Exchange of a driving license obtained in Europe (EU/EEA)

Verified 01 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are wondering in which cases you must request the exchange of your license European Union (EU/EEA) against a French license? We tell you what you need to know.

You can drive in France with a license European Union (EU/EEA) , or a UK permit issued before 2021, as long as it is valid.

The exchange of your European driving license for a French driving license is mandatory only in the following cases :

  • The validity your license is coming to an end
  • You're asking for a new category of the permit (extension)
  • You commit in France a traffic offense resulting in loss of points, restriction, suspension, or cancelation of your license
  • Your license is lost, stolen or deteriorated.

Warning  

Since the Brexit, the exchange of a british license issued in 2021 or later is subject to rules for the exchange of a permit issued by a non-European State.

You must fulfill the following conditions to exchange your license European (or your UK license issued before 2021) against a French license:

  • Have the minimum age to drive the equivalent category of your license (for the permit B, 17 years of age or older)
  • Have your normal residence in France
  • Comply with any medical prescriptions noted on your license. For example, glasses are mandatory.
  • Have passed, if necessary, a medical examination for fitness to drive. For example, if your health condition implies a restriction on the validity of the license.
  • Not have been sanctioned by a measure restricting, suspending, withdrawing or canceling your right to drive in the country where the license was issued
  • Not having obtained your license during a period when you were prohibited in France from applying for a driving license
  • If your license European was obtained by exchange, it must have been issued by a European country (EU/EEA), or by a country practicing reciprocity of exchange of permits with France.

If your license European Union (EU/EEA) was obtained by exchange, it must have been issued by a European country (EU/EEA), or by a country practicing reciprocity of exchange of permits with France.

Otherwise, it is impossible to exchange it against a French license. You can use this license in France for 1 year from the acquisition of your normal residence in France. To continue driving in France beyond this period, you must pass examination of the French driving license.

The request for exchange of a permit European (or a UK permit issued before 2021) is available online on the France Titres - website. ANTS: titleContent :

Exchange a foreigners license or one obtained in a Com for a French license

You need the following documents, photographed or digitized. However, the instructing service may request the originals if necessary. In addition, some additional documents can be requested according to your situation:

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You are European (EU/EEA)

If you are European, prepare the following documents:

  • Duplex color image of the original driver's license
  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of address less than 6 months
  • Proof of normal residence in France at the date of application. For example, income tax/non-taxation notice, employment contract, social security certificate...
  • Digital photo-signature(if you do not have access to a photo and digital signature service, you are offered to complete and mail a photo-signature form (FPS) during the teleprocedure)
  • If you have heavy permit, medical opinion of fitness to drive heavy categories, or declaration of waiver of heavy categories
  • If your license has been canceled or suspended, decision to cancel or suspend + letter informing of the exchange obligation sent by the prefecture + medical opinion
  • If your license has been lost, declaration of loss
  • If your license has been stolen, declaration of theft made in the gendarmerie or police station.

If you have uk permit issued before 2021, you must also provide the following documents:

  • Certificate of entitlement to drive less than 6 months issued by the UK authorities that issued the driving license. This document verifies that your license has not been suspended, revoked or canceled.
  • Translation of the certificate of the rights to drive if it is not written in French, by a qualified translator in France.
  • Proof of normal residence in the United Kingdom at the time of the issuance of the British license. For example, attestation of registration and cancelation of consular registers, employment contract, pay slips, work certificates.

You have the nationality of another State

Prepare the following documents:

  • Duplex color image of the original driver's license
  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of address less than 6 months
  • Proof of legal residence in France (residence permit or Ofii sticker on your passport
  • Digital photo-signature(if you do not have access to a photo and digital signature service, you are offered to complete and mail a photo-signature form (FPS) during the teleprocedure)
  • If you have heavy permit, medical opinion of fitness to drive heavy categories, or declaration of waiver of heavy categories
  • If your license has been canceled or suspended, decision to cancel or suspend + letter informing of the exchange obligation sent by the prefecture + medical opinion
  • If your license has been lost, declaration of loss
  • If your license has been stolen, declaration of theft made in the gendarmerie or police station.

