Driving License
Is your foreign driving license valid in the Netherlands?
As in any country, you need a valid driving license (rijbewijs) to legally drive a vehicle in the Netherlands.
You can temporarily drive using a foreign licence; either for 185 days or for 15 years if your licence is from within the EU/EFTA. To continue driving after this time, you should either exchange your licence (if possible) or sit the Dutch driving exam.
Exchanging Your Licence
It is possible to exchange your licence for a Dutch licence without sitting a Dutch driving test if your licence is from an approved treaty country, an EU/EFTA country, or you qualify for the 30% ruling.
This must be done in the first 185 days of being in the country. You can book an appointment with your local municipality to exchange your licence. While you wait for your new licence to arrive, you will not be allowed to drive.
If you do not exchange before the 185 day deadline, you will have to pass the Dutch driving exam to legally drive in the Netherlands.
Procedure for exchanging a foreign license for a Dutch licence
The process to exchange a foreign licence for a Dutch licence is simple, and will be done by the municipality where you are registered.
Please note that international driving licenses are just legalised translations of a national license. They are not accepted for conversion purpose into a Dutch driving license.
Step 1
Depending on your situation, the following documents are required:
|
|
EEA-countries |
Treaty countries |
30%-tax facility |
|
The original valid driving license |
X |
X |
X |
|
Passport |
X |
X |
X |
|
Recent passport photograph |
X |
X |
X |
|
Certificate of Fitness (Only in some cases for EEA-applicants) |
(X) |
X |
X |
|
Residence Permit |
|
X |
X |
|
Proof of 30%-tax-facility |
|
|
X |
|
Translation if driving license is composed in script unusual to the Netherlands* |
X |
X |
X |
*If a driving license was composed in script unusual to the Netherlands (for example Japanese or Greek), a translation of the concerning driving license is needed, issued by a certified translator, the embassy or consulate.
Certificate of Fitness
All applicants, except from EEA-countries, have to prove they are physically and mentally healthy to drive. In other words, you need a so-called Certificate of Fitness (Verklaring van Geschiktheid, VvG). This can be obtained at the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen, CBR). This Certificate of Fitness can be obtained by completing an online form, available here.
However, even for the EEA-driving licenses such a proof might be required; that is, if the validity period of your driving licence is shorter than the common validity period in the issuing country, and if your driving licence has annotations that are not recognized within the EU (except for lenses, glasses or an automatic vehicle).
In addition to the Certificate of Fitness, a medical examination is required in the case, for instance, of advanced age (+75) or medical restrictions. It is advisable then to, first, consult either CBR or your municipality in order to arrange concerning documents. Note that under these circumstances, the CBR might need more than a month issuing the Certificate of Fitness, which requires to start timely.
Step 3
If and when RDW approves the application, you will be notified within 10 days when you can pick up your new driving license. The entire procedure may take 1 to 2 weeks, in which you are not allowed to drive.
A Dutch driving license is valid 10 years and can be used as a valid form of ID within the Netherlands.
Dutch Driving Exam
If you cannot exchange your foreign license, you have to follow the standard procedure of attaining a driving licence. This includes a theory test and a practical driving test, both of which can be done in English.
Lessons with an official driving school should be taken. Instructors help you to decide when to go for a theory exam and subsequently for a practical driving exam, both with the CBR. The official application for the practical test is always done by the school.
After passing the practical exam, you apply for the official driving licence (the document) at your municipality. Only after having collected your license you are allowed to drive.
Expired Driving Licence
In the case your foreign driving licence has (recently) expired, please turn to your municipality for further information about possibilities of exchange.
