Exchanging a foreign driving licence in Spain: the deadline and the appointment
If you live in Spain with a driving licence from another country, DGT rules decide whether you can keep driving with it, exchange it for a Spanish one, or must start over. This guide summarises the DGT's official page on licence exchanges (canjes). The details depend on your country, so always confirm yours there.
How long can I drive with my foreign licence?
For licences issued outside the EU/EEA, the DGT says they are valid for six months, counted from the moment you acquire normal residence in Spain. After that you must exchange the licence to keep driving.
For licences from EU/EEA countries, the DGT says the exchange is entirely voluntary.
Who can exchange it?
Residents of Spain whose licence is valid and was issued by a country that has an exchange agreement (convenio) with Spain. You always hand over the original licence.
The DGT publishes the list of countries with an agreement on its exchange page. For each country it shows the requirements, whether additional tests are needed, and the fee. Professional categories, such as C and D, normally require additional tests.
When you cannot exchange
- licences obtained after the agreement was signed, if you were already a legal resident in Spain;
- licences from a non-EU/EEA country that has no agreement with Spain. In that case the DGT says you must obtain a new licence, which in practice means taking the Spanish tests. A driving school (autoescuela) can explain the process.
How to get the appointment
- Find your country in the DGT list and read the requirements and the fee.
- Fill in the application form (model 03) that the same page links to.
- Open the DGT appointment service, choose your office and the area Canjes (exchanges).
- On the day, bring your ID document or passport, the original licence, and the documents your country's entry asks for.
If you started the exchange on the DGT electronic office, you do not need an appointment to finish it in person, but only once the office tells you to complete it in person.
What if there are no appointments?
Exchange appointments can be as hard to find as any other. Our guide No DGT appointments available goes through every option.
Official sources
Independent guide: not an official source and not legal advice. Rules, fees and calendars change, so confirm on the DGT site before acting.