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Moving & visas

Exchange a foreign driving licence in the Netherlands in 2026

This guide is for residents who hold a driving licence from another country. It covers what you must meet to exchange it, which papers you need and what it costs, and it also explains the path you follow if Dutch driving tests are required.

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The licence you hold and the route you take decide if Dutch exams are necessary.

If your licence comes from the EU (European Union) or EFTA (European Free Trade Association), you can exchange it when you satisfy the conditions. A licence from any other country must come from a listed country and be in a listed category, or an exception must apply. You submit the application via your gemeente (municipality). For most licences issued outside those areas, you may drive for 185 days after moving, as long as the licence remains valid. When no exchange route exists, you must take the Dutch theory exam and practical exam.

You are the intended reader if you live in the Netherlands and hold a driving licence issued abroad.

Select the exchange route that applies to you.

The country where your licence was issued determines the main route for exchange. Your nationality is a separate condition you must meet. Compare the RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) exchange rules with the routes shown below.

Each route also demands that you are registered in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP, personal records database) and that you have either the required nationality or the required residence status.

Wide tables can be scrolled sideways.

RouteWhen it worksMain limit
EU or EFTA: EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and SwitzerlandA valid licence can be exchanged. An expired licence can also be accepted under these rules.An expired Icelandic, Liechtenstein or Swiss licence needs an original no-objection statement from the issuing authority.
Listed country outside the EU and EFTAA valid licence from a country and category in the next table.You must have lived at least 185 days in the issuing country during a one-year period in which you obtained the licence.
Valid expatregeling (expat tax scheme, also called the 30% facility) decisionA valid foreign licence from any country can qualify. Bring the valid Belastingdienst (Dutch tax authority) decision. An employer statement or pending application does not replace it.The country-list restriction does not apply. You still need to meet the other exchange conditions, including the issuing-country residence test.
Earlier Dutch licenceYour current foreign licence was issued in exchange for a Dutch licence that was valid after 30 June 1985.RDW restores only the categories from that Dutch licence. Ask RDW to verify your licence history.
No exchange routeThe country or category is not listed and neither exception applies.Take Dutch theory and practical exams at CBR (driving-test authority). Foreign driving experience does not replace those exams.

Verify the country that issued your licence and its category.

In the table, issuing countries are grouped according to the Dutch categories you may receive. Find your country and read the limits in that row. Because recognition can change, consult RDW’s current country list before you apply.

Tables that are wide can be scrolled sideways.

Dutch category availableIssuing countries or territoriesLimits
All listed categoriesGibraltar; Great Britain; Guernsey; Isle of Man; Jersey; Monaco; Northern Ireland; former Netherlands Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint MaartenFor Great Britain, BE (cars with trailers) transfers only if you passed a separate exam for it. For Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Gibraltar and Guernsey, provisional licences and learner permits do not qualify.
B (cars) onlyAndorra; Alberta (Canada); Québec (Canada); Chinese Taipei (Taiwan); Israel; South KoreaAlberta and Québec require class 5. South Korea requires a 1st- or 2nd-class ordinary licence.
A (motorcycles) and B under the listed Japanese entitlementJapanRDW accepts Japanese category 1B for passenger cars and motorcycles over 400 cm³ (cubic centimetres).
A and B under the listed Singapore entitlementsSingaporeClass 2 for motorcycles over 400 cc (cubic centimetres). Class 3 for passenger cars.

Two separate 185-day rules apply here. The residence test concerns where you were living at the time you obtained your licence. The driving period begins when you move to the Netherlands.

Even if you have a 30% facility decision, you still have to satisfy the residence test for the issuing country. A brief visit by itself does not satisfy the 185-day test. The Article 46 of the Reglement rijbewijzen (Driving Licence Regulations) defines this test.

Check when your right to drive comes to an end.

How long you may drive depends on the issuing country, the category, the issue date and the licence’s validity. Before you surrender your licence, use the RDW driving-period rules and the table below.

