It is perfectly possible to drive in France with a license issued by a foreign authority, but the rules vary considerably depending on the country of origin of the license and the status of the driver. It is essential to comply with these rules to avoid any infringement.
Driving licenses issued by a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country
If you hold a driving license issued by an EU or EEA member country, it is valid in France for an unlimited period. So you don't need to do anything special to drive in France.
Driving licenses issued by non-EU/EEA countries
If your license was issued by a non-EU/EEA country, it is generally valid for a maximum of one year from the date on which your first residence permit in France became valid.
If you hold a VLS-TS (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour), this one-year period begins on the date your visa is validated by the OFII (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration).
It is important to note that holders of a “Student” residence permit can use their foreign driver's license for the full period of validity of their student residence permit, regardless of the country of issue.
If your stay in France exceeds one year, you must exchange your non-European driving license for a French one. This procedure is subject to certain eligibility conditions, and we strongly advise you to find out more as soon as you arrive.
Exchanging your license is only possible if an exchange agreement has been signed between France and the country that issued your license.
General conditions for the recognition of a foreign driving license
For your foreign driver's license to be recognized in France, the following conditions must be met:
The license must be valid.
You must comply with any medical restrictions on your license (e.g., glasses must be worn).
You must be at least 18 years old to drive in France.
Your license must be valid in the country that issued it (i.e. it must not be suspended, cancelled or restricted).
Specific conditions for non-European nationals
Non-European nationals must also comply with these conditions:
The permit must have been issued in the country of your normal residence prior to your arrival in France.
Your license must be in French, or accompanied by an official translation.
You must have obtained your permit before the date of validity of your residence permit in France, or before the validation of your visa by OFII.
Special case of British citizens
The rules for British citizens depend on the date of issue of their license:
If the license was issued before January 1, 2021, it does not need to be exchanged, except in specific situations (end of validity, loss, theft, deterioration, suspension, cancellation, offence with points withdrawn, category extension).
If your license was issued after January 1, 2021, it is recognized for one year from the date of your arrival in France, and must be exchanged within one year of your arrival.
If you are a tourist from the UK, you can drive in France with your UK license for the duration of your stay.
How to exchange your non-European driving license?
If you're interested in exchanging your driving license, here's what you need to know:
You must make your exchange request online on the ANTS (Agence nationale des titres sécurisés) website.
Your application must be made less than one year after the date of issue of your residence permit, or the date of validation of your visa by OFII, or the date of issue of your residence permit application receipt if you benefit from international protection.
You'll need to provide a number of documents (photographed or scanned), including
A double-sided color copy of your original driver's license.
An official translation of your license if it is not in French.
Proof of identity and address.
Proof of legal residence in France.
A photo code and digital signature.
Proof of driving privileges issued by foreign authorities, less than 6 months old.
Proof of normal residence in the country where your license was issued, if you are not a national of that country.
The process is free of charge.
You can continue to drive with your foreign license while your application is being processed.
Once your application has been processed, your original license will be requested for verification before the French license is issued.
Once your original license has been received by the processing department, you can download an attestation de dépôt sécurisée (ADS), which allows you to drive for 4 months while waiting for your French license.
Your French driving license will be valid for 15 years, except in certain specific cases (medical restrictions or heavy categories).
In conclusion, the possibility of driving in France with a foreign license depends on your personal situation. To avoid any problems, it's important to find out what's involved and to comply with the rules in force.
It's also important to follow the rules in force to avoid any infringement.
FB AVOCAT can help you with all your legal needs.
Contact us:
📍 Bordeaux : 11 rue Galin, 33100
📍 Paris: 7/11 Pl. des Cinq Martyrs du Lycée Buffon, 75014
📍 Dakar: 14 rue Woro Fila
📞 +33 985401864 / +221 77 173 69 05
