Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in the Netherlands: 185 Days, Documents and the €53.65 Municipal Fee (2026)

If you moved to the Netherlands with a driving licence from another country, the question is not whether you can drive on day one. You can. The question is how long that lasts and what to do before it ends.

The Netherlands treats a foreign licence differently depending on where it was issued. Licences from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland follow one set of rules. Licences from every other country follow another, with a fixed period of use after you move. Some of those countries have an agreement that lets you swap your licence for a Dutch one without an exam. For the rest, the route goes through the CBR exams.

This guide uses the RDW (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer, the vehicle and licence authority), Rijksoverheid (the national government portal) and the municipalities of The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It covers the deadline, the conditions, the documents, the costs and the steps, and it explains the 30% ruling exception and what happens when exchange is not possible. It is general information: your own case can change the answer, so confirm with your municipality or the RDW.

Main sources for this guide

• RDW, "Buitenlands rijbewijs omwisselen" for municipalities (country table, documents, 185-day residence proof, 30% ruling)
• RDW, "Buitenlands rijbewijs omwisselen" and "Rijden met een buitenlands rijbewijs" for residents (periods, translation, exam route)
• Gemeente Den Haag, Gemeente Amsterdam (Single Digital Gateway) and Rotterdam's international guide (fees and timing)

All pages were checked on 30 October 2026.

1. How long you can drive on a foreign licence

How long your licence stays valid after you move depends on where it was issued. This section sets out the periods before the exchange rules.

EU/EEA licences

The RDW gives longer periods for EU/EEA licences. For categories AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE the licence can be used for 15 years from the issue date, as long as it is still valid. For the truck and bus categories (C1, C, D1, D and the trailer combinations) it is 5 years from the issue date, and if that period has already passed when you move, you may drive for 2 years from your move date. A licence older than 15 years but not expired can be used for 2 years from your move date.

Licences from outside the EU/EEA

For a licence issued anywhere else, the RDW says you may use it until 185 days after you start living in the Netherlands. After that only a Dutch licence counts. Rijksoverheid gives the same rule.

The RDW wording is "after you start living in the Netherlands". It does not say that the count begins on the date you register with your municipality. Many people use the registration date as a practical anchor, but if your move date and registration date are far apart, ask your municipality or the RDW how they count.

The international driving permit

An international driving permit (IDP) is not a Dutch exchange document. The RDW says that if the categories on your non-EU/EEA licence are not shown as A, B, C, D or E, you should carry an international permit with your licence. You arrange it in the country that issued your licence, before you move. Rijksoverheid adds that an international permit cannot be exchanged for a Dutch licence.

The lower bar shows that preparation through collection has to fit inside the 185 days. Its length is a rule of thumb, not an official duration.

2. Which licences can be exchanged

Whether you can exchange depends on the country that issued your licence. The RDW states this directly, and its page for municipalities has a table of the countries concerned.

EU/EEA and Switzerland

A licence from an EU or EEA country can be exchanged for a Dutch licence without a new driving exam, according to Rijksoverheid. A CBR health declaration is sometimes needed. Switzerland is handled under similar rules, but the RDW lists separate treatment for expired Swiss, Icelandic and Liechtenstein licences.

Countries with an exchange agreement

For other countries, the RDW table lists the places whose licences can be exchanged, and the categories that count. In the table checked on 30 October 2026 these are: Andorra, Canada (Alberta and Quebec), Gibraltar, the United Kingdom, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Monaco, Northern Ireland, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and the former Netherlands Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten).

Each entry names the categories you can exchange. For example, Israel and Taiwan are listed for category B, Singapore for A and B, and South Korea for B. The RDW says you can only exchange the categories listed for your country. Read your country's line in the table, not only the country name.

Other countries

If your country is not on the list, you cannot exchange by default. There are two ways around that: you held a Dutch licence before and handed it in (valid after 30 June 1985, according to The Hague), or you hold a valid 30% ruling decision. Otherwise the CBR exams are the way.

3. The conditions in detail

Even when your country is on the list, several conditions apply. They come from the RDW, Rijksoverheid and The Hague.

You live here and are registered

You must live in the Netherlands and be registered with your municipality. The Hague also asks non-EU residents for a valid residence permit. The application is made at the municipality where you are registered.

The licence must be valid

The RDW says it cannot exchange an expired licence and that you should start the exchange before the licence expires. The exceptions it names are for Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, not for the agreement countries.

185 days of residence in the issuing country

For agreement countries, you must show that you lived in the country of issue for at least 185 days in the year your licence was issued. This is a separate rule from the 185-day driving period. One is about your past residence abroad; the other is about how long you may drive here.

The RDW accepts proof such as a passport copy (including blank pages), a registration or deregistration record from the issuing country, or an employer statement with salary and tax documents. If you are unsure which proof your municipality will accept, ask before you book the appointment.

The CBR health declaration

For licences from outside the EU/EEA, you also need a health declaration from the CBR (the Verklaring van Geschiktheid, or gezondheidsverklaring). It involves a questionnaire and takes time, so order it early.