Wide tables can be moved sideways by scrolling.

Licence used by a Dutch residentDriving periodLimit or exception
EU or EFTA categories AM (mopeds), A1 and A2 (motorcycle categories), A, B and BEUp to 15 years from the issue date, while the category remains valid.If the licence was issued more than 15 years ago and remains valid, you may use it for 2 years after moving here.
EU or EFTA categories C1 and C (lorries), D1 and D (buses), C1E, CE, D1E and DE (those vehicles with trailers)Up to 5 years from the issue date, while the category remains valid.If the 5-year period ended before you moved here, RDW’s example allows 2 years after your move, while the categories remain valid.
EU or EFTA licence issued while you were already registered as living in the NetherlandsExchange it before driving in the Netherlands.Apply through the municipality where you are registered.
Licence issued outside the EU and EFTAThe first 185 days after moving here, while the licence remains valid.An exchange application does not pause or extend this period. The Ukrainian temporary-protection exception is below.

For instance, RDW gives this example: an EU licence issued on 1 January 2019, with a move on 15 June 2024. The car categories stay usable until 1 January 2034. The heavy categories stay usable until 15 June 2026 under the two-year allowance. Both dates apply only if those categories remain valid.

Residents are covered by these periods. Under the tourist rules, tourists may drive here using a foreign licence.

An international driving permit serves as a translation that must accompany the original licence. You cannot exchange it, and it does not lengthen the 185 days.

Once your driving period has ended, you must have the Dutch licence card before you drive.

Review every general condition.

Before the municipality can finish your exchange, you must satisfy every condition that applies to your route:

  • You are recorded in the BRP in the municipality where you submit the application.
  • You hold EU or EFTA nationality, or you have one of the qualifying Dutch residence statuses listed below.
  • If your licence was issued outside the EU and EFTA, it must still be valid when you submit the exchange application, unless the specific exception for an earlier Dutch licence applies.
  • For the listed-country route or the 30% facility route, you lived in the issuing country for at least 185 days within a one-year period during which you obtained the licence.
  • The exact category on your licence must be eligible for exchange. An agreement that covers cars only does not transfer motorcycle, lorry, bus or professional qualifications.
  • If a Verklaring van geschiktheid (certificate of fitness) from CBR is required, it must be registered for the categories you request.

When you do not hold EU or EFTA nationality, any single one of the following residence statuses makes you eligible:

  • A valid verblijfsvergunning (residence permit) for temporary or permanent residence. Being in the process of waiting for a new or renewed permit does not count.
  • Residence under Associatiebesluit 1/80 (the EU–Turkey association decision).
  • Residence under the Richtlijn Tijdelijke Bescherming (Temporary Protection Directive), with residence code 46 recorded.

Warning

Your licence issued outside the EU and EFTA is nearing its expiry date.

Submit your application at the municipality before your foreign licence expires. RDW permits additional documents, including the CBR health decision, to be supplied later. A licence from outside the EU and EFTA that has already expired normally cannot be exchanged. Below are the exceptions for expired EU or EFTA licences and for earlier Dutch licences.

Obtain the health decision if it is required.

If your licence comes from outside the EU and EFTA and covers categories other than AM, the exchange requires a Gezondheidsverklaring (health declaration). A licence only for AM mopeds does not need a health declaration. For EU or EFTA licences, a health declaration is needed in some situations. Check the RDW health-declaration conditions for your age, categories and any medical restrictions.

When a declaration is required, complete it via the Mijn CBR (CBR online portal). CBR recommends beginning six months before the date on which you may no longer drive.

In 2026, the CBR health-declaration fee costs €46.90. Any extra medical examination is paid by you.

You must apply or complete the exchange within one year of CBR’s fitness decision. If more than a year passes, that decision expires, and you need a new declaration under the CBR decision rules.

Submit your application via your municipality.

