Exchanging a Non-EU Driving Licence in Spain

Whether you can exchange a non-EU driving licence in Spain depends on one thing: whether your home country has a bilateral exchange agreement, called a convenio, with Spain. With an agreement, you can usually swap your licence for a Spanish one without sitting an exam for the car and motorbike categories. Without one, you have to get a Spanish licence from scratch. This guide walks you through both routes.

The short answer: does your country have an agreement?

It all comes down to the convenio. Spain has signed bilateral exchange agreements with a number of non-EU countries. If your country is on that list, you can exchange (in Spanish, canjear) your foreign licence for a Spanish one, generally without any exam for categories A (motorbike) and B (car). If your country is not on the list, there is no exchange: you start the Spanish licence process from the beginning, theory and practical.

So before anything else, you need to know which group you are in. The rest of this guide shows you how to check, and what each route looks like in practice.

How do you check if your country has a convenio?

The only reliable source is the DGT itself. The list of countries with an exchange agreement changes over time as Spain signs, updates, or suspends agreements, so you should never rely on an old forum post or a second-hand list. Check the official DGT page for "paises con convenio de canjes" (countries with an exchange agreement) and find your country there.

A few points worth knowing as you check:

• An agreement usually covers the standard car and motorbike categories. It does not always cover professional categories.
• Some agreements are partial or have conditions attached, so read the entry for your specific country.
• Rules and lists are updated by the DGT, so confirm the current position on their website before you book anything or pay any fee.

If your country is not listed, treat that as your answer: you will need the full Spanish licence process rather than an exchange.

What happens if there is an agreement?

If your country has a convenio, the good news is that you avoid the exams for standard categories. For categories A and B, the exchange is generally administrative: you hand in your valid foreign licence, complete the paperwork, pass a medical fitness check, and receive a Spanish licence in return. You do not normally sit the theory test or the practical test for these categories.

Heavier categories are different. For lorry and bus categories (broadly the C and D groups), an agreement usually still requires you to pass a practical driving test in Spain, and sometimes a medical or additional checks on top. So a convenio does not always mean "no exam at all". It means no exam for the everyday car and motorbike licences, with extra steps for professional licences.

One condition applies to everyone: your foreign licence must have been obtained legitimately, before you became a legal resident in Spain. More on that below.

What if there is no agreement?

If your country has no convenio with Spain, you cannot exchange your licence at all. Instead, you get a Spanish licence from scratch, exactly like a first-time learner. That means passing the official theory exam and then the practical driving test, and meeting the medical requirements along the way.

Here is the part that helps English speakers: the theory exam is available in English at DGT offices for the car licence, so you are not forced to learn Spanish just to answer the questions. The practical test, however, is conducted in Spanish, so you will need enough Spanish to follow the examiner on the road. To prepare for the theory side in English, start with our pillar guide, the DGT theory test in English, and see the wider process in how to get a Spanish driving licence as a foreigner.

It is more work than an exchange, but thousands of non-EU residents do it every year, and practising official-format questions makes the theory exam very manageable.

The six-month rule: how long can you drive on your foreign licence?

A non-EU foreign licence is valid to drive on in Spain for a maximum of six months from the moment you take up normal residence. This is the six-month rule, and it applies whether or not your country has a convenio. After those six months, your foreign licence no longer lets you drive legally in Spain.

What you do before the six months are up depends on your route. If your country has an agreement, use that window to start your exchange. If it does not, use it to begin the Spanish licence process, because once the six months pass you cannot legally drive until you hold a valid Spanish (or exchanged) licence. We cover the timing traps in detail in the six-month rule for driving in Spain.

What are the steps, and what about the medical?

Both routes share a similar backbone. Whether you are exchanging or starting from scratch, you will need a medical and psychotechnical fitness check at an authorised centre (a centro de reconocimiento de conductores), plus your identity and residence documents. The exact list of papers depends on your situation and your province.

The general shape of an exchange (with a convenio) looks like this:

• Confirm your country and category are covered on the DGT convenio page.
• Get your medical fitness certificate at an authorised centre.
• Gather your documents: valid foreign licence, identity document, NIE and proof of residence.
• Book an appointment with the DGT and submit the application and fee.
• Hand over your foreign licence and receive your Spanish one.

Because document requirements and fees vary and change, always confirm the current checklist on the DGT website before you go. If you hold a UK licence specifically, the rules are different and more favourable, so read exchanging a UK licence in Spain instead.

The one thing that blocks an exchange

There is a rule that catches people out. A licence you obtained in your home country while you were already a legal resident of Spain cannot be exchanged. The exchange system assumes you earned your licence abroad before moving. If you moved to Spain, established residence, and only then went back to get a licence, the DGT will not swap it, even if your country has a convenio. In that case you are back to the full Spanish licence process.

Frequently asked questions

Can I exchange any non-EU licence in Spain?

No. Only licences from countries with a bilateral agreement (convenio) with Spain can be exchanged. If your country has no agreement, you must get a Spanish licence from scratch, with the theory and practical exams.

Do I have to take an exam to exchange my licence?

Generally not for car (B) and motorbike (A) categories if your country has a convenio. Lorry and bus categories usually still require a practical test in Spain. Always confirm the details for your country on the DGT page.

How long can I drive on my non-EU licence in Spain?

Up to six months from when you take up normal residence. After that, your foreign licence is no longer valid to drive on, so you must have exchanged it or obtained a Spanish licence by then.

My country has no agreement. Can I still study in English?

Yes. The DGT theory exam is available in English for the car licence, so you can prepare and sit it without Spanish. The practical test, though, is conducted in Spanish.

Where do I check if my country has an agreement?

On the official DGT "paises con convenio de canjes" page. The list changes over time, so use the DGT source rather than an old forum thread, and confirm before paying any fee.

Sources

• DGT, paises con convenio de canjes: canjes de permisos.
• DGT, conducir con un permiso extranjero.

Last updated: August 2026.