---
title: Canje de Permiso de Conducir Extranjero (DGT) — Foreign Driving Licence Exchange in Spain
country: spain
service: "canje-permiso-conducir"
category: transportation
difficulty: moderate
estimated_time: DGT publishes ~1.5 months (un mes y medio) average from submission to receipt of the Spanish licence; a permiso provisional is issued at submission and covers driving during the wait
cost_range: "Tasa II.3 (= tasa 2.3) of 28,87 € for Group 1 (motorcycles/cars); Tasa II.1 (= tasa 2.4) of 94,05 € for Group 2 (trucks/buses) where exams apply; informe de aptitud psicofísica paid separately to a Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores autorizado (Tier 2 only)"
last_verified: 2026-05-10
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/spain/canje-permiso-conducir/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - driving
  - licence
  - dgt
  - canje
  - "permiso-de-conducir"
  - "jefatura-provincial"
  - convenio
  - "eu-eea"
sources:
  - https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/canjes-de-permisos-extranjeros/
  - https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/canjes-de-permisos-extranjeros/canje-de-permisos-de-paises-de-la-union-europea-y-el-espacio-economico-europeo/
  - https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/canjes-de-permisos-extranjeros/canje-de-permisos-de-otros-paises
  - https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/paises-con-convenio-de-canjes/
  - https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/obtener-un-nuevo-permiso-de-conducir/estado-de-tramitacion-de-tu-permiso/
  - https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/
---

# Canje de Permiso de Conducir Extranjero (DGT) — Foreign Driving Licence Exchange in Spain

**Country:** 🇪🇸 Spain  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-10  
**Estimated time:** DGT publishes ~1.5 months (un mes y medio) average from submission to receipt of the Spanish licence; a permiso provisional is issued at submission and covers driving during the wait  
**Cost:** Tasa II.3 (= tasa 2.3) of 28,87 € for Group 1 (motorcycles/cars); Tasa II.1 (= tasa 2.4) of 94,05 € for Group 2 (trucks/buses) where exams apply; informe de aptitud psicofísica paid separately to a Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores autorizado (Tier 2 only)

## Required documents

- **Foreign driving licence (original, plastic-card format)** *(Permiso de conducir extranjero en vigor)*
  - Where to get: Already held; original card from the issuing country
  - Required: Must be valid (not expired, not seized, not suspended). DGT retains the original at submission and does not return it: "te será retirado el permiso original".
  - _Note:_ Venezuelan licences in PDF format are explicitly excluded — only the plastic-card variant is canjeable. If your foreign licence is itself a canje from a country with no convenio with Spain, the exchange is not permitted.
- **Spanish residency proof** *(Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) o Certificado de inscripción en el registro de extranjeros)*
  - Where to get: TIE issued by Comisaría de Policía Nacional after residence permit grant; certificado de inscripción (the green certificate) issued by Oficina de Extranjería at EU-citizen registration
  - Required: Original, in force. Non-EU residents present TIE en vigor; EU/EEA residents present the certificado de inscripción en el registro de extranjeros.
  - _Note:_ Resident status in Spain is the eligibility key, not nationality. See the separate Spain NIE and TIE guides for how these documents are obtained.
- **Proof that the foreign licence was obtained before Spanish residency began (Tier 2 only)** *(Acreditación de fecha de obtención del permiso anterior a la residencia)*
  - Where to get: The licence's printed issue date plus the residence-permit start date establish the timeline. For naturalised Spaniards, the Certificado de Inscripción y Baja Consular from the Spanish consulate in the country of prior residence.
  - Required: DGT states: "Tu permiso de conducir será canjeable si lo obtuviste antes de ser residente legal en España." The República de Corea is the documented exception — Korean licences obtained after Spanish residency began remain canjeable.
  - _Note:_ If you obtained the foreign licence after acquiring legal residency in Spain (and you are not a Korean licence holder), the Tier 2 exchange path is closed and the holder falls back to the autoescuela + exams route.
- **Argentine Certificado de Legalidad y Antigüedad with Apostilla de La Haya (Argentina-issued licences only)** *(Certificado de Legalidad y Antigüedad apostillado)*
  - Where to get: Argentine licensing authority that issued the licence; legalised with Apostilla de La Haya in Argentina
  - Required: DGT names this document explicitly on the canje extracomunitario subpage for Argentina-issued licences. Other origin countries may have analogous authenticity-and-issue-date certifications — confirm with your local Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico before booking the cita previa.
- **Informe de aptitud psicofísica (Tier 2 only)** *(Medical and psychological aptitude report)*
  - Where to get: A Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores autorizado (DGT-authorised driver-medical centre)
  - Required: Mandatory for Tier 2 (países con convenio). Validity: 90 days. The centre submits the informe electronically to DGT. Cost is set by each centre individually and is not DGT-published — paid directly to the centre at the appointment.
  - _Note:_ EU/EEA voluntary canje does not require the informe — the EU/EEA two-step procedure on the DGT subpage covers only certificado de inscripción + canje submission. Group 2 categories (C, D) at the renovación-after-2-years renewal trigger require it separately.
- **Photograph (Spanish carnet format) and DGT fee receipt** *(Fotografía tipo carnet + justificante de tasa)*
  - Where to get: Photograph from any photo-shop offering Spanish carnet format; tasa paid via DGT Sede Electrónica or at a collaborating bank
  - Required: Tasa II.3 (= tasa 2.3) of 28,87 € for Group 1 categories. Tasa II.1 (= tasa 2.4) of 94,05 € for Group 2 categories where exams apply. EU/EEA canje is always Tasa II.3.
  - _Note:_ DGT canje subpages do not enumerate specific photo dimensions — bring a passport-style photo per the Spanish carnet standard. Confirm at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico if uncertain.