If you have uk permit issued before 2021, you must also provide the following documents:

  • Certificate of entitlement to drive less than 6 months issued by the UK authorities that issued the driving license. This document verifies that your license has not been suspended, revoked or canceled.
  • Translation of the certificate of the rights to drive if it is not written in French, by a qualified translator in France.
  • If you are not a British national, proof of normal residence in the United Kingdom at the time of the issuance of the British license. For example, attestation of registration and cancelation of consular registers, employment contract, pay slips, work certificates.

You are French

Prepare the following documents:

  • Duplex color image of the original driver's license
  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of address less than 6 months
  • Digital photo-signature(if you do not have access to a photo and digital signature service, you are offered to complete and mail a photo-signature form (FPS) during the teleprocedure)
  • If you have heavy permit, medical opinion of fitness to drive heavy categories, or declaration of waiver of heavy categories
  • If your license has been canceled or suspended, decision to cancel or suspend + letter informing of the exchange obligation sent by the prefecture + medical opinion
  • If your license has been lost, declaration of loss
  • If your license has been stolen, declaration of theft made in the gendarmerie or police station.

If you have uk permit issued before 2021, you must also provide the following documents:

  • Certificate of entitlement to drive less than 6 months issued by the UK authorities that issued the driving license. This document verifies that your license has not been suspended, revoked or canceled.
  • Translation of the certificate of the rights to drive if it is not written in French, by a qualified translator in France.
  • Proof of normal residence in the United Kingdom at the time of the issuance of the British license. For example, attestation of registration and cancelation of consular registers, employment contract, pay slips, work certificates.

The request for the exchange of a driving license is free of charge.

In case of theft or loss of the driver's license, you are directed to a page at the end of the online procedure to pay the cost of the new license (€25).

During the examination of your application, you can drive because you keep your driving license. Depending on the complexity of your case, the investigation may take several months.

At the end of the instruction, your original foreigner driver's license is required to check its authenticity (except in case of suspension or cancelation). You are contacted by SMS and email. The email explains how send the original of your driving license by registered mail.

When the instructor department receives the original of your license, you can download on the website of France Titres - ANTS one secure deposit certificate (ADS). ADS is valid 4 months. This attestation will allows you to drive in France while waiting to receive your French license, within the term of recognition of your foreigner license.

One online service track your driver's license application:

Track the progress of a driver's license application

Shipment of driver's license

The driver's license (driving license) is dispatched by letter followed. This makes it possible to track and trace the steps of its routing, from the shipment to the deposit in the mailbox.

The address provided when applying for the permit online must be as complete as possible. Your mailbox must present the first and last name of the person receiving the mail.

Follow-up of the sending of the driving license

From the reception of the SMS informing you of the validation of your online request, you must count about 15 days to receive your driver's license (driving license).

At the end of the manufacturing stage of your driving license, you will receive a mail containing a mail tracking link. This link allows you to follow the routing of your driving license. The tracking of the sending of your driving license can also be done directly on La Poste website with the number of the mail tracked.

In case of non-receipt of the driving license

If you have not received your driver's license (driving license) while the mail tracking consultation shows a distribution made, contact theANTS: titleContent via the contact form:

Who shall I contact

The date of issue indicated on the permit is the date of issuance of the French permit.

From this date, the permit is valid 15 years.

However, the validity period of the permit is different in the following 2 cases:

  • In case of medical condition requiring restriction
  • For the so-called "heavy" categories the validity of which is linked to the age of the driver. For example, 5 years for a driver under 55.

FYI  

If the original permit is a probationary permit, the French permit obtained in exchange is also a probationary permit and the length of the foreigner probationary permit is taken into account. 

Exchange a foreigners license or one obtained in a Com for a French license

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