This procedure is exclusively for the exchange of driving licenses from third countries (those with which Spain has signed a bilateral agreement on reciprocal recognition and exchange of driving licenses).
The project seeks to streamline the processing of this procedure, the most complex for drivers, improving the quality of service and allowing for a greater number of in-person appointments for other procedures.
The citizen must be registered with Cl@ve or complete the process using their digital certificate or through a representative.
The procedure is entirely online, and you’ll only need to go to the corresponding Provincial Traffic Headquarters to submit your original, valid, and current driver’s license and collect your provisional authorization to drive in Spain.
Exchanging a third-country driving licence is the most complex procedure for drivers, as it requires, first, prior verification by the issuing authority in the country of origin or a specific certification (depending on the bilateral agreement on reciprocal recognition and exchange of driving licences). It also requires a medical examination, proof of residency, and, in the case of professional licences, an exam.
Until now, the process of exchanging licenses with third countries required an appointment at the corresponding Provincial Traffic Headquarters, which posed additional difficulties for citizens. In order to simplify this process and improve the quality of service, the General Directorate of Traffic has developed a new procedure that allows for completely online exchanges. This option is available exclusively for countries with which Spain maintains a bilateral agreement on reciprocal recognition and exchange of driving licenses ( see list of countries ).
With this service, citizens do not need to make an appointment. Instead, they will receive all the necessary information online throughout the process. They will only need to go to the corresponding Provincial Traffic Headquarters to hand in their original, valid, and current driver’s license and pick up the provisional driving permit, which they can use until they subsequently receive their definitive driver’s license by mail at their home.
This new processing system, available through the DGT’s Electronic Office , requires that the citizen be registered in Cl@ve or have a digital certificate or authorize another person to act as their representative by designating them through the Registry of Powers of Attorney .
If the driver’s license to be exchanged was issued by one of the following countries: Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Philippines, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldova, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Serbia, Tunisia, or Turkey, prior to exchanging the license, a prior verification of the license is required with the issuing country. Only when the country responds with its approval can the online exchange application be processed. Response times with confirmation of license verification may vary, as each country responds within different timeframes.
Once the issuing country has responded to the verification request, the interested party receives an email with the status change, which can be: “Rejected,” meaning the response has been rejected by the country and the exchange is not permitted, or “Accepted,” meaning the country has approved the exchange. In this case, the applicant will be provided with the locator necessary to continue the process.
Each application is personalized with the data required for validation for each country. The country’s response includes the date of issue, the expiration date, and the renewal date of the permit being exchanged.
If the interested party holds a permit from a country that does not require a tracking number prior to applying (Argentina, Andorra, the United Kingdom, Peru, Ukraine, Uruguay, Japan, Switzerland, Korea, and Monaco), the system will direct you to the exchange request.
Furthermore, whether the permit is from a country that requires a locator number prior to application or not, the applicant will have to indicate which type of permit they wish to exchange, since, in the case of Group II permits (truck or bus), additional tests will be required, which will vary depending on the country.
In addition to completing the application, the applicant will be required to provide a series of documents. It is very important that, prior to applying, they have obtained the psychophysical fitness report issued by a Driver’s Recognition Center required for the type of license they wish to exchange.
It will also be essential to present:
Once the application is completed, it will be processed by the Headquarters indicated by the applicant through the system, and an official will then review it to verify that it meets all the aforementioned requirements. If any documentation is missing or illegible, the official will request that it be corrected or will deny it, depending on the cause, sending an email to the applicant stating the reasons.
If everything is correct, the official will issue a favorable decision, and the email sent to the applicant will indicate the deadline or time they need to go to the Headquarters to submit their valid foreign driver’s license. There, they will receive their provisional driving authorization.
Please refer to the official DGT website for more information.