## Costs

- **Canje fee — Tasa II.3 (= tasa 2.3), Group 1 (motorcycles and cars):** 28.87 EUR — Per DGT countries-with-agreement page: "Coste del trámite: 28,87€" for permits including only types A and B (motorcycles, cars, light vehicles). EU/EEA canje is always Tasa II.3 regardless of category, per DGT: "Los canjes de permisos europeos no requieren exámenes ni para el grupo I ni para el grupo II, por lo que la tasa será siempre la de II.3 (28,87 €)."
- **Canje fee — Tasa II.1 (= tasa 2.4), Group 2 with exam (trucks and buses):** 94.05 EUR — DGT states: "Coste del trámite: 94,05€" for permits that include types C and D (camiones y autobuses) where additional exams (circulación, teórico específico, or destreza) apply per origin country. The countries-with-agreement table lists per-country exam shape; some convenio countries (Andorra, Corea del Sur, Japón, Mónaco, Nueva Zelanda, Reino Unido, Suiza) are sin pruebas for Group 2 as well.
- **Informe de aptitud psicofísica (Tier 2 only):** 0 EUR — Cost is set by each centre individually and is not DGT-published. EU/EEA voluntary canje does not require this informe.

## Steps

### 1. Confirm your DGT tier and resident status

- Identify which tier applies: Tier 1 EU/EEA (including Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein); Tier 2 país con convenio (consult the DGT countries-with-agreement table for the canonical 34-jurisdiction list); Tier 3 país sin convenio
- Confirm legal residency in Spain — TIE en vigor for non-EU residents, certificado de inscripción en el registro de extranjeros for EU/EEA residents
- Tier 2 only — confirm the foreign licence was obtained before you became legally resident in Spain (Korea exception: licences from the República de Corea may be obtained after Spanish residency)
- Note the under-60 age threshold and other eligibility caveats published on the DGT subpage relevant to your tier

> **Tip:** DGT publishes the Tier 2 sequencing as: "1. Acredita tu residencia y cuando obtuviste el permiso. 2. Obtén un informe de aptitud psicofísica. 3. Solicita el canje de tu permiso." The three ordered steps are the official procedural shape — follow them in order.

> **If this fails:** Without resident status, the canje is not eligible. Tier 3 holders skip this guide and enrol at a Spanish autoescuela for the new-licence path.

