

 

If the request was made more than 12 months ago:

• If your application was made before 11 September 2017, it has not been processed by the Nantes prefecture. You should contact your prefecture of origin.
• If  your application was made after 11 September 2017, it is being processed by the Nantes prefecture.

If the application was made less than 12 months ago:

The processing time can be up to 12 months, depending on the complexity of the situation.

It is normal for Category A not to appear on the French driving licence that you have been sent, as Category A has not been exchanged directly in France since 2016.

 

If you had the equivalent of Category A on your foreign driving licence, only Category A2 is carried forward.

It allows you to drive a motorbike with a maximum power rating of 35kW.

 

To obtain Category A, you need to have held Category A2 for at least two years and to have undergone seven hours of additional training.

You need to contact us:

• via the contact form on the website of the ANTS
• by telephone on 34 00: from 7:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Friday - from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays (cost €0.06/min + price of the call)

 

You must have the NEPH number sent to you by e-mail by CERT

Since September 2017, applications from all over France, excluding Paris, have been processed in Nantes.

Previously, each préfecture managed its applications locally.

 

A major reason for this arrangement was to combat fraud more effectively.

If there is any doubt as to the authenticity of the document, an analysis is carried out, which can take some time.

This step is vital to ensuring that the driver is in possession of a genuine driving licence. The safety of road users is at stake.

If your address has changed since you submitted your licence exchange application, you must inform the Nantes CERT of your new postal address. If you fail to comply, the Nantes CERT will no longer be able to contact you. Your French licence might not be received as it should.

 

• If you are visiting France: The prefecture in the place where the offence was committed will keep your licence for the duration of the suspension, or return it to the authorities in the country where it was issued if the duration of the suspension exceeds the duration of your stay in France. The return of your driving licence will be subject to medical fitness in accordance with the terms of the suspension order.

 

• If you are normally resident in France: Your driving licence will be sent by law enforcement to the prefecture of the place where the offence was committed, where your licence will be kept. You will then need to apply to exchange this licence in accordance with the terms of the suspension order. These may include undergoing a compulsory medical examination by an approved doctor in the event of a speeding offence (the list of approved doctors is published on the website of your local prefecture) or undergoing a review by a medical board in the event of an alcohol- or drug-related offence (see the procedure for this review on the website of your local prefecture).

In all cases, a French driving licence may be issued to you at the end of the suspension period if you meet the regulatory conditions and if your application is complete.

You can exchange your foreign driving licence if there is an agreement between France and your country of residence.

 

To find out whether an agreement has been signed with France, you can consult the list on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This list of countries is updated regularly. The existence of reciprocity with France is assessed on the day the application is processed and not on the date the application is submitted.

 

As a refugee, you do not need to provide the certificate of entitlement to drive required for other road users.

It is advisable to request the exchange of your foreign or overseas licence as soon as your first residence permit (VLS, CST, CSP, CR or CRA) is issued or you are placed under international protection.

 

As the processing time for obtaining a French driving licence is more than three months, there is no point in sending in your application if your residence permit expires within this period. Your application will be denied because, without a valid residence permit, a French driving licence cannot be issued.

You can drive in France with your foreign driving licence.

You are not required to exchange it if you have a residence permit.

If you live in Paris, you should contact the Paris Prefecture’s international driving permit and foreign driving licence resource centre, known by its French acronym Crepic, to submit your application or check its status.

• By post: Préfecture de Police de Paris - DPG / SDCLP - Crepic - 1bis rue de Lutèce - (75195) Paris Cedex 04
• By e-mail: pp-dpg-permisdeconduire@interieur.gouv.fr

The CERT in Nantes handles all applications nationwide to exchange foreign driving licences, with the exception of those from users living in Paris.

If the country where you obtained your driving licence is not on the list mentioned above, you will be able to drive in France for a maximum of one year from the date of your arrival. To be able to drive after this period, you will need to pass both driving licence tests (the theory test and the driving test) during the one-year period.

 

If you hold a foreign driving licence, you can be exempted from the 20 hours of road test required to learn to drive by registering as an independent applicant. To qualify for this exemption, your driving licence must be valid in the country where it was issued.

 

If your original driving licence was issued by a European Union or European Economic Area country less than 5 years ago, you will also be exempt from the theory test.

If there is an agreement between the countries that issued your licence and France, it is possible that not all the categories obtained on your foreign licence will be exchangeable. You are invited to consult the list on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These reciprocal agreements specify which categories can be exchanged, depending on the country in which the licence was issued.

You can exchange your foreign driving licence if, and only if, there is an agreement between France and the country that issued your original driving licence. To find out whether an agreement has been signed with France, you can consult the list on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This list of countries is updated regularly.

 

The existence of reciprocity with France is assessed on the day the application is processed and not on the date the application is submitted.

Since 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been a non-EU country.

