To exchange a foreign driver's license for a Dutch one, you will need to meet the following criteria:
You must be a resident of the Netherlands and registered with a local municipality (BRP). As such, this means the exchange can only be started once you have received a BSN.
You must have a valid identity or residence document. The exchange cannot be started if you are waiting for a (new) residence permit card.
You must have a valid driverās licence issued in the EU/EFTA or in a country with an exchange agreement, like Canada or South Korea. If you are a knowledge migrant and have received approval for the 30% tax facility, exchange is possible for a driverās license from any country. You will then obtain the same categories you had on your original license. Only an EU/EFTA driverās licence is allowed to be expired.
Your foreign driverās license must have been issued in a country where you have resided for at least 185 days.
Transition Period
After municipal registration in the Netherlands, you can typically use your foreign driverās license for a limited period of time. EU/EEA licenses are valid until their expiry date or up to 15 years from the issue date. Non-EU/EEA licenses are valid only for 185 days after the registration appointment at the town hall.
Suitable Licenses
The Netherlands has exchange agreements with many countries, including all EU/EFTA countries and several others, as listed here. If your license is from one of these countries, it is suitable to be exchanged for a Dutch license. If your driverās license was issued in a country not listed below, then exchange is not possible, but exceptions apply if you are a knowledge migrant and have received approval for the 30% tax facility.
If you have a driverās license from a country without an exchange agreement, but previously held a Dutch driverās license that was valid after June 30, 1985, then exchange is nevertheless allowed. You will obtain the same categories you had on your Dutch driverās licence.
Exchange Process
Itāll be important to remember your foreign driverās license will generally not be returned to you after the exchange, but exceptions (for Japanese nationals, for instance) exist. The process of exchange is as follows:
Documentation: You should first gather the necessary documents, which typically includes your foreign driver's license, a colour passport photo (matching the photo matrix), and any expired Dutch driverās license, if applicable. You will also need to bring the proof of approval for the 30% tax facility from the Tax and Customs Administration, and a Fitness Certificate from CBR, if applicable to your situation. If the foreign driverās license contains characters not used in the Netherlands, such as Japanese or Greek, a certified translation of the license will need to arranged. If you request an exchange with an expired driverās licence from Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, you will also need to bring an original statement from the issuing authority stating it has no objection to the issuance of a Dutch driverās licence.
Appointment: An appointment will have to be scheduled at your town hall. An application form needs to be completed, either before or during the appointment, and a fee will need to be paid. These vary by municipality, but typically range between ā¬30 to ā¬60.
Submission: The municipality will forward your application and your foreign license for exchange to RDW. Only a municipality can submit applications to RDW.
Decision: Within fifteen working days, RDW will send you a letter to inform you of their decision. If approved for the exchange, your Dutch driverās license can usually be collected at the town hall after five working days. Once exchanged, the Dutch license is valid for ten years. In some cases, the letter from RDW will request more information and the process of exchange will take longer.
Fitness Certificate
You must be physically and mentally fit to be allowed to drive a car in the Netherlands. If applicable, you can demonstrate this with a Fitness Certificate (Verklaring van Geschiktheid/VvG). To obtain this certificate from CBR, you must complete a health statement with questions about your physical and mental health. You will need to apply for a Fitness Certificate in the following situations:
When you apply for your first driverās licence and each time you obtain a different driverās licence category (except AM).
When you have a medical restriction or health condition which could affect your ability to drive.
When you exchange a driverās licence from a country outside the EU/EFTA.
When you exchange an EU/EFTA driverās licence with an unusually short validity period.
When you exchange an EU/EFTA driverās licence with a restrictive endorsement (except for lenses, glasses, or automatic transmission).
The health statement can be accessed and filled out via Mijn CBR. An outline of the questions in English can be found here. A limited number of municipalities offer copies to purchase at the town hall. This can be checked in advance. Upon payment of the fee of ā¬44,50, the health statement is submitted to CBR, either online or by post. CBR assesses whether you are medically fit or if an additional examination is required. The request for a Fitness Certificate is processed as quickly as possible, but usually within four weeks. If you are deemed medically fit, CBR will register a Fitness Certificate in the driverās licence register and will sent you a letter to confirm this. You can then proceed with your exchange at the town hall. If you are not deemed medically fit, you will not be able to obtain a Dutch driverās license.
Additional Considerations
Certain foreign driverās licenses will not be eligible for exchange, such as temporary licenses or learnerās permits. In these cases, you will have to apply for a Dutch driverās license by first passing the theoretical and practical examinations.
It is up to you to decide whether or not to continue driving during the exchange process. If you are stopped by the police as a driver, and are not able to show a valid driverās licence, the police may fine you. The police may also check with RDW to see if an exchange request was made and if you submitted a valid driverās licence. This implies the chance of a fine is small, but still exists, and you'd be liable to pay, if fined. If you do decide to drive, you'd do well to remember to bring a passport or ID.
If you no longer want to use a category on your driverās license, then itās possible to waive this category by filling out a waiver form. You will not permanently lose this category. When you would like to renew their licence, it is possible to obtain the category again by completing the Fitness Certificate from CBR.
Note:Ā Before or after the process of exchange, you might also consider obtaining an International Driverās Permit (IDP) from your home country to offer some additional flexibility when travelling and driving.