Driving in Spain on a Foreign Licence: Six-Month Rule and Exchange
New residents from outside the EU have half a year to sort out their driving licence. A simple exchange is only possible if your country has an agreement with Spain.
A driving licence from outside the EU and EEA is valid in Spain for a maximum of six months from the date you become a normal resident. Before then, exchange it at the DGT, possible only for the 33 countries with an agreement, or pass the Spanish driving test. EU and EEA licences need no exchange.
How long can you drive on your foreign licence?
According to the DGT’s exchange page, a non-EU licence is “only valid for a maximum period of six months” counted from when you acquire normal residence in Spain. After that, driving on it in Spain is driving without a valid licence.
Visitors on a short stay are in a different position, since the six-month clock is tied to residence. If you are unsure when your residence began, ask the DGT before the deadline you think applies. For your residence card, see how to book the TIE appointment in Barcelona.
Licences from EU and EEA countries remain valid in Spain, and holders who want a Spanish one can exchange them without an exam. The six-month limit and the country list below apply only to licences from outside the EU and EEA.
Which countries can exchange their licence?
As of November 2026, the DGT lists exchange agreements with these countries:
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Europe (outside the EU) | Andorra, Georgia, Moldova, Monaco, North Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom |
| Latin America | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay |
| Africa | Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia |
| Asia and Oceania | Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea |
For car and motorcycle categories (A1, A, B and B+E), the exchange from all these countries is direct, with no test. Truck and bus licences (C and D categories) generally need a practical test and sometimes a theory test, depending on the country. The United States, Canada, Australia, India and China are not on the list, so licences from those countries cannot be swapped.
There are conditions. You cannot exchange a licence you obtained in your home country after you had already become a legal resident in Spain; South Korea is the only exception the DGT notes. A licence obtained by exchange from a country without an agreement does not qualify either.
How do you exchange your licence in Barcelona?
- Get a medical certificate (informe de aptitud psicofísica) from an authorized driver medical center (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores). It is valid for 90 days.
- Gather your documents: a valid residence card, your foreign licence, and proof that you were not yet resident in Spain when the licence was issued, such as the date on your residence card or EU registration certificate.
- Pay the fee. For car licences the DGT charges the lower exchange fee of €28.87; exchanges that need tests for truck or bus categories cost €94.05, as of November 2026.
- Apply online through the DGT’s electronic office, which launched a digital exchange service in 2025, or in person with a cita previa at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico in Barcelona.
- Drive on the provisional permit you receive when you apply. The DGT says the definitive card arrives in about a month and a half.
Some countries have extra paperwork. Argentine licences need a certificate of legality and seniority, legalized and apostilled. Venezuelan licences issued as PDF documents cannot be exchanged; only plastic cards qualify. An online application needs a digital certificate or Cl@ve; see how foreigners get a digital certificate.
What if your country has no agreement?
You have to obtain a Spanish licence from scratch: a theory exam and a practical driving test with the DGT, usually prepared with a driving school (autoescuela). Start well before the six-month deadline, because the theory exam comes first and both tests depend on available exam dates. Ask the driving school which languages the theory exam is offered in, and how long the wait for a practical test is in Barcelona.
Do you need to exchange an EU licence?
No. An EU or EEA licence stays valid in Spain after you become resident, and the DGT exchanges it without an exam if you want a Spanish card. How long the card remains valid for a resident can depend on Spanish rules rather than those of the issuing country, so check the DGT’s page on EU licences when yours approaches expiry.
What about an international driving permit?
An international driving permit is a companion document for people driving abroad on their home licence. It does not extend the six-month limit for residents. Once you are resident and the six months have passed, only a Spanish or exchangeable EU licence lets you drive legally.
Bottom line
If your country is on the list, book the medical check and apply in your first months as a resident, because the exchange is simple while you are inside the six months. If it is not, sign up with a driving school as soon as you arrive and plan for several months without driving, or check whether a car is really needed with Barcelona’s public transport.
FAQ
Can I exchange a UK licence after Brexit?
Yes. The United Kingdom is on the DGT list, with no test for car licences, under an agreement in force since 16 March 2023.
How long is the medical certificate valid?
The psychophysical fitness report from a driver medical center is valid for 90 days, so get it shortly before you apply.
Can I drive a rental car while waiting for the exchange?
The provisional permit issued with the application authorizes you to drive in Spain. Rental companies set their own rules on which documents they accept.
