You move to Belgium with a licence issued in France. What must you do?

Nothing compulsory: it stays valid until it expires

Your licence model is not on the list of recognised licences. As a resident, what do you need?

To pass the Belgian theory and practical tests

At a junction with no signs, markings or lights, who has priority?

The driver coming from the right

The driver coming from the left

How to exchange a foreign driving licence in Belgium

Home › How to exchange a foreign driving licence in Belgium

An EU or EEA licence does not have to be exchanged: it stays valid in Belgium until it expires. A non-EU licence can only be exchanged if its model is on the official list of recognised licences, and you may drive on it for just 185 days after registering at your commune. If it is not recognised, as was the case for Indian licences when we checked, you must pass the Belgian theory and practical tests.

Updated 25 October 2026

Test yourself: 5 questions on this topic

You move to Belgium with a licence issued in France. What must you do? Exchange it within 185 days / Retake the theory test / Nothing compulsory: it stays valid until it expires. Correct answer: Nothing compulsory: it stays valid until it expires. An EU or EEA licence is recognised as it is. Registration is recommended; exchange is only compulsory in specific cases such as loss or theft.
Your non-EU licence is recognised. For how long may you drive on it after registering at your commune? 185 days / One year / Three years. Correct answer: 185 days. The limit is 185 days from registration. After that, it must be exchanged for a Belgian licence.
Your licence model is not on the list of recognised licences. As a resident, what do you need? An international driving permit / To pass the Belgian theory and practical tests / A sworn translation. Correct answer: To pass the Belgian theory and practical tests. A model that is not on the list is not recognised and cannot be exchanged, so the full Belgian path applies.
At a junction with no signs, markings or lights, who has priority? The driver on the wider road / The driver coming from the left / The driver coming from the right. Correct answer: The driver coming from the right. In Belgium, priority to the right applies unless signs or lights say otherwise, even if the road on the right looks smaller.
What is the default speed limit inside built-up areas in the Brussels-Capital Region? 30 km/h / 50 km/h / 40 km/h. Correct answer: 30 km/h. Since 1 January 2021, the default limit in Brussels built-up areas is 30 km/h, unless signs allow more.

Key points

EU / EEA: no obligation

Your EU licence stays valid in Belgium. Exchange is only compulsory after loss, theft, damage or certain offences.

Non-EU: 185 days

A recognised non-EU licence lets you drive for 185 days after you register with the commune; after that, it must be exchanged.

Not recognised: 2 tests

Then the full path applies: theory test (50 questions, 41/50 to pass), provisional licence and practical test.

Exchanging a driving licence in Belgium: three cases

Whether you need to exchange your driving license in Belgium depends first on the country that issued it, not on your nationality. You always apply at the driving licence desk of the commune where you are registered, and the commune decides your case.

Driving on and exchanging a foreign licence in Belgium (checked 25/10/2026)
Licence issued in	Driving in Belgium	Exchange	Belgian tests
EU / EEA	Yes, while it is valid	Optional, except after loss, theft, damage or an offence	No
Non-EU, recognised and exchangeable model	Yes, for 185 days after registration	Compulsory after 185 days	No
Non-EU, model not on the list	Only as a visitor, with an international permit if needed	Not possible	Theory + practical

EU and EEA licences: register rather than exchange

A licence issued in an EU country, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein is recognised as it is. You can have it registered at your commune; the City of Brussels charges €5 and needs five working days.

Registration is required if you want to act as a guide on someone's provisional licence, apply for an international permit, or exchange your licence later. Exchange is compulsory if the licence is lost, stolen or damaged, and after certain offences. For a licence with no expiry date, the City of Brussels asks for an exchange within two years of arrival. When your licence expires while you live in Belgium, it is replaced by a Belgian one.

Non-EU licences: 185 days, then exchange

A recognised non-EU licence lets you drive in Belgium for 185 days from your registration in the population or foreigners' register. After that, you may no longer drive on it and you risk a fine: the exchange becomes compulsory.

Recognised does not always mean exchangeable. The Federal Public Service Mobility keeps a list per country and per licence model; a model that is not on the list is not recognised and cannot be exchanged. Some recognised licences cannot be exchanged, for example because Belgium never received an official specimen. The rules are on the FPS Mobility website; your commune confirms your individual case.

The licence must be valid and be the original national licence: no provisional licence, no international permit.
It must have been obtained before you registered in Belgium, while you lived in the issuing country.
If you are not a national of that country, the commune may ask for proof that you lived there for at least 185 days when it was issued.
Every non-EU licence is checked for authenticity by the federal police: allow several weeks.
You only receive the categories the list provides for your country.