The exchange application can be sent to RDW only by the municipality where you are registered. If you have not yet registered, use the BSN (citizen service number) and municipality-registration guide.

Look up your municipality’s appointment process, its fee and its collection deadline. Finish the route check and any CBR health process that applies. If your licence is close to expiry, follow the earlier instruction to apply before all supporting documents are ready.

The documents listed below are required for everyone. In Amsterdam and The Hague, the photo must be no more than six months old. Before applying, check your own municipality’s rules for photos:

  • A colour passport photo that satisfies the requirements.
  • The original foreign licence.
  • Valid identification, plus your residence permit if you hold one.

Include each of the following documents whenever its condition applies:

  • Your previous Dutch licence, if you still have it.
  • The valid Belastingdienst decision if you make use of the 30% facility.
  • A translation if your licence contains characters that are not used in the Netherlands.

The Dutch income-tax guide provides an explanation of the 30% facility tax benefit.

For licence translations, RDW accepts work from a sworn translator, an embassy or a consulate. Check what your municipality requires.

When you are at the desk, proceed in this order:

  1. Fill in the application form.
  2. Pay the municipal fee.
  3. Submit your original licence and the supporting documents. The municipality forwards them to RDW.
  4. Retain any copy and receipt that you are given. RDW sends the foreign licence to the authority that issued it, and it will not be returned to you.
  5. When RDW’s letter arrives, follow the instructions for collection.

Review costs and waiting times.

The amounts below are for 2026. What you pay the municipality depends on where you live, while photo, translation and medical costs depend on what you need.

Wide tables can be scrolled sideways.

2026 costAmountWhat varies
Municipal exchange applicationThe Hague licence-exchange fee: €53.65. Amsterdam licence-exchange fee: €64.65.Check your own municipality’s fee before applying.
Health declaration, when required€46.90A doctor’s examination or report costs extra if CBR requests one.
Passport photo and translationProvider priceA translation is needed only for the characters described above.

As an example, in 2026 an exchange in The Hague that requires a health declaration costs €53.65 + €46.90 = €100.55. You should budget separately for the photo, any translation and any additional medical examination.

RDW states that when the file is complete, it sends a letter within 15 working days. After another 5 working days, you can collect the licence. If information is missing, the exchange is delayed. Amsterdam says that the RDW letter arrives 2–4 weeks after the application. Meet your municipality’s collection deadline.

Normally, a Dutch licence remains valid for no more than 10 years. Heavy categories, your age or a medical condition may make that period shorter.

Prepare for a period in which you cannot drive.

Surrendering your original licence and reaching the end of your driving period are two distinct events. The table explains what each stage means.

Wide tables can be scrolled from side to side.

StageCan you drive?What to do
Before surrender, while the licence and Dutch driving period are both validYes, for the valid categories.Carry the original licence. RDW recommends an international driving permit if your foreign categories use different labels from A, B, C, D and E.
After surrender, while the foreign licence and Dutch driving period are still validRDW leaves the choice to you. You cannot show the original licence, so police may fine you.Carry a passport or identity card if you drive. Check your insurer. RDW advises against driving abroad because other countries may be unable to verify your application.
After the foreign licence expires or the Dutch driving period endsWait until you have the Dutch licence card, even if RDW is still processing your application.A copy, receipt, passed exam or pending application does not replace the card. The Ukrainian temporary-protection exception is below.

According to RDW, the chance of a fine after you hand in the card is small, but it still exists. RDW adds that your valid driving rights and insurance policy stay in force if you are unable to show the card. For your own situation, consult your insurer.

Registration, insurance and tax obligations for vehicles are checked separately. Owning a car in the Netherlands guide provides an explanation of these matters.

If you want to avoid a possible fine for not having the original card, make plans to use a different form of transport once you have surrendered it. When driving is necessary for your job, sort out both the timing and a backup transport option before you hand in the card.