_Links:_
- [DGT — Canjes de permisos extranjeros (hub page)](https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/canjes-de-permisos-extranjeros/)
- [DGT — Países con convenio de canjes (countries-with-agreement table)](https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/paises-con-convenio-de-canjes/)

### 2. Obtain the informe de aptitud psicofísica (Tier 2 only) *(Informe de aptitud psicofísica)*

_Applies when: Tier 2 — países con convenio holders only; EU/EEA voluntary canje does not require this step_

- Locate a Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores autorizado near your residence
- Attend the appointment; the centre performs the medical and psychological assessment and submits the informe electronically to DGT
- Pay the centre's fee at the appointment — set per centre, not DGT-published
- Note the 90-day validity — coordinate the centre visit with the Jefatura Provincial cita-previa date

> **Tip:** Most provinces have multiple Centros de Reconocimiento near each Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico — your local Jefatura's information page typically lists nearby authorised centres.

### 3. Book the cita previa with your local Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico *(Cita previa DGT)*

- Open the DGT Sede Electrónica and locate the cita previa flow for your local Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico
- Select the canje de permiso de conducir extranjero trámite
- Pick a date and time slot; appointment availability varies by province
- Save the cita-previa confirmation — bring it on the day of the appointment

> **Tip:** Cita-previa availability at the Jefatura Provincial varies meaningfully by city. If your local Jefatura has no near-term slots, check sister Jefaturas in your autonomous community where eligible — confirm with the local office which Jefaturas accept canje submissions for your residence.

### 4. Pay the DGT tasa

- Tier 1 EU/EEA and Tier 2 Group 1 (motorcycles and cars): pay Tasa II.3 (= tasa 2.3) of 28,87 €
- Tier 2 Group 2 (trucks and buses) where exams apply: pay Tasa II.1 (= tasa 2.4) of 94,05 €
- Pay via the DGT Sede Electrónica online payment flow, or at a collaborating bank using the DGT payment slip
- Keep the justificante de pago — bring it to the cita-previa appointment

> **Tip:** DGT renders the fee codes as both Tasa II.3 / II.1 (Roman + decimal, on the canje subpages) and TIPO DE TASA: 2.3 / 2.4 (Arabic decimal, on internal DGT operator references). Both notations refer to the same statutory fees — 28,87 € and 94,05 €.

### 5. Submit the canje request in person at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico

- Attend your cita-previa appointment with the original foreign licence, residency proof, photograph, justificante de tasa, and (Tier 2) confirmation that the informe de aptitud psicofísica has been submitted
- DGT retains the original foreign licence: "te será retirado el permiso original"
- DGT states: "En el momento de realizar el trámite te entregaremos un permiso provisional" — the permiso provisional is your driving authority until the definitive Spanish licence arrives
- Tier 2 Group 2 with required exams: schedule the circulación or examen específico per your origin country's row in the countries-with-agreement table

> **Tip:** The canje covers all categories you already held abroad — DGT: "si en tu país tenías permiso de moto, coche y autobús, al hacer el canje tendrás estas mismas autorizaciones en tu permiso español. No es necesario que hagas un canje por cada tipo de permiso que tengas."

> **If this fails:** If the original foreign licence is no longer valid (expired, seized, suspended, or revoked) at the date of submission, the canje is rejected. Renew the foreign licence in the issuing country first, or fall back to the autoescuela path for a Spanish licence by examination.

### 6. Receive the definitive Spanish licence

- DGT states: "Lo normal es que lo recibas antes de un mes y medio desde que se solicitara" — the published average is approximately 1.5 months from submission
- Track status via the DGT Sede Electrónica → Consulta del estado de tramitación tool
- If the wait exceeds the permiso provisional validity, visit the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico in person to request an extension
- Receive the definitive Spanish permiso de conducir at your registered address or collect it at the Jefatura Provincial, depending on local procedure

> **Tip:** Drive with the permiso provisional during the wait — it is the official DGT driving authority until the definitive card arrives. Confirm with your motor insurer that your policy treats the permiso provisional as a valid driving credential.

## FAQ

### Do I have to canjear my EU or EEA driving licence?

No. DGT states: "Si eres residente en nuestro país, tu permiso de la UE o el EEE es válido para conducir en España mientras esté en vigor. Por lo que la realización del canje de tu permiso de la UE es completamente voluntaria." You may drive in Spain on the original EU/EEA licence until its printed expiry. The exception is indefinite-validity licences and licences whose validity exceeds 15 years for Group 1 (or 5 years for Group 2) — these must be renewed/canjeared once two years of normal residence in Spain have passed.