Do not wait until day 180: book an appointment at the commune as soon as you are registered. With the authenticity check, the procedure often takes one to two months.

Country by country: UK, US, India, Morocco, Turkey

UK driving licence in Belgium after Brexit

Since Brexit, a UK licence is treated as a non-EU licence that is recognised and exchangeable. The UK government confirms that you can drive for up to 185 days on a licence issued in the UK, Gibraltar or the Isle of Man, and must then exchange it. Jersey and Guernsey licences cannot be exchanged. Once the exchange has started, you cannot drive until your Belgian licence is ready.

US driving licence in Belgium

US licences appear on the list state by state: the commune checks that your state's model is listed and sends it for authentication. For Canada, the list names several provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta. Check your state or province before you buy a car.

Indian driving licence in Belgium

When we checked (October 2026), India was not on the Belgian list of exchangeable licences. If you live in Belgium with an Indian licence, you must pass the Belgian theory test, obtain a provisional licence and pass the practical test. An Indian licence with an international permit only covers a temporary stay.

Morocco, Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, Congo, Japan, South Korea

These countries are on the list of recognised licences, each with its own conditions (exchangeable categories, authentication, licence obtained before registering in Belgium). A Moroccan licence obtained after you settled in Belgium, for instance, cannot be exchanged. Switzerland, which is not in the EU, is also on the list.

Documents, fees and processing time

Leuven expects four to six weeks, the City of Brussels about two months including authentication. Your foreign licence is handed in to the commune during the exchange.

Your Belgian identity card or residence permit.
Your original, valid foreign licence.
A sworn translation if the licence is not in French, Dutch or English (City of Brussels rule; some communes ask for a translation into their own language).
A recent photo, if the one on your card no longer looks like you.
Fee: set by each commune. Examples: €38 plus €5 for authentication in the City of Brussels, €30 in Leuven.

Not exchangeable: getting a Belgian licence from scratch

If your licence is not recognised, there are no exemptions left: GOCA Vlaanderen states that, in Flanders, you must first practise for at least five months with a provisional licence before the practical test. Minimum periods vary by Region; see our guides to the provisional licence and the practical driving test.

Your driving experience helps, but experienced drivers mostly lose points on Belgian specifics: priority to the right, speed limits that differ by Region, and the legal difference between stopping and parking. The test can be taken in English in all three Regions under specific arrangements: see the theory test in English, and our page on the Brussels driving theory test if you live in the capital.

Check your level with our free Belgian theory test: 50 questions in the real exam format, no sign-up.

What about an international driving permit?

An international permit never replaces your national licence and does not extend the 185 days. It accompanies your licence during a temporary stay; its validity is printed on it (one year for the 1949 Geneva model, up to three years for the 1968 Vienna model). To apply for one in Belgium, read our page on the international driving permit.

Practise this topic with real exam questions

Reading a rule is not enough: in the Belgian theory exam every question is asked on a photo of a real traffic situation, with answers that look deliberately alike. On PermisBelges, every topic of the highway code is practised with questions in the GOCA exam format, each one corrected and explained.

A free account gives access to the lessons, the free mock exams and progress tracking. Premium unlocks every exam simulation, detailed statistics per topic and targeted revision of your mistakes until exam day.

Ready to test yourself? Create your free account in thirty seconds, or discover Premium to practise without limits.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to exchange my EU driving licence in Belgium?

No. An EU or EEA licence stays valid until it expires. Exchange is only compulsory after loss, theft, damage or certain offences; registering it at your commune is recommended.

How long can I drive in Belgium on a non-EU licence?

185 days from your registration at the commune, if your licence is recognised. After that, you must exchange it.

Can I use my Indian driving licence in Belgium?

For a temporary stay, with an international permit. As a resident, India was not on the list of exchangeable licences when we checked in October 2026, so you must pass the Belgian theory and practical tests. Ask your commune to confirm.

Can I exchange a UK driving licence in Belgium after Brexit?

Yes. A UK licence is recognised and exchangeable; you may drive on it for 185 days after registering, then you must exchange it.

Can I exchange a US driving licence in Belgium?

US licences are listed state by state. The commune checks that your state's model is on the list and has it authenticated before issuing a Belgian licence.

How much does the exchange cost?

It depends on the commune: for example €38 plus €5 for authentication in the City of Brussels, €30 in Leuven.