Expat guide

Do you need the DGT exam at all? Exchange (canje) vs. exam, explained

It depends on where your licence comes from, when you got it and how long you have lived in Spain. Check your case before you pay for a course or book an exam.

Last verified 14 October 2026

The short answer by licence origin

EU / EEA licence (e.g. Germany, France, Italy, Norway)

Stays valid in Spain while it is in force: no exam, and exchanging it is optional. Once you are resident, Spanish rules on validity periods, medical checks and points apply to it, and a licence with no expiry date must be renewed in Spain two years after you become resident (RD 818/2009, art. 15.4).

UK licence

Exchangeable without tests under the Spain–UK agreement, in force since 16 March 2023. You can drive on it for up to 6 months after becoming resident, so apply in time. Licences from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man cannot be exchanged.

Licence from one of the 33 agreement countries (e.g. Morocco, Colombia, Brazil, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand)

Exchangeable without tests if you got it before becoming resident in Spain and it is still valid. Check your country’s conditions on the DGT list.

USA, Canada, Australia and other countries without an agreement (e.g. China, India, Pakistan, Russia, Mexico)

No exchange: you must pass the theory test and then the practical test.

Venezuela

The exchange agreement has been suspended since 15 March 2021, so you must pass both tests.

Ukraine

Exchangeable without tests. With temporary protection in Spain, you can also keep driving on your valid Ukrainian licence while your protection lasts.

First licence ever (any nationality)

Full process: theory test first, then the practical test. The theory test is offered in English, French and German as well as Spanish.

Check your own case step by step in our free interactive guide (in English)

Rules that are easy to miss

  • The 6-month limit

    A licence from outside the EU/EEA is valid in Spain for at most 6 months after you become resident. After that you need a Spanish licence: exchange yours if your country has an agreement, or pass the tests.

  • Licences obtained while living in Spain

    If you got your licence when you were already a legal resident in Spain, it cannot be exchanged, even from an agreement country. South Korea is the exception.

  • Valid licences only

    Your licence must still be valid when you apply for the exchange.

  • Verification takes time

    For 22 of the 33 countries, including Morocco, Colombia, Brazil and Turkey, the issuing country must first confirm your licence, so start early.

Sources

Last verified 14 October 2026. Always confirm your case with the DGT: agreements, deadlines and residency rules change, and this guide is orientation, not legal advice.

If you must take the exam

To apply for a Spanish licence you need normal residence in Spain (or a study stay of at least six months). The theory test has 30 questions, and you may make at most 3 errors in 30 minutes. It is offered in Spanish, English, French and German, and in Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian within their regions: confirm the language with your Jefatura when you book.

You will also need, among other things, a medical fitness certificate (reconocimiento médico), a photo, your residence document and the exam fee (tasa: €94.05 in 2026, which covers two attempts).

Finding written Spanish hard? When you book, you can ask for Lectura Fácil, headphone audio (Spanish only) or extra time; the Jefatura decides. More about these aids

ListoB’s free diagnostic shows which topics to work on first, and you can practise with help in English.

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