Moving to France - The Driving Licence

• either by another European Union Member State (EU);
• or by another member country of the European Economic Area (EEA).

The national driving licences of European Union Member States are valid for driving in France. Changing to a French licence is not compulsory.

Conditions:

• the licence must still be valid;
• you must have reached the minimum age required for driving the vehicle of the equivalent category in France;
• your licence must not have been suspended, restricted or withdrawn in your country of origin.

However, a change of licence is compulsory in the following cases:

• if you commit an offence in France resulting in your licence being suspended, restricted or cancelled, or in a loss of points;
• if you have obtained the licence in exchange for a licence from a non-EU or non-EEA country, with which no reciprocity agreement exists.

Deadline for Application

In the latter case, you must apply to exchange your licence for a French licence within one year of moving to France.

How do you apply?

Contact the prefecture in your place of residence (in Paris, the police headquarters). The application form must be accompanied by a photocopy of the original driving licence.

Other documents to be produced

• The form must also be accompanied by a photocopy of the certificate of residence.
• If you are a student, provide a photocopy indicating your status as a student for a period of at least six months.

N.B.: when submitting the application, you must also produce the original copies of these documents.

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2005
Reproduction is authorised.