Introduction
You have just arrived in France with a driver's license obtained abroad, and the question haunts you: can I drive? For how long? And after that, do I have to retake everything, the theory and the driving test, like a beginner?
The answer depends entirely on two things: your country of origin, and the date you became a resident in France. A Chinese license does not follow the same path as a Moroccan license, which does not follow the same path as a Brazilian license. This article unravels the 2026 rules for the main diasporas, with real timelines, real documents, and the pitfalls that can cause months of delays.
How long is my foreign license valid?
This is the first question, and the answer changes your strategy. The general rule for 2026:
- EU/EEA/Switzerland licenses: valid indefinitely in France as long as it is not expired in its country of issuance. No mandatory exchange (except in cases of serious offenses committed in France or for limited-duration licenses that are about to expire).
- Non-EU licenses: valid for one year from the date you establish normal residency in France (date of obtaining your residence permit or your effective settlement). Beyond that: driving becomes illegal, unless you have initiated the exchange procedure within the deadlines.
This one-year rule is strict. Mehdi, an Algerian student who arrived in Lyon in September 2024, continued to drive with his Algerian license until November 2025 without exchanging it: a roadside check cost him €135 in fines and the immobilization of his vehicle. He had to retake the theory and driving tests (€1,800) because he was past the deadline.
International license: useful only as an official translation of your national license during short tourist stays (Schengen visa, for example). Once you become a resident, the international license is no longer useful — it’s the national license that counts.
Countries with Bilateral Agreements: "Exchange Without Test"
France has signed reciprocity agreements with about fifty states that allow for direct exchange of the license, without retaking either the theory or the driving test. The most useful for the diasporas concerned by Pionra include:
- Algeria ✓ (1994 agreement)
- Morocco ✓ (1969 agreement)
- Tunisia ✓ (1990 agreement)
- Senegal ✓ (2008 agreement)
- Ivory Coast ✓
- Cameroon ✓ (category B only)
- Brazil ✓ (since 2018, partial)
- South Korea ✓
- Japan ✓
- United Arab Emirates ✓
Countries WITHOUT agreements (you must retake both the theory and the driving tests in a French driving school):
- China (no agreement in 2026)
- Vietnam (no agreement)
- India (no agreement)
- Russia (no agreement since 2022)
- Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (no agreements)
Wei, a Chinese designer living in Paris, has been driving in China for eight years. Upon her arrival, she discovered that no agreement covered her license. She had to enroll in a driving school (theory + 20 hours of driving: €1,350 at ECF, €1,580 at CER), pass the theory in two months, and obtain her category B license in a total of five months. Frustrating, but that's the rule. Tip: if you have more than 3 years of driving experience in your country of origin, mention it to the driving school — you will likely save 5 to 10 mandatory driving hours.
The ANTS Procedure Step by Step (Direct Exchange)
For countries with agreements, the exchange is done on the official ANTS website (National Agency for Secure Titles): permisdeconduire.ants.gouv.fr. Any other platform that asks you for fees is a scam.
Documents to prepare in PDF (readable scans, white background):
- Original driver's license (front + back, perfectly readable)
- Official sworn translation if the license is not in French (mandatory for Chinese, Vietnamese, non-French Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Korean licenses, etc.) — cost: €30 to €60 from a sworn translator registered with a court of appeal
- Valid residence permit (card or receipt)
- Proof of residence less than 6 months old (EDF bill, rent receipt)
- Digital ID photo in ANTS format (e-Photo purchased in a Photomaton booth or on photodusite.fr)
- Proof of acquisition of the license in the country of origin: for certain countries (Algeria, Morocco, Senegal), ANTS requires an authenticity certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin — this is the step that causes the most delays (2 to 4 months for Morocco, 1 to 6 months for Algeria depending on the wilayas).
Online Steps:
- Create an account on ants.gouv.fr (FranceConnect+ accepted)
- Choose the procedure: "Request the exchange of a foreign license"
- Enter the country of origin, the category (usually B)
- Upload the documents
- Validation and submission
- Follow-up in your personal space — a CERT (Expertise and Resource Center for Titles) contact is designated (Nantes for non-European licenses since 2020).
