Exchanging your foreign driving license

In some cases, it is possible to exchange the driving license (obtained in your homeland) for a Dutch driving license. Check the following to learn more about the requirements, the procedure, and how the procedure changes if you are eligible for the 30% ruling benefit.

Requirements

› 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).

Another requirement is that you come from one
of the following countries:
› EU/EEA countries
› Andorra (Passenger vehicle)
› 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)


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.

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):

› Your resident permit
› A request exchange form (in Dutch), and
› A health form (necessary for those older than
70 years old) (in Dutch) which is filled by you as
well as your doctor.

Then, submit the following documents to your
local Municipal Office:

› Your current driving license
› The certificate of fitness (look above)
› The request exchange form (look above)
› Two recent passport photos
› Your 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.


Related article
› How to bring your car to the Netherlands
› Getting a driving license for knowledge
migrants