Foreign Driving License

You are allowed to use your foreign driving license (issued in your country) accompanied with a French translation:

• for the total validity of your driving license if your permit was issued by a member state of the European Union
• for the total duration or your studies if you have a Student Visa
• for one year (from the start date of your VLS-TS) if you have a Scientific Visa (Titre de séjour Chercheur Scientifique). Beyond the first year you need to exchange your driving license for a French issued one.

SamGB: In the case of people from the UK, your Driving License is only valid for the total validity period if you obtained your licence before Brexit. In this case, it is important to obtain a ‘check code’ (https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence) for which you will need your licence number, your national insurance number, and the postcode on your licence. It is then important to carry this, as well as your licence, when driving in France.

Exchanging a non-European driving license

Foreign residents with a non-European driver’s license, and whose country of origin has signed a bilateral agreement with France, must exchange their foreign license for a French license after their first year of residence.

Application for exchange should be submitted during the first year in France, otherwise it wouldn’t be possible.

You will get a temporary certificate that allows you to drive in France while your application is being instructed and your French driving license is being fabricated.

PS: you would be giving up your driving license (from your country), they will not give it back to you !