If you hold a foreign driving licence, you may be able to exchange it for a Spanish licence. This process is called the canje de permiso de conducir.
You must complete the exchange before your foreign licence becomes invalid for driving in Spain.
Who can convert their driving licence?
Your ability to exchange your licence depends on the country that issued it. Spain has specific agreements with different nations.
EU and EEA citizens
If you hold a licence from an EU or EEA country, the exchange is a simple administrative registration.
You can do this at any time. You do not need to take any exams.
Countries with bilateral agreements
Spain has bilateral exchange agreements with over 30 countries.
The list of countries includes:
- Andorra, Switzerland, Monaco, and the United Kingdom.
- Japan and South Korea.
- Most Central and South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Peru.
For standard car licences (Permiso B), you can exchange the licence directly without taking any driving tests.
Excluded countries
If your country has no agreement with Spain, you cannot convert your licence. This includes the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
If your country is not on the list, you must pass the Spanish theory and practical driving exams.
How to get a Spanish driving licence
Document checklist for the conversion (Canje)
You must present several original documents at your traffic office appointment. The DGT will reject incomplete applications.
Required exchange documents
Ensure you have these items:
- NIE or TIE card : Your original residence permit. NIE guide
- Passport : Your original physical passport and a photocopied page.
- Foreign driving licence : Your original physical card and a photocopy.
- Medical certificate : The informe de aptitud psicofísica from an authorized center in Spain.
- DGT application form : The filled out and signed solicitud de canje form.
- Fee payment : Proof of paying DGT Fee Rate 1.5, which costs €28.87.
Step 1: Verify the agreement and residency rules
You must check if your foreign licence was issued before you became a legal resident in Spain.
The DGT will not exchange a licence that you obtained in another country after you got your Spanish residency.
If you are a non-EU citizen, your foreign licence is only valid for driving in Spain for six months.
The six months start from the date you receive your residency status. You must apply for the exchange during this window.
Step 2: Book a DGT appointment (Cita Previa)
Booking an exchange appointment with the DGT is very competitive. You must book online or by phone.
Booking online
Go to the official website at dgt.es. Select the “Cita Previa” (Appointment) section.
Choose the option for Canjes de permisos extranjeros (foreign licence exchanges). Select your country of origin.
The system will search for available slots at your nearest DGT office.
The main DGT office in Madrid is located on Calle de Arturo Soria 143.
Booking by phone
If you cannot find a slot online, you can call the municipal information line at 060.
Operators can help you book slots, but they only speak Spanish.
Check the booking portal on weekday mornings between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. This is when new slots open.
Step 3: DGT verification of your licence
After booking, the DGT will contact the transport authority in your home country.
They must verify that your licence is genuine and active.
This verification process can take several weeks or even months.
You can check the status of your application online. Enter your NIE and the appointment date on the DGT portal.
The status will show:
- Pendiente de contestación : The DGT is still waiting for a response from your country.
- Contestado : Your country has verified the licence.
You must not attend the appointment if the status is still pending. The DGT will turn you away.
Step 4: Attend the DGT appointment
Go to the DGT office at your scheduled time. Bring all documents listed in the checklist.
The officer will verify your papers and check the status of the verification.
They will confiscate your foreign driving licence. You cannot hold two licences at the same time.
The officer will give you a temporary paper driving permit. This permit is valid for three months inside Spain.
Receiving your physical Spanish licence
The traffic office will send your new plastic card by post.
The physical card is printed by the national mint. It will arrive at your address within 1 to 2 months.
Ensure the address on your DGT profile matches your current home address.
How to change your address in Spain
Questions and answers
What if my country has no exchange agreement?
You must take the Spanish driving tests. You must pass the medical exam, the DGT theory test, and the practical driving test. You can prepare for these through a local driving school.
Can I keep my foreign driving licence?
No. The DGT will confiscate your original licence and mail it back to the transport authority in your home country. You can only hold one driving licence at a time.
Does the date of my foreign licence matter?
Yes. Your foreign licence must have been issued before you obtained legal residency in Spain. You cannot exchange a licence obtained in another country while you were a resident in Spain.
How long is the medical check valid?
90 days. You must pass the psychophysical test at a Spanish medical center. You must attend your DGT appointment before the medical certificate expires.
How much does it cost to convert a licence?
It costs €28.87. This is the standard DGT Fee Rate 1.5. You must pay this fee online before your appointment or with a card at the DGT office.
Can I drive in other countries with the paper permit?
No. The temporary paper driving permit is only valid within Spain. You must wait for the physical plastic card to arrive before driving in other countries.