### How long can I drive on a non-EU foreign licence in Spain?

DGT states: "Tu permiso extranjero es solo valido durante el plazo de seis meses, como máximo, contados desde que hayas adquirido la residencia normal en España." After 6 months, the foreign licence is no longer a valid driving authority in Spain. The canje may still be requested at any time, but driving on the foreign licence is not permitted past the 6-month mark — only the permiso provisional issued at submission, or the definitive Spanish licence, authorises continued driving.

### What if my country is not on the convenio list?

DGT states for non-convention country licences: "Países sin convenio en el caso de permisos profesionales." In practice this means an ordinary Group 1 licence from a país sin convenio is not canjeable — the holder must enrol at a Spanish autoescuela and pass examen teórico and examen práctico to obtain a Spanish licence. A narrow case-by-case exception exists for professional Group 2 permits, with full prueba teórica and circulación required.

### Where is the full list of países con convenio?

DGT publishes the canonical table at the countries-with-agreement page (paises-con-convenio-de-canjes) with columns for fecha de entrada en vigor, permisos a obtener, pruebas a realizar, and tasa. As of 22/04/2025 the table lists 34 jurisdictions — consult it directly to confirm whether your issuing country is included and what exam shape (if any) applies for Group 2 categories. Do not rely on third-party reconstructions of the list.

### Is the canje processed online?

Submission of the canje itself is documented as presencial (in person) at a Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico on every DGT canje subpage as of access date. The DGT Sede Electrónica hosts the Consulta del estado de tramitación status-check tool and the tasa payment flow, but the canje submission requires a cita previa at your local Jefatura Provincial. Book the cita previa via the DGT Sede Electrónica and present documents in person.

### How long does the exchange actually take?

DGT states: "Lo normal es que lo recibas antes de un mes y medio desde que se solicitara." The published average is approximately 1.5 months (45 days) from submission to receipt of the definitive Spanish licence. DGT does not publish a 90th-percentile figure or a live tracker for canje extranjero, so the un mes y medio average is the only official benchmark. DGT also states: "En el momento de realizar el trámite te entregaremos un permiso provisional" — the permiso provisional issued at submission covers driving during the wait.

### What happens to my original foreign licence?

DGT retains it. The canje hub page states: "Un canje de un permiso consiste en la homologación de un permiso de conducir que tengas por otro equivalente expedido por la DGT. En el momento de realizar el trámite te será retirado el permiso original." The original is not returned. The canje covers all categories the holder already had in the country of origin: "si en tu país tenías permiso de moto, coche y autobús, al hacer el canje tendrás estas mismas autorizaciones en tu permiso español."

### Can a UK driving licence be canjeada after Brexit?

Yes. Reino Unido e Irlanda del Norte is on the DGT países con convenio table (entrada en vigor 16/03/2023, post-Brexit bilateral agreement). Group 1 categories canjear sin pruebas at Tasa II.3 (28,87 €). Group 2 categories from the United Kingdom are also listed as sin pruebas on the countries-with-agreement table, exchanged at Tasa II.3.

## Local tips

- EU/EEA holders almost never need to canjear — confirm the expiry date on your current licence and the indefinite-validity or >15-year-validity exception before starting any process
- Most Centros de Reconocimiento de Conductores cluster near each Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico — ask at the Jefatura's information page for the nearest authorised centres
- Plan the Argentine Certificado de Legalidad y Antigüedad apostille in Argentina before relocating to Spain — obtaining and apostilling it from Spain afterwards adds international postage and weeks to the timeline
- Cita-previa availability at the Jefatura Provincial varies meaningfully by province — check the DGT Sede Electrónica early and book as soon as your residency proof is in hand
- Your foreign licence will be retained at submission — make a clear photo or scan before the appointment if you want a personal record of the original

