Can You Keep Your Driving Licence Abroad? (2026): How to Exchange It, Country by Country
Published on: June 16, 2026
It is the part of moving abroad that nobody warns you about until it is almost too late. You have the property, the residency, the bank account, and then you discover that the driving licence you have held for twenty years stops being valid a few months after you become resident, and that whether you can simply swap it or must sit a full test in a new language depends entirely on which country you moved to and which country issued your licence.
Get this wrong and the consequences are real: a fine at a police check, and, far worse, an insurer that voids your cover after an accident because your licence was no longer valid. This guide explains, country by country, whether you can keep your licence, how long the grace period is, and whether an exchange or a test is required.
The two rules that govern everything. First, EU/EEA licences are mutually recognised across the EU/EEA, you can keep driving and exchange without a test. Second, non-EU licences (UK post-Brexit, US, etc.) depend on whether your destination has a bilateral agreement with the country that issued your licence. No agreement usually means a full local test. Agreements change, so always confirm the current position with the country's transport authority before you rely on it.
At a glance
| You are moving to… | EU/EEA licence | UK licence (post-Brexit) | US / Canada / Australia / NZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Exchange, no test | Exchange, no test (2023 deal), medical required | No deal → full test |
| Portugal | Exchange, no test | Exchange, no test | Often exchangeable (check) |
| Italy | Exchange, no test | Exchange, no test (2024 deal) | Limited; often a test |
| France | Exchange, no test | Exchange, no test | Reciprocity by US state |
| Greece | Exchange, no test | Generally exchangeable | Limited |
| Turkey | Exchange (reciprocity) | Exchange (reciprocity) | Exchange (reciprocity) |
| UAE / Dubai | Exchange, no test (eligible list) | Exchange, no test | US/Canada/Australia on eligible list |
The grace period, the deadline most people miss
In nearly every country, you may keep driving on your existing licence for a limited window after you become resident, commonly six months. The trap is twofold:
- The clock starts at residency, not arrival. It begins when you register as a resident (or activate your residence permit), not when you first set foot in the country.
- Appointment backlogs eat the window. In busy regions, the wait for an exchange appointment can be two to four months, which can push you dangerously close to the deadline if you don't start immediately.
The practical rule: book your exchange appointment the moment your residency is confirmed, not when you "get around to it."
Spain, exchange, with a medical
EU/EEA licences are recognised; exchange is voluntary until expiry. For UK holders, the post-Brexit story has a happy ending: a bilateral agreement signed in March 2023 allows direct exchange with no driving test, within six months of becoming resident. You will need a cita previa (appointment) at the DGT, your residency card (TIE), passport, the form, the fee (around €28), and a medical/psicotécnico certificate from an authorised centre (around €30–50). Your UK licence is retained and returned to the DVLA.
The hard cases are the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand: Spain has no exchange agreement with these countries, so once your six-month grace period ends you must enrol in a Spanish driving school and pass both the theory and practical tests. This surprises many North American and Antipodean buyers, so plan for it.
Portugal, straightforward exchange
Portugal recognises EU/EEA licences and allows UK holders to exchange without a test. The process runs through the IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes); you register your licence as a resident and exchange it, typically with a medical certificate. US and other non-EU holders should check current reciprocity, as terms vary.
Italy, fixed after a long gap
EU/EEA licences exchange freely. The UK was a problem for several years post-Brexit, there was no agreement, forcing residents toward a full test, but the UK and Italy reached a deal in 2024, restoring no-test exchange. Non-EU holders without an agreement (including many US states) generally face the Italian test, which is demanding and conducted in Italian.
France, exchange, with US state reciprocity
EU/EEA licences are recognised. UK holders can exchange without a test. For US licences, France operates state-by-state reciprocity, some US states have agreements allowing exchange, others do not, and where there is no agreement you must take the French test. Check your specific state.
Greece, generally exchangeable
EU/EEA licences exchange without a test. UK and many other licences are generally exchangeable, sometimes with a medical and translation. Non-agreement countries face a test. As elsewhere, the residency clock and the appointment backlog are the practical risks.
Turkey, reciprocity-based exchange
Foreign residents in Turkey can use their home licence for an initial period, then must exchange it for a Turkish licence, with the process based on reciprocity. You will typically need a notarised/sworn translation of your licence, a health report, your residence permit, tax number and biometric photos. Turkey exchanges most major licences without a test, but confirm your country's current reciprocity status.
UAE / Dubai, exchange the moment you are resident
The UAE is strict but efficient. Once you hold a UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, you can no longer drive on your foreign licence, you must exchange it. The good news: residents from a long list of eligible "licence origins" (roughly 50+ countries, including the UK, the EU, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea, under the Markhoos initiative) can exchange without lessons or a test, usually in a single visit, for around AED 1,010–1,050, after an eye test. Crucially, India, Pakistan and several other countries are not on the no-test list, and their holders must complete the full (and expensive) RTA driving programme. An International Driving Permit does not convert to a UAE licence, it is only a translation document for visitors.
Your relocation licence checklist
Whatever the country, the sequence that keeps you legal:
- Confirm your residency date, that is when your grace period clock starts.
- Check your route: EU/EEA (easy), or non-EU with/without an agreement (decisive).
- Book the exchange appointment immediately, beat the backlog.
- Gather the documents: licence, residency card, passport, photos, medical certificate, sworn translation if required, the fee.
- If there is no agreement, budget time and money for the local test, and start before your grace period runs out.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I drive on my home licence after moving?
Typically about six months from when you become resident, though it varies. The clock starts at residency, not arrival.
Do EU citizens need to exchange at all?
Not immediately, EU/EEA licences are recognised across the EU/EEA and exchange is usually voluntary until the licence expires.
Can UK citizens still exchange after Brexit?
Yes, in most popular destinations: Spain (2023 deal), France, Germany and, since 2024, Italy allow no-test exchange. Always confirm the current status.
Why do Americans often have to re-test?
Because exchange depends on bilateral agreements. Spain, for example, has no agreement with the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, so a full local test is required after the grace period.
Why this belongs in your cross-border plan
A buyer comparing Spain, Portugal and Dubai isn't just comparing properties, they are comparing three completely different licence realities. A UK retiree can swap directly in all three; a US buyer can exchange in Dubai but must re-test in Spain; an Indian buyer faces the full programme in Dubai. None of that appears in a property listing, and discovering it after you move is exactly the kind of avoidable friction that sours a relocation.
JanusHermes treats relocation as the whole picture, property, residency, tax number, healthcare and the practical admin like your driving licence, so the move is planned, not improvised, market by market. Explore listings and country intelligence on JanusHermes.
Driving-licence rules and bilateral agreements change frequently. This is general information for international movers, not legal advice. Always confirm the current requirements with the relevant transport authority (e.g. DGT in Spain, IMT in Portugal, RTA in Dubai) before acting.
A note on the numbers: where no source is named, the market figures in this article (prices, yields, costs) are indicative estimates compiled from publicly available market data and industry reporting at the time of writing. Markets move and rules change, so treat them as a starting point and verify current figures with official sources before acting on them.
