Foreign Driving License
We distinguish between a European national driving license and a non-European national driving license. Depending on the conditions, you may be able to exchange your driving license. Below, you will find lists of the countries with European or non-European national driving licenses that are exchangeable in Belgium:
- List of countries in the European Union and the European Economic Area that issue driving licenses
- List of countries outside the European Union or the European Economic Area that issue recognized driving licenses
European National Driving License
A European national driving license is a license issued by a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area (European Union plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein). You are allowed to drive on public roads in Belgium if you hold a valid European national driving license. You may only possess one European national driving license.
European National Driving License Without an Administrative Validity Date
Do you have a valid European driving license without an administrative validity date (mainly paper driving licenses) and have you been registered in a Belgian municipality for at least two years? Then you are required to exchange it for a Belgian driving license with a new administrative validity date. You have two years to exchange it; otherwise, you will be in violation of the law.
European National Driving License With an Administrative Validity Date
The validity period of a European national driving license is a maximum of fifteen years. Member states mutually recognize the issued driving licenses, which are mainly made of polycarbonate in a bank card format.
As long as the validity period of your European driving license has not expired, exchanging it for a Belgian national driving license is not necessary.
Exchanging a European National Driving License
You can exchange your European national driving license at your local municipality. To ensure the exchange is completed on time, we recommend initiating the process three months before your driving license expires.
Non-European National Driving License
A non-European national driving license is a license issued in a country outside the European Union or the European Economic Area. If you have a valid and recognized non-European driving license, you are allowed to drive on public roads in Belgium for a maximum period of 185 days from the date of your registration in Belgium.
Exchanging a Non-European National Driving License
You may exchange your non-European national driving license for a Belgian national driving license at your municipality if the following conditions are met:
- You have been registered in Belgium for at least 185 days
- The driving license model is recognized (see the list of recognized non-European driving licenses)
- The driving license is still valid
- The driving license was issued during a period when you were not registered in Belgium
- Your nationality corresponds to that of the issuing country and/or you can prove that you resided in that country for at least 185 days
- The authenticity of the driving license has been confirmed by the authenticity verification unit
If your country is not on the list, you will need to follow the standard procedure with theoretical and practical exam, driver training with provisional license M18 or M36. Regardless of your current driving skills.