In brief
- A license issued by a non-European country (EU/EEA) is valid for 1 year from the acquisition of normal residence in France.
- The exchange for a French license becomes mandatory to drive beyond this one-year period.
- Starting May 1, 2026, this process will be subject to a fee with a stamp duty of €40 (€20 in Guyana).
- Foreign students holding a student residence permit are not required to exchange their license during their studies.
- British licenses issued before 2021 remain recognized without mandatory exchange, except in specific cases (loss, theft, invalidation, etc.).
Who needs to exchange their license?
The necessity to exchange your license depends on your personal situation and the nationality of the license.
Case of students
If you are a foreign student and hold a "student" residence permit, you do not need to request the exchange of your driving license. You can drive in France with your non-European license throughout your studies.
Case of British licenses
The rules differ based on the date of issuance of the British license:
- License issued before 2021: It is recognized in France as long as it is valid. The exchange is only mandatory in the following cases:
- Your license is no longer valid.
- You are applying for a new category of license (extension).
- You commit an offense in France resulting in a loss of points, a restriction, a suspension, or an annulment.
- Your license has been stolen, lost, or is damaged.
- License issued in 2021 and after: You must request the exchange of your British license for a French license.
Other situations (outside EU/EEA)
If you settle in France with a license issued by a non-European country (and you are neither a student nor a holder of a pre-2021 British license), you must request the exchange. The foreign license is only valid for 1 year from the acquisition of normal residence in France.
Note: If you are returning to France after expatriation and wish to recover your French license, the process is different (restoration of driving rights).
Conditions for exchanging the license
Your foreign license must meet several cumulative conditions to be exchangeable:
- Eligible country: The license must have been issued by a country whose relevant category can be exchanged for a French license. An official simulator allows you to check this eligibility.
- Equivalent category: The exchange is only possible for licenses of equivalent categories issued under conditions compliant with French standards. For example, a foreign B license with significant restrictions (limited hours, limited number of passengers) cannot be exchanged for a French B license.
- Residence at issuance: The license must have been issued by the country where you had your normal residence before settling in France.
- Validity: The license must be valid.
- Language: The license must be written in French or accompanied by an official translation.
- If the translation is done abroad, it must be legalized or apostilled.
- If the translation is done in France, it must be performed by a certified translator or by the embassy in France of the country that issued the license.
Warning: It is not possible to obtain a motorcycle license A by exchange. A motorcycle license A2 will be issued to you, and you will need to undergo training after 2 years to obtain the A license.
Personal conditions of the applicant
In addition to the characteristics of the license, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be of the minimum age to drive in France for vehicles of the equivalent category.
- Have your normal residence in France.
- Have a valid residence permit if you are neither European nor French.
- Have passed the driving test when you had your normal residence in the issuing country.
- Comply with any medical prescriptions noted on your license (e.g., mandatory glasses).
- Have taken, if necessary, a medical examination of fitness to drive (e.g., if your health condition involves a restriction on the validity period).
- Not have been sanctioned by a suspension, withdrawal, or annulment of your right to drive in the issuing country.
- Not have been sanctioned in France, before obtaining a license in another country, by an annulment or invalidation of your right to drive.
Deadline to request the exchange
The deadline to request the exchange varies depending on your nationality and situation:
- For regular first-time foreign arrivals, you have a period of 1 year from the acquisition of normal residence in France.
If these conditions are not met, you must take the driving test in France.
Cost
Starting May 1, 2026, exchanging a foreign driving license for a French license will incur a fee.
- Stamp duty: €40 (on national territory).
- Stamp duty: €20 (in Guyana).
This measure is provided for by the finance law for 2026. Current information remains valid until the stamp is operational on the France Titres - ANTS website, scheduled for May 4, 2026.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Non-compliant translation: A simple translation without legalization, apostille, or signature from a certified translator/embassy will result in the rejection of the application.
- Restrictions on the foreign license: If your license has major restrictions (e.g., driving limited to certain hours), it will not be exchangeable for a standard French license.
- Deadline exceeded: Driving with a non-European license after the expiration of the 1-year period without having requested the exchange is illegal.
- Motorcycle License A: Do not expect to obtain the A license directly by exchange; you will receive an A2 with a requirement for further training.
Official source
The data presented above is extracted exclusively from the official sheet "Exchange of driving licenses obtained outside Europe (EU/EEA) - settling in France" published on service-public.fr, verified on October 20, 2025.