No fiscal stamp for the first exchange (free). However, if ANTS rejects the file and asks you to redo it after a loss or damage, the duplicate costs €25 in fiscal stamps.
Actual Timelines in 2026: How Long Does It Really Take?
Officially: "3 to 6 months". In reality, in 2026:
- Maghreb (DZ, MA, TN): 4 to 8 months (the authenticity certificate from the country of origin is the bottleneck)
- Senegal, Ivory Coast: 3 to 6 months
- East Asia with agreement (Korea, Japan): 2 to 4 months
- Brazil, Argentina: 4 to 7 months
- EU (voluntary exchange): 1 to 2 months
During the processing, ANTS issues a secure deposit certificate (ADS) which serves as authorization to drive in France during the procedure, provided you requested it before the end of the one-year deadline. Print it, keep it in your car — it will save you from a fine in case of a check.
Aïssatou, a Senegalese nurse who arrived in Marseille in March 2025, submitted her application in April (right after her residence permit). She received the ADS within 3 weeks, and her final French license in November 2025 — a total of 7 months. Without this ADS, she would have had to hand over her car keys between August 2025 and November.
Comparison: 6 Countries of Origin
| Country of Origin | Agreement? | Test to Retake? | Average Delay 2026 | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Yes | No | 4-8 months | €30-60 (translation if required) |
| Morocco | Yes | No | 4-7 months | €30-60 |
| Tunisia | Yes | No | 3-6 months | €30-60 |
| Senegal | Yes | No | 3-6 months | €0-40 |
| China | No | Theory + Driving | 4-8 months | €1,200-1,800 (driving school) |
| Vietnam | No | Theory + Driving | 4-8 months | €1,200-1,800 |
| Portugal (EU) | EU | No (not mandatory) | 1-2 months if voluntary | €0 |
In Summary
- Non-EU licenses: valid for 1 year from your settlement
- Countries with agreements (Maghreb, Senegal, Brazil, Japan, Korea…): ANTS exchange without retaking
- Countries without agreements (China, Vietnam, India, Russia): driving school mandatory
- ANTS procedure: permisdeconduire.ants.gouv.fr, free, 2 to 8 months
- Sworn translation required for most non-French licenses
- ADS (deposit certificate) = allows driving during processing
On Pionra
On Pionra, the communities Chinese, Moroccan, and Algerian share their feedback on driving schools, trusted sworn translators, and actual timelines by CERT. You can also find a sworn translator in /fr/annuaire, or ask your specific questions to your community (Senegalese, Vietnamese, Portuguese).
FAQ
My license has expired in my country of origin, can I exchange it in France?
No. ANTS requires a license that is valid at the date of application. If your Chinese or Moroccan license has expired, you must first renew it in your country of origin (often by proxy via the consulate, or during a trip), then initiate the exchange.
I arrived 14 months ago and haven't done anything. Is it too late?
Not entirely. If you are a citizen of a country without an agreement (China, Vietnam, India…), driving school is mandatory anyway. If you are from a country with an agreement, ANTS sometimes accepts late applications with justification (proof of the actual arrival date different from the date on the title, for example), but it’s random. In the meantime, you must not drive: a fine would be serious (up to €15,000 in fines and 1 year in prison theoretically for driving without a valid license).
Is the translation by my bilingual friend sufficient?
No. Only translations by a sworn translator registered on the list of a French court of appeal are accepted. Public list available on the Cour de cassation website. Expect to pay €30 to €60 for a license translation (1 page), delivered within 3 to 7 days.
My Algerian license was issued in Algiers but I want to exchange it in Lille, does that change anything?
No. Since 2020, all exchanges of non-European licenses are centralized at the CERT in Nantes, regardless of your department of residence. You send your file online, it is processed in Nantes, and the license is delivered to you by tracked mail.
I have been driving in France with my Chinese license for 6 months, is it legal?
Yes, until one year after your effective settlement. But start right now with your driving school registration, because you will have at most 6 months left to pass the theory and driving tests. The average time to obtain a category B license starting from scratch in 2026 is 5 to 7 months.