You live in Spain and you have a driving licence from home. Can you swap it for a Spanish one? Or do you have to pass the DGT test?
It depends only on where your licence is from. Find your country below.
In short
EU and EEA licence: no test. Licence from one of the 33 countries marked ✅: swap it, no test. Any other country, like the USA, Canada, India or Pakistan: you must pass the theory test and the driving test.
Your country
For a normal car licence (B) and a motorbike licence. Trucks and buses have other rules.
| Your licence is from | DGT test? |
|---|---|
| EU country (Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Romania and all others) | ✅ No. It works here |
| Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway | ✅ No. It works here |
| Algeria | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Andorra | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Argentina | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Australia | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Bangladesh | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Bolivia | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Brazil | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Canada | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Chile | ✅ No. Swap it |
| China | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Colombia | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Costa Rica | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Dominican Republic | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Ecuador | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Egypt | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| El Salvador | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Georgia | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Guatemala | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Honduras | ✅ No. Swap it |
| India | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Israel | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Japan | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Mexico | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Moldova | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Monaco | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Morocco | ✅ No. Swap it |
| New Zealand | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Nicaragua | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Nigeria | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| North Macedonia | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Pakistan | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Panama | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Paraguay | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Peru | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Philippines | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Russia | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Serbia | ✅ No. Swap it |
| South Africa | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| South Korea | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Switzerland | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Tunisia | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Turkey | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Ukraine | ✅ No. Swap it |
| United Kingdom | ✅ No. Swap it |
| United States (all states) | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Uruguay | ✅ No. Swap it |
| Venezuela | ❌ Yes, both tests |
| Any country not in this table | ❌ Yes, both tests |
Source: the official DGT list of countries, checked on 28 September 2026. Spain has no deal with the USA, not even with one state.
Good to know
- "Swap it" costs 28.87 euros. You also need the medical test (psicotécnico). No exam.
- You must live in Spain to swap. Visitors can drive on their home licence. From outside the EU? Bring an international permit too.
- Got your licence at home while you already lived in Spain? Then you cannot swap it. You must take the test. Only South Korea is different.
- The 6 month rule. A licence from a country outside the EU works for only 6 months after you become a resident. After that, driving on it is not allowed.
- The test costs 94.05 euros. That pays for two tries at the exam.
Need the test? You can take it in English
The DGT theory test is in Spanish, but you can ask for it in English. You do not need a driving school to sign up. Here is how to book it yourself.
The questions are tricky, and the English is sometimes strange. Practise with the real DGT questions in English, with mock exams that work just like the real one.
Questions people ask
I am from the USA. Do I need to take the driving test in Spain? Yes. Spain has no licence deal with the USA. You must pass the theory test and the driving test.
I am from the UK. Do I need the DGT test? No. You can swap a UK licence for a Spanish one without a test.
I am from India or Pakistan. Can I swap my licence? No. You must pass the theory test and the driving test. You can take the theory test in English.
Can I take the DGT theory test in English? Yes. The DGT theory test is also offered in English, French and German.
How long can I drive in Spain on my foreign licence? If your licence is from outside the EU, for 6 months after you become a resident.