Driving licence
If you are going to live in the Netherlands and you have a foreign driving license, you can still use this driving license for a certain period. How long depends on the country where you obtained your driving license. After the expiry of this period you must have a Dutch driving license.
Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence
In some cases, you can exchange your foreign driving licence for a Dutch driving licence. If this is not possible, you will need to take a driving test in the Netherlands.
Make an appointment
A Dutch driving licence can be applied for at the desk of gemeente Utrecht, after you have made an appointment.
Attention!
When you apply for a Dutch driving licence, you need to hand in your foreign driving licence. Your foreign driving licence will be sent to the National Road Traffic Authority (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer, RDW). After a maximum of 6 weeks, your Dutch driving licence will be received by the municipality. You will receive a notification from the RDW.
Costs 2024
A driving licence costs € 51,10.
International driving licence
An international driving licence is only a translation of a national driving licence. You cannot exchange it for a Dutch driving licence.
Documents you need to bring when applying for a Dutch driving licence:
- Your valid foreign driving licence.
- It is also possible to exchange an expired EU / EEA driving licence. Only when your expired driving licence has been issued by Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein you have to hand in a Certificate of no objection (Verklaring van geen bezwaar) from the authority that has issued your driving licence.
- A driving licence from outside the EU / EEA may not be expired at the moment that you exchange the driving licence.
- Your passport, identity card or your Dutch residence permit.
- In some cases, you need a Certificate of Fitness (Verklaring van geschiktheid).
- A passport photo. A professional photographer knows the requirements a photo must meet. Your passport photo may not be older than 6 months at the time you exchange your driving licence.
- A bankcard to pay for the driving licence.
General conditions
- It is also possible to exchange your foreign driving licence if it has been provided by one of these countries (website in Dutch). In this case, you must request a certificate of fitness (Verklaring van Geschiktheid). The condition applies that you need to have lived in the respective country for at least 185 days during the year in which your driving licence was issued by the respective country. Your driving licence may not be expired at the moment that you exchange the driving licence.
- It is also possible to exchange your foreign driving licence if you qualify for the 30% facility for incoming employees. In this case, you have to hand a proof that you qualify for this, which your employer can provide. You also have to request a certificate of Fitness (Verklaring van Geschiktheid). The condition applies that you need to have lived in the respective country for at least 185 days during the year in which your driving licence was issued by the respective country. Your driving licence may not be expired at the moment that you exchange the driving licence.
More information
Visit the National Road Traffic Authority (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer, RDW) (for more information on a Dutch driving licence and the conditions for applying for a Dutch driving licence.