4. The 30% ruling exception

The 30% ruling (expatregeling) is a tax arrangement for skilled employees recruited from abroad. If you hold the Belastingdienst decision for it, your licence exchange works differently.

Any country's licence

The RDW's page for municipalities says holders of any foreign licence can exchange it if they are covered by the expat ruling. Partners and children living at the same address are included. You need a valid decision (beschikking expatregeling) from the Belastingdienst, which your employer arranges. The Hague also accepts the decision as a route when your country is not on the list, and asks for the Belastingdienst letter.

What does not change

The decision does not replace the rest of the file. According to the RDW, the other documents are the same, including proof of 185 days of residence in the issuing country in the year of issue. You hand in the decision in addition to them.

Employer costs

The Belastingdienst also lets an employer reimburse certain "extraterritorial costs" of an employee from abroad tax-free, and describes costs of obtaining official papers such as residence permits and driving licences among them. Whether your employer pays for the exchange is a matter for your company's policy, and tax treatment depends on your situation. Ask your payroll team or the Belastingdienst.

5. The steps in order

The exchange has four stages: preparing the file, applying at your municipality, the RDW check and collection.

1. Prepare

Check your licence's expiry date and when you started living here, and work out your day-185 date. Then collect the documents in the next section. The translation and the CBR health declaration take the longest, so start those first.

2. Apply

You apply in person at the municipality counter where you are registered. Only the municipality can submit the application to the RDW. Most municipalities use appointments. The Hague has an online booking page, and you choose product 65. At the counter the officer checks your documents, takes the fee, keeps your foreign licence and gives you a copy and a receipt.

3. The RDW check

The RDW assesses the file. The RDW's two pages word the timing a little differently. "Rijden met een buitenlands rijbewijs" says processing takes at least 15 working days (minimaal 15 werkdagen). The resident page "Buitenlands rijbewijs omwisselen" says that if all is in order you receive a letter within 15 working days and can collect the licence at the municipality from 5 working days after that. So 15 working days plus 5 is a reasonable planning figure from application to collection. If something is missing, the RDW writes to you and it takes longer. Amsterdam tells applicants to expect 2 to 4 weeks. Because wording differs by municipality, read your own municipality's page.

4. Collect

You collect the new licence in person at the municipality where you applied. The Hague says you have 3 months from the RDW's notification, after which the document becomes invalid and is destroyed, and you would have to apply and pay again. A new Dutch licence is valid for up to 10 years.

6. Documents you need

Documents are broadly the same across municipalities. The list below follows the RDW and The Hague. Your municipality may add details, so read its page before you book.

Photo

The photo must meet the national requirements. Amsterdam recommends a professional photographer. A photo that does not meet the rules is a common reason to redo the application.

Translation

If your licence uses only characters that are not used in the Netherlands (the RDW and municipalities give Japanese and Greek as examples), you need a translation by a sworn translator (beëdigd vertaler), an embassy or a consulate. If a translation was made abroad, Amsterdam says it must be legalised. Ask your municipality which translation it accepts before you pay for one. A licence in Latin characters does not need a translation.

Health declaration

For licences from outside the EU/EEA you need the CBR health declaration. The RDW warns that it takes time to obtain. If you leave it until the week before your appointment, you may miss your slot.

7. Cost and timing

The cost has several parts: the municipal fee, a translation if needed, a photo and the CBR health declaration. Only the municipal fee is set in the official pages I checked.

The municipal fee

In 2026 the fee is €53.65 in The Hague and in Rotterdam. Amsterdam lists €64.65 (page updated 7 January 2026). You pay at the time of application. The Hague does not accept credit cards, and at two of its offices only debit cards are accepted.

Other costs

Translation and photo prices vary by provider and there is no official price. I do not give figures for them. For the CBR health declaration, use the CBR's own tariff page. As a secondary reference only, Dutch news and driving-school sites report 2026 CBR rates of €50.50 for the theory exam, €143.50 for the practical exam and €46.90 for the health declaration (for example Autoblog and AutoRAI). I could not confirm these on the CBR site, so verify before you budget. If you can exchange, you do not pay the exam fees.

Timing

The RDW says at least 15 working days for processing, and its resident page says a letter arrives within 15 working days with collection possible 5 working days later, so plan for 15 plus 5. Amsterdam gives 2 to 4 weeks. Appointment availability, the health declaration and missing documents all add time. If you start close to day 185, you may not finish in time.

8. Your foreign licence is not returned

When you apply, your foreign licence stays with the municipality. The RDW says you will not get it back, and The Hague says the RDW sends it to the issuing country.

Driving while you wait

Amsterdam says you may not drive until you receive your new licence. The Hague says it is your decision whether to keep driving, and that a fine may follow. Since you have handed in the licence, you hold only a copy and a receipt. The RDW adds that your insurance stays valid if your licence is valid, and it advises against driving abroad while the application is pending. The safest plan is to treat the period between the counter and collection as a time when you do not drive.

