Foreign driving licence in Spain: validity and exchange

Identify your case before driving

EU or EEA licence: it is valid in Spain while it is in force. It can't be suspended, withdrawn or restricted. If you live here, the canje (exchange of a foreign licence for a Spanish one) is voluntary. It doesn't require a test.

If it has no expiry date, or lasts more than 15 years for A/B or more than 5 years for C/D, you must renew it. The period starts when two years have passed since your normal residence began in Spain.

Licence from another country during a visit: carry the original licence while it is valid. It must be in Spanish, have an official translation, or follow an accepted international model. The Permiso Internacional (international driving permit) lasts one year. It is a complementary document. Carry it with your passport and original foreign licence.

Non-EU licence with normal residence: you can drive for a maximum of six months from the date you get that residence. The licence must be valid. You must also be old enough in Spain for the equivalent category.

The date that counts is when you get normal residence. Your NIE identifies you, but it doesn't replace this proof. The empadronamiento (municipal registration) doesn't replace it on its own either. See our guides to getting your NIE and registering with your town hall. Our moving to Spain checklist can also help you organise your move.

Steps to choose the right procedure

1. Check the licence. Check the issuing country, expiry date, restrictions and category.
2. Set the residence date. Write down when you got normal residence. The DGT may ask for proof of residence and the date you got the licence.
3. Check the agreement. Look for your country in the DGT's official information on valid licences and the table of countries with agreements and tests. For A/B, the general exchange has no tests. For C/D, tests depend on the country.
4. Prepare the documents. You must prove your residence and that you got the licence before becoming a legal resident in Spain. South Korea is the exception. The DGT also won't exchange a licence that came from an exchange with a third country without an agreement.
5. Submit the exchange. Apply directly to the DGT. Use the available channel on its sede electrónica (electronic office), or go to the correct office. Don't use intermediaries.
6. Receive the provisional licence. The DGT takes your original licence when the exchange is completed. It then gives you a provisional licence until the final one arrives.

Documents for a non-EU licence exchange

The exact documents change by country. Use this list as a check and confirm the details with the DGT.

• Identity document and proof of residence in Spain.
• Original foreign licence and proof of the date you got it.
• Valid informe de aptitud psicofísica (psychophysical fitness report) for 90 days.
• Official translation if the licence isn't in Spanish.
• Any specific documents the DGT requires for your country or category.

Tests and exchange fees

For A/B licences from countries with an agreement, the general exchange has no tests. For C/D, check the official table. Tests depend on the country and the authorisation.

The DGT publishes these fees, with values checked on 4 September 2026. Check the current amount before paying.

Common problems and how to fix them

Six months have passed

Stop driving immediately. The licence is no longer valid for driving in Spain. You can ask for the exchange later if there is an agreement and you meet the requirements. If there isn't one, you must get a new Spanish licence as a private driver.

Country has no agreement

A private driver can't use the ordinary exchange. You must get a new Spanish licence. The professional exception only works if you meet every specific requirement listed above.

Licence obtained after residence

The DGT doesn't exchange a licence obtained after you got legal residence in Spain. South Korea is the stated exception. If you can't use it, you must get the relevant Spanish licence.

Document or category rejected

Check that the licence is valid, in Spanish, officially translated, or issued under an accepted international model. For C/D, check the test required in the official table. An international driving permit doesn't fix an unrecognised category.