Section actions
Duration: Exchange — weeks/month; review from zero — months
Cost: Exchange — 40 € (20 € in French Guiana); examination — car school much more expensive
Possible online
Who this guide is for
Section actions
- Foreigners holding a foreign permit — check the exchange, period and rules of residence
- Foreigners holding a country licence without agreement (Belorus, etc.) — ironing examination
- New arrivals planning to drive in France
To be prepared in advance
Section actions
- Foreign permit (and translation if necessary)
- Proof of domicile
- Photo (for exchange)
- For the examination (if necessary) — choice of a school car
Step-by-step procedure
Section actions
- 1Determine whether your permit can be exchanged: EU and bilaterally agreed permits (including Russia) are exchanged; Belarusian and some CIS countries' permits — no (check the updated list on the ANTS).
- 2Exception: a foreign student holding a valid student residence permit may drive during his or her studies with his or her non-European permit, under conditions (F1459). F1460 also provides a special regime for a valid RECE card; check the conditions related to your title.
- 3In other situations, if exchange is possible, file the application on the ANTS within one year of the acquisition of the normal residence in France. F1460 specifies the starting point for first-come arrivals.
- 4If, after your studies, you are issued a residence permit that is no longer a student/CEIN exception, request the exchange at the time of the change of title and no later than the year following its surrender, if your permit is redeemable (F1459).
- 5Please note: since the 12 May 2026, the exchange of a foreign permit is subject to a stamp duty of 40 € (20 € in Guyana).
- 6In other situations, if the exchange is impossible or the period exceeded — you can ride with your foreign permit only during the first year of normal residence in France; beyond that, the permit is no longer valid and you must re-examine it.
- 7To take the exam — register in a car school, follow the road code (theory) and driving training (practice).
- 8Take the exam: theoretical (code) and practical (driving); if successful, you get the French driver's license.
- 9If you are importing a vehicle from abroad — do in parallel the grey card (registration) on the ANTS.
Common mistakes
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- Apply the one-year delay from the date of arrival without checking the point of departure of the normal residence indicated by F1460
- Driving with an unrecognized licence after one year — fine and risk
- Do not register the imported vehicle
- Automatically apply the one-year period to a foreign student: a special scheme exists during studies and depends on the residence permit and the conditions of the permit.
Official sources
Section actions
Important remark
Rules, tariffs and restrictions (ZFE, Crit的Air) are changing regularly. This information is general; check the current conditions on the official sites of the transport operators and the ANTS.
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