• licence obtained before 1 January 2021:

Effective 28 June 2021, the principle of recognition will continue to apply to qualifications obtained before 1 January 2021.
Consequently, you are not obliged to exchange your licence except in the following cases:

• expired
• lost or stolen
• damaged
• suspended or cancelled
• violation points
• category extension

 

• licence obtained after 1 January 2021:

If you decide to take up normal residence in France, you have one year in which to submit your application to exchange your driving licence.

You must apply to exchange your European driving licence if:

• your licence is lost or stolen
• the licence, or one or more categories on it, has expired
• requesting new category(-ies)
• a traffic offence committed in France has resulted in a loss of points, or a restriction, suspension, or cancellation of your licence.

Thanks to agreements between member states of the European Union, a driving licence issued in any of these countries is recognised by the French authorities. You can therefore drive freely on French roads, and you do not need to exchange your valid European driving licence if you already have one.

 

It will be compulsory to exchange your licence as the expiry date approaches. You will need to anticipate the processing time, which can be several months.

 

You will need to submit an exchange request online via the ANTS website if your situation changes and you fall into one of the cases of compulsory exchange described below:

• your licence is lost or stolen
• the licence, or one or more categories on it, has expired
• requesting new category(-ies)
• a traffic offence committed in France has resulted in a loss of points, or a restriction, suspension, or cancellation of your licence.

The regulations governing the exchange of licences are complex and far-reaching. The basic principle for acquiring the right to drive in France is to have passed a driving test.

The CERT in Nantes has received a large number of exchange requests. In most cases, the file is incomplete and cannot be processed as it stands.

 

You should have received a letter or e-mail informing you of this.

Any incomplete application will now be returned to the applicant, and a new application will have to be submitted via the online procedure introduced on 4 August 2020.

 

This new way of submitting your application is designed to simplify procedures and shorten processing times.

At the end of this procedure, a new secure certificate of receipt will be available for you to download in your personal space.

You can exchange your foreign licence if there is an agreement between France and your country of residence (list of countries available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website), and if you meet the regulatory conditions for obtaining an exchange (in particular, the deadline for submitting the application).

You can also go the standard route by taking the driving test:

 

If you hold a foreign driving licence, you can be exempted from the 20 hours of road test required to learn to drive by registering as an independent applicant. To qualify for this exemption, your driving licence must be valid in the country of its origin.

 

If your original driving licence was issued by a European Union or European Economic Area country less than 5 years ago, you will also be exempt from the theory test.

In this case, you must attach a medical opinion (CERFA form no. 14880*02) to your exchange application.

 

To do this, you must undergo a medical examination to check your fitness to drive by an approved doctor in the département where you live (a list can be downloaded from your prefecture's website): name-of-département.gouv.fr

 

Heavy goods transport categories cannot be exchanged without this medical opinion.

 

If you wish to explicitly waive your inclusion in such categories, you can do so when you submit your application, by simply making a sworn statement attached to it.

 

When a request is made to exchange a driving licence, not all the categories originally shown on the original licence are always transferred to the French driving licence produced by the exchange.

 

To find out whether your categories can be exchanged in France, go to service-public.fr

In this case, you must attach a medical opinion (CERFA form no. 14880*02) to your exchange application.

 

To do this, you must undergo a medical examination to check your fitness to drive by an approved doctor in the département where you live (a list can be downloaded from your prefecture's website): name-of-département.gouv.fr

 

Heavy goods transport categories cannot be exchanged without this medical opinion.

If you wish to explicitly waive your inclusion in such categories, you can do so when you submit your application, by simply making a sworn statement attached to it.

 

When a request is made to exchange a driving licence, not all the categories originally shown on the original licence are always transferred to the French driving licence produced by the exchange.

Due to the pandemic, any driving licence issued by a Member State of the European Union that has expired or is expiring between 1 February and 31 August 2020, shall be deemed valid for a further period of seven months following the date of its expiry, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2020/698 of 25 May 2020 §4 published in the Official Journal of the European Union of 27 May 2020, provided that its country of origin has taken the decision to apply this provision.

 

This relates to:

• driving licences issued in France in EU format
• and EU-format driving licences issued in other Member States, with the exception of those issued by Croatia, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Spain.

 As a reminder, the expiry of a European driving licence does not prevent you from applying to exchange it.

There are two ways of finding out the status of your application to exchange a foreign driving licence:

• For "European" licences:

You can track all your applications in your space.

• For “Non-European" licences:

To find out the status of your application to exchange a foreign driving licence, contact the tracking department:

• If you live in Paris: by e-mailing pp-dpg-permisdeconduire@interieur.gouv.fr
• If you live outside Paris: Contact form

Applying to exchange a foreign licence is a complex procedure that requires special care.

 

The processing time for this type of application varies depending on the case and the applicant's situation.

 

As a result, it may take longer to receive the new licence because of the checks that have to be carried out.

Driving licences issued by Jersey and Guernsey are considered to be the same as driving licences issued by the United Kingdom, in the regulatory changes stemming from Brexit, and therefore are covered by the same provisions agreed in June 2021 by exchange of notes verbales between the two countries.