Driving license
Exchanging your foreign driving license
In order to exchange your driving license (obtained in your homeland) for a Dutch one you must:
› Reside in the Netherlands and have a valid residence permit (if applicable).
› Have a valid driving license (when the application takes place).
› Have obtained your (non EU / EEA) driving license while being resident of the particular country for at least half a year (185 days).
› Come from EU / EEA or Andorra, Antilles, Aruba, Bulgaria, Japan (1B-passenger vehicle / motorcycle more than 400cc), Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel (B-passenger vehicle), Monaco, Quebec (Class 5), Romania, Singapore (Class 2 & 3 / motorcycle more than 400cc), South Korea (2nd class ordinary license), Taiwan (B-passenger vehicle).
Procedure
› First, send the following documents to the Driving Test Organisation (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen) in order to obtain a certificate of fitness (Verklaring van geschiktheid):
- resident permit
- request exchange form (in Dutch)
- health form (necessary for those older than 70 years old) which is filled by you as well as your doctor (in Dutch).
› Submit the following documents to your local Municipal Office:
- current driving license
- fitness certificate (look above)
- request exchange form (look above)
- two recent passport photos
- BSN or Sofi number
› If the application is successful, you will receive your new Dutch driving license a couple weeks later (maximum three weeks). Please, note that this procedure is far more complex for heavy duty and commercial licenses.
30% ruling and the Dutch driving license
You can also exchange your driving license for a Dutch one if you are eligible for the 30% ruling regardless your country of origin. In this case, you should follow the above procedure but also submit the statement issued by the Tax office to your local Municipal Office.
It should be stressed that you will obtain your original driving license only if you are eligible for the 30% ruling. In any other case your foreign driving license will be forfeited.
Driving tests in the Netherlands
In case you cannot exchange your driving license for a Dutch one, you have to take both a theory as well as a practical test in one of the almost 200 test centers all over the Netherlands.
Theory tests are administrated in Dutch, English and Turkish, while it is also possible to hire an interpreter (around 100 euros per hour).
However, apply as soon as possible since waiting period for the English version of the test might take a while.
The theory examination
To get the theory certificate you need to take a 45-minute test, which consists of 50 yes / no, multiple choice and open questions (44 correct answers is a pass).
You will need to contact CBR to arrange an appointment (0900-227 0 227, Monday-Friday 6am - 12am) and submit:
› one recent passport photo
› house contract and / or residence permit (if applicable)
› valid proof or identification (ID or passport) to prove that you are older than 18
› signed theory card obtained by any driving school or CBR
The practical examination
This is a 55-minute test, which can take place at any of the 50 centers all over the country.
Necessary documentation includes:
› valid proof or identification (ID or passport)
› application form
› certificate obtained after the theory examination
› health form (check procedure for license exchange)
› reservation notice
If successful, you will immediately receive both a certificate of competence (Verklaring van rijvaardigheid) and a certificate of fitness (Verklaring van geschiktheid). Then, you must present them in Gemeente and you will receive your new driving license within five days.
Just like all EU driving licenses, it is valid for 10 years from the date of issue and it can then be renewed with an additional exam (Herhalingstoets).