Take Dutch driving exams when no exchange option exists

When no exchange procedure is available to you, you must take the Dutch theory and practical exams. The steps and costs below apply to a car licence:

  1. Send in the health declaration so that CBR can record your certificate of fitness.
  2. Use Mijn CBR to book the theory exam. For 2026, the CBR car-exam fees are €50.50 for the Dutch version or €57.00 for the English version.
  3. Take driving lessons through a driving school.
  4. Give the driving school permission via Mijn CBR to schedule your practical exam. Before you can take that exam, you must have passed the theory test and CBR must have found you medically fit. In 2026, the CBR fee is €143.50. The school charges extra for the vehicle, instructor and administration.
  5. Once you pass, go to the municipality starting the following day to apply, bringing valid identification and a colour photo that meets the requirements. Pay the licence fee charged by the municipality.
  6. Pick up the Dutch licence card before you drive.

When applying for a first licence, you have to be living in the Netherlands. In addition, you need one of the following: at least 184 days of residence here during the year right before you apply, or at least six months enrolled at a qualifying Dutch educational institution. If you use the residence route, the total becomes 185 days once the application day is included. Qualifying institutions include universities as well as secondary or vocational schools.

These requirements are distinct from the driving period allowed with a foreign licence and from the residence test in the issuing country. Verify your residence history or enrolment with the municipality. Article 32 of the Reglement rijbewijzen establishes these conditions. RDW first-licence rules explain the application process.

You are considered to be living in the Netherlands while you study abroad when all three of these conditions are met:

  • At the time you apply, you are enrolled at a qualifying university, secondary school or vocational school outside the Netherlands.
  • Your stay abroad is for the purpose of that study.
  • Before the study started, your normal home was in the Netherlands.

This residence exception is laid down in Article 32. Ask the municipality what proof it requires.

Begin lessons early. If your foreign driving rights expire before you have passed the exams, applied and collected the Dutch card, prepare for a stretch of time when you cannot drive.

If you want to take the car theory exam in a language that is not Dutch or English, book an exam with an interpreter. You must arrange an official interpreter through a service approved by CBR at least 14 days before the exam. The interpreting service is paid for separately.

Review frequent issues and special situations

A licence that has expired can still be eligible under the rules for EU, EFTA or earlier Dutch licences. The table begins with those situations, then moves on to Ukrainian temporary protection and professional categories. Before you surrender your original licence, check which evidence you need.

Wide tables can be scrolled horizontally.

SituationRuleNext action
Expired EU or EFTA licenceIt can normally be exchanged. An expired Icelandic, Liechtenstein or Swiss licence needs an original no-objection statement from the issuing authority.Ask the municipality which original statement and translation it accepts.
Earlier Dutch licenceYour foreign licence was issued in exchange for a Dutch licence valid after 30 June 1985. Only the old Dutch categories return. The foreign licence may have expired, provided expiry is the only reason it is invalid.Bring the old Dutch licence or its details. Ask RDW to verify your history and whether the expiry exception applies.
Ukrainian licence with residence code 46The temporary-protection rule allows continued driving with a valid or expired Ukrainian licence. Exchange is available only with the 30% facility.Use the Ukrainian-licence section of the RDW driving-period rules rather than the general 185-day row.
Professional or extra categoriesOnly recognised categories transfer. Code 95 (professional-driver qualification) follows separate rules.Ask RDW what will appear on the Dutch licence before surrendering the original.

Before you move, look at the country that issued your licence and its expiry date. Collect any proof of residence required for a one-year period in which you obtained the licence. The official NetherlandsWorldwide moving checklist contains licence checks. Documents to prepare before moving to the Netherlands guide deals with other documents.

Once you arrive, schedule the steps with the municipality and CBR around your driving deadline. Keep copies of your licence, decision letters, application receipt and any correspondence with RDW. Your application is decided by RDW and your municipality.

These guides can help you plan your arrival and transport:

Official Sources

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