## Sources

- [Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) — Spain](https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/canjes-de-permisos-extranjeros/) — accessed 2026-05-10 — _T1_ — Hub page defines canje as homologación of the foreign licence into a DGT-issued equivalent: "Un canje de un permiso consiste en la homologación de un permiso de conducir que tengas por otro equivalente expedido por la DGT. En el momento de realizar el trámite te será retirado el permiso original." Lists four origin-country buckets: EU; EEE (Islandia, Liechtenstein, Noruega); países con convenio; países sin convenio para permisos profesionales. The canje covers all categories held in the country of origin. Updated 26/11/2024.
- [DGT — EU/EEA canje subpage](https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/canjes-de-permisos-extranjeros/canje-de-permisos-de-paises-de-la-union-europea-y-el-espacio-economico-europeo/) — accessed 2026-05-10 — _T1_ — EU/EEA mutual recognition: "Si eres residente en nuestro país, tu permiso de la UE o el EEE es válido para conducir en España mientras esté en vigor. Por lo que la realización del canje de tu permiso de la UE es completamente voluntaria." Indefinite-validity or >15-year-validity (Group 1) or >5-year-validity (Group 2) licences must be renewed/canjeared after 2 years of normal residence. Two-step procedure: 1. Obtén tu certificado de inscripción en el registro de extranjeros. 2. Solicita el canje de tu permiso. Permiso provisional issued at submission: "En el momento de realizar el trámite te entregaremos un permiso provisional." Updated 17/11/2020.
- [DGT — canje extracomunitario subpage](https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/canjes-de-permisos-extranjeros/canje-de-permisos-de-otros-paises) — accessed 2026-05-10 — _T1_ — Países con convenio: foreign licence valid for driving 6 months from acquisition of normal residence: "Tu permiso extranjero es solo valido durante el plazo de seis meses, como máximo, contados desde que hayas adquirido la residencia normal en España." Three-step procedure: "1. Acredita tu residencia y cuando obtuviste el permiso. 2. Obtén un informe de aptitud psicofísica. 3. Solicita el canje de tu permiso." Eligibility: licence obtained before Spanish legal residency (Korea exception). Group 1 (A, B) sin pruebas; Group 2 (C, D) normalmente requieren pruebas. Venezuelan PDF format excluded. Argentine licences require Certificado de Legalidad y Antigüedad apostillado. Informe psicofísico via Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores autorizado, validity 90 days. Updated 28/04/2025.
- [DGT — países con convenio de canjes (countries-with-agreement)](https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/paises-con-convenio-de-canjes/) — accessed 2026-05-10 — _T1_ — Full table of 34 jurisdictions with bilateral canje agreements with columns for fecha entrada en vigor, permisos a obtener, pruebas a realizar, and tasa. Tasa schedule: Group 1 (A, B) sin pruebas — "Coste del trámite: 28,87€" (Tasa II.3); Group 2 (C, D) with exams — "Coste del trámite: 94,05€" (Tasa II.1). EU canje always Tasa II.3: "Los canjes de permisos europeos no requieren exámenes ni para el grupo I ni para el grupo II, por lo que la tasa será siempre la de II.3 (28,87 €)." Korea exception: "En el caso de la República de Corea, la fecha de obtención del permiso puede ser posterior a la de la residencia legal." Updated 22/04/2025.
- [DGT — Consulta del estado de tramitación](https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/obtener-un-nuevo-permiso-de-conducir/estado-de-tramitacion-de-tu-permiso/) — accessed 2026-05-10 — _T1_ — Sede Electrónica de la DGT hosts the canje status-check tool. DGT-published processing time: "Lo normal es que lo recibas antes de un mes y medio desde que se solicitara." Status-check is online; canje submission itself remains presencial at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico as of access date.
- [DGT — Canjes de permisos (parent hub)](https://www.dgt.es/nuestros-servicios/permisos-de-conducir/permisos-extranjeros-y-de-fuerzas-y-cuerpos-de-seguridad/canjes-de-permisos/) — accessed 2026-05-10 — _T1_ — Parent hub for all DGT canje procedures, including canje extranjero and canje for Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad. Confirms procedural shape: informe psicofísico (90 días), solicitud presencial, entrega del permiso provisional al momento del trámite, entrega del permiso definitivo en aproximadamente un mes y medio. Renders Tasa II.3 fee with the equivalent TIPO DE TASA: 2.3 notation (= 28,87 €).

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Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state.
Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/spain/canje-permiso-conducir/