You're settling in France with a driving licence issued by another country and you don't know whether you'll need to retake the written test and the driving test. The answer depends entirely on the country that issued your licence. Here's what the regulations say, the list of countries concerned, and the process to follow.
What's exchangeable, at a glance
Two very different situations:
- EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland: your licence stays valid in France with no mandatory exchange, as long as it remains valid. You can exchange it voluntarily for a French licence, but it isn't an immediate requirement.
- Countries outside the EU/EEA with a reciprocity agreement: your licence can be exchanged for a French licence without retaking the written or practical test, subject to conditions.
- Countries with no agreement: no exchange is possible. You must pass the French driving test (written, then practical) to get a French licence.
This distinction rests on Article R. 222-3 of the Highway Code and the order of 12 January 2012 setting the conditions for recognising and exchanging driving licences issued by states outside the EU and EEA (source: official list from the Ministry of the Interior, see sources below).
The list of countries with a reciprocity agreement
Here's an excerpt from the official list maintained by the Ministry of the Interior (updated on 2 March 2026). This is not an exhaustive list: always check the current version before putting your file together, since countries can be added or removed, and the exchangeable categories can change.
| Zone / country (examples) | Exchangeable categories |
|---|---|
| Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Türkiye | All |
| Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore | All |
| United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar | All (Qatar: categories A and B) |
| Canada (some provinces: Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia...) | B |
| United States (only some states, the list varies a lot from one state to another) | Depends on the state (B, A and B, or all) |
| United Kingdom, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco | All |
| China (licences issued from 1 April 2008 only) | A and B |
Other countries appear on the official list too (Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Lebanon, Côte d'Ivoire, and around sixty other states or authorities in total). The full document, with the exact details per state and licence category, is published by the Ministry of the Interior and updated regularly: check it before filing your application, since a country missing today can be added tomorrow, and vice versa.
Authorities from the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Macao, the Channel Islands and several micro-states also appear on the list, generally for all categories.
Conditions you need to meet to exchange your licence
Beyond the country your licence comes from, several conditions apply together, whatever your country of origin:
- The licence must be valid at the time you submit your application: an expired physical licence cannot be exchanged.
- The categories you're asking to exchange must have originally been obtained through a written and practical test, and must not be suspended in the country that issued them.
- You must meet the conditions for stay and habitual residence in France.
- The licence must be a physical document: purely electronic or dematerialised licences aren't accepted for exchange, the original document has to be handed in.
- A medical check-up may be required depending on your situation (age, licence category, medical history): see our article on the driving licence medical board if this applies to your file.
The process: filing on ANTS, documents, delay, cost
The exchange application is made online, through the website of the Agence nationale des titres sécurisés (ANTS, the national secure documents agency). The documents generally requested include the original foreign licence, proof of identity, proof of address, a compliant ID photo, and, depending on the case, an official translation of the licence by a certified translator.
Processing time isn't guaranteed by any regulation: count on anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on how complex the file is and how busy the processing service is, a figure often cited but not a delay commitment.
Cost: since 12 May 2026, exchanging a foreign licence for a French one is subject to a stamp duty of €40 (€20 for residents of French Guiana), under Article 128 of law n° 2026-103 of 19 February 2026 on the 2026 budget. This stamp duty, payable online during the ANTS process, covers the cost of manufacturing and delivering the new licence. Before that date, the exchange was free: check the rate in force when you carry out your own application, since this type of fee can change.
Driving in France while you wait to exchange
As long as your foreign licence stays valid, you can generally drive in France during the first year after you settle here, provided the licence was obtained in your country of habitual residence before your right to stay in France began, and it's written in French or comes with an official translation. Once that one-year window has passed, if your country is on the reciprocity list, you need to have applied for the exchange; if not, you need to pass the French test.
If you hold a "student" or "pupil" temporary residence card, or a special residence permit issued by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, your foreign licence stays recognised in France for the whole duration of your residence permit, whatever country issued it: no exchange is possible during that period.
An alert for your préfecture appointments
Some driving licence procedures (medical board, filing in person depending on the case) need a slot that can be hard to get. You can track availability by procedure and by department on our live map, or turn on an automatic alert to be notified as soon as a slot opens up.
FAQ
My country isn't on the list, what can I do? Without a reciprocity agreement, exchange isn't possible. You need to pass the French driving test: the written test, then the practical test, under standard conditions.
Is a French licence exchangeable abroad? That depends entirely on the host country and its own rules. Check with the French consulate there or consult the dedicated page on driving abroad from France Diplomatie.
Can I drive in France with my foreign licence before exchanging it? Yes, generally for one year after you settle here, as long as the licence stays valid and meets the recognition conditions. Students and holders of a special residence permit get extended recognition for the whole duration of their permit.
My foreign licence is about to expire before I can exchange it, what happens? The licence must be valid at the time you submit the exchange application: an expired licence isn't exchanged. It's best to start the process before it expires.
How much does the exchange cost today? €40 in stamp duty since 12 May 2026 (€20 in French Guiana), paid online when you file on ANTS. Check this amount when you carry out your own process, since fees of this kind can be revised.
Perfecture is an independent service, not affiliated with the préfectures or the French administration.
- Ministry of the Interior, List of States and authorities whose national driving licences may be exchanged for a French driving licence (updated on 2 March 2026), https://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2026-03/liste_reciprocite_hors_ue_et_eee_au_2_mars_2026.pdf
- https://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/les-differents-permis-de-conduire/permis-international-et-permis-etranger/conduire-en-france-avec
- https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1459 (driving in France with a foreign licence for one year)
- https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18887 (€40 stamp duty for exchanging a foreign licence, from 12 May 2026)
- Article 128 of law n° 2026-103 of 19 February 2026 on the 2026 budget (legifrance.gouv.fr)
- Article R. 222-3 of the Highway Code and order of 12 January 2012 (legifrance.gouv.fr)
- https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/services-aux-francais/documents-officiels-a-l-etranger/article-permis-de-conduire