If you may need the old licence

If you expect to move again, think about what the old licence is worth to you before you hand it in. Many countries have their own rules for converting a Dutch licence back, and some ask for proof of a stay in the Netherlands and an official translation. Check with the licensing authority of the country you may move to.

9. When exchange is not possible: the CBR exams

If you cannot exchange, you must take the CBR (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen) theory exam and practical exam. The RDW says so directly.

Typical reasons

Common reasons are an expired licence, a country not on the list (with no 30% ruling decision), not meeting the 185-day residence proof, or a category that is not on your country's line in the table. An international driving permit cannot be exchanged either.

The exam route

The route is a theory exam, then a practical exam. In practice most people prepare with a driving school (rijschool). The cost depends on the school and the number of lessons you need. For exam eligibility, language options and how to book the practical exam, use the CBR's official pages. This guide does not quote pass rates or lesson counts, because I did not verify them against an official source.

Plan the exam route early

Because the 185-day period is fixed, start booking the exam route while your foreign licence still lets you drive. If you are unsure whether you can exchange, ask your municipality or the RDW before you book an appointment. The Hague's contact number is 14070.

10. Common pitfalls

The points below follow from the official guidance.

Two different 185-day rules

The same number appears twice with two meanings. One is how long you may drive here (185 days after you start living in the Netherlands). The other is the proof that you lived in the issuing country for 185 days in the year the licence was issued. Finish the exchange before the first runs out, and collect proof for the second.

11. How the rules compare with elsewhere

Exchange systems share a purpose but differ in conditions, so the comparison is about conditions, not about which is better.

If you plan to move on, check the rules of the next country early. They can differ on translation, required stay and whether a test is waived.

12. Three example cases

The three people below are fictional. Any resemblance to real people is coincidental.

Employee A books translation and the CBR health declaration a few weeks after registering, applies on the appointment day, and collects the licence after the RDW decision.

Couple B uses the decision for both licences. Because the other documents are still required, they gather proof of 185 days of residence in the issuing country before the appointment.

Student C let the licence expire before moving. Exchange is not possible, so the route is the CBR exams, and the foreign licence can still be used for up to 185 days if it is valid. If it has already expired, it cannot be used at all.

13. What not to do

14. Checklist

• I know my licence's expiry date
• I wrote down the day I started living here and my day-185 date
• I read my municipality's exchange page
• I checked whether my country is on the RDW list, and for which categories
• I gathered proof of 185 days of residence in the issuing country
• I arranged a translation if my licence is not in Latin characters
• I ordered the CBR health declaration
• I have a photo that meets the rules
• I booked the appointment and know how to pay
• I will not drive between handing in the licence and collecting the new one

15. Summary

• A non-EU/EEA licence works for 185 days after you start living in the Netherlands.
• Countries on the RDW list can exchange without an exam, for the categories listed. 30% ruling holders can exchange a licence from any country.
• You apply at your municipality. The RDW decides, taking at least 15 working days, and you can collect about 5 working days after its letter.
• The 2026 municipal fee is €53.65 in The Hague and Rotterdam and €64.65 in Amsterdam.
• Your old licence is not returned. Do not drive between handing it in and collecting the new one.
• If exchange is not possible, take the CBR theory and practical exams.
• Your case may differ, so confirm with your municipality or the RDW.

Sources

RDW and Rijksoverheid

• Buitenlands rijbewijs omwisselen, RDW (for municipalities): country table, documents, 185-day residence proof, 30% ruling
• Buitenlands rijbewijs omwisselen, RDW (for residents): translation, what happens to the licence, processing time, exams
• Rijden met een buitenlands rijbewijs, RDW: periods of use, international permit
• Kan ik mijn buitenlandse rijbewijs omwisselen, Rijksoverheid: basic rules, international permits cannot be exchanged
• Rijbewijs, Rijksoverheid: licence topics
• CBR: exams and health declaration

Municipalities

• Rijbewijs buiten EU/EER of Zwitserland omwisselen, Gemeente Den Haag: conditions, documents, €53.65 fee, collection
• Exchange a driving licence from outside EU/EEA or Switzerland, Gemeente Den Haag: English version
• The Hague appointments: booking page
• Amsterdam, Single Digital Gateway: €64.65, 2 to 4 weeks, no driving until the new licence arrives
• Exchange your driving license, Rotterdam international guide: €53.65 in 2026, translation

Tax

• Can I apply for the expat ruling, Belastingdienst: starting point for the 30% ruling
• Extraterritoriale kosten en de expatregeling, Belastingdienst: extraterritorial costs

Secondary sources (fees)

• CBR maakt rijbewijs halen duurder, Autoblog: reported CBR tariffs
• Dit kost je rijbewijs halen in 2026, AutoRAI: reported CBR tariffs

All pages were checked on 30 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the RDW and your municipality before you apply.