Driving Licence

Validity of your driving licence

As an international resident in the Netherlands, you can use your own driving licence for a certain period of time, after which you will be required to obtain a Dutch permit (rijbewijs).  

• For EU/EEA countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, licences are valid for ten years from the date of issue

• For all other countries (including the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba) licences are valid for six months from the date you register at your local Municipality (6 months stay).

You can exchange (omwissel) your licence for a Dutch one if: 

• you live in the Netherlands

• you are from the EU, the EEA, Switzerland or have a residence permit

• you are from a country with a special agreement (See Exceptions) 

Driving licences from other countries cannot be exchanged for a Dutch one. This means you will need to  take a standard theory and practical test at the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (CBR) (in Dutch only).

Procedure at the Municipality

To obtain a Dutch driving licence, you must submit your application at your local district council office (stadsdeelkantoor). To be eligible to exchange your licence, the following conditions apply: 

• You must be registered with your local municipality

• You must have a residence permit unless you are a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland

• Your driving licence must be valid at the moment of application

• Your driving licence, if issued in a country outside the -EU or EEA , was issued after being a resident of that country for at least 185 days.

You will also need to submit the following:

• Colour passport photograph, which meets the criteria specified in the Passport Regulation

• Your foreign driving licence

• Your residence permit unless you are a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerland

• Certificate of fitness, if necessary. (See Exceptions) 

An application for a Dutch driving licence cost € 40 (2010 rates)  and must be paid in advance. The Government Road Transport Agency (Rijksdient voor het Wegverkeer, RDW) will issue a receipt that your application is being processed. The process takes two weeks. When your Dutch driving licence is ready to be collected, you will receive a letter from the RDW that your licence can be collected. This can only be done in person.

Note: when you apply for a Dutch driving licence, you hand in your current one. While your application is being processed, you are not permitted to drive.

Applications cannot be processed more quickly than two weeks.

International driving licence

An international driving licence is only a legalised translation of a national driving licence. This cannot be exchanged for a Dutch licence.

Exceptions

When applying for a Dutch driving licence, two exceptions may apply:

1. Certificate of Fitness - You may be asked to provide a certificate of fitness (verklaring van geschiktheid). This is a statement that proves you are physically and psychologically fit to drive a vehicle. The certificate can be obtained from the Expatcenter or at your local municipality office. You can also get help with filling in your form through the Expatcenter or from your doctor.   

This statement is needed in the following cases:

• You have an EU/EEA or Switzerland driving licence with categories, C, CE, C1, D etc.

• You benefit from the 30% tax-ruling

• Your driving licence is from the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba

• Your driving licence is from one of the countries with special agreement

Send your form to The Government Road Transport Agency (RDW). They will notify you when your statement has been registered, after which you can apply for the driving licence exchange (omwissel). For more information, contact the Expatcenter or your local municipality office.

2. Special Agreements - If you are a national from one of the countries listed below you can change your driving licence, but you may only exchange it in the categories listed below:

• Andorra: B (passenger car)

• Canada, only! Québec: B (passenger car)

• Taiwan: B (passenger car)

• Israel: B (passenger car)

• Japan: AB (passenger car and motorcycle of more than 400 cc)

• Singapore: Class 2 (motorcycle of more than 400 cc) and Class 3 (passenger car

• South Korea: B (passenger car)

More information

RDW: The Government Road Transport Agency (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer). RDW is available to answer questions over the phone relating to the exchange of driving licenses in English, Dutch and German: 0900-0739.

CBR: Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (Centraal Bureau van Rijvaardigheid)

ANWB: The Dutch Wheelers Bond

Rijbewijs: General information about driving. (Info in Dutch and English)

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