Exchanging a foreign driving licence
Example of Swiss driving licence
In Switzerland, you are permitted to drive a car with a foreign driver’s licence for one year. After that, you must acquire a Swiss driving licence at the traffic office of your canton. If your driving licence is in a language not recognised by the Swiss authorities (i.e. not in English, French, German or Italian), you will need to carry either an International Driving Licence or an International Driving Permit.
EEA citizens
Switzerland allows people from the EEA (EU plus Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein) to exchange their foreign driving licence for a Swiss equivalent without having to take the test, as long as it is exchanged within 12 months of taking up residence in Switzerland. However bear in mind that applications can take some time to process so don’t leave it to the last moment. If you don’t exchange your foreign driving licence within a year, it will become invalid and you will not be allowed to drive in the country without taking the theory and practical tests.
Other countries
People from a number of other countries are allowed to exchange their foreign driving licence just by taking the theory examination. These are: Andora, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Korea (Republic), Marocco, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, Taiwan (only category A1 and B), Tunisia and USA. However, if the test is failed, the full theory and practical driving examinations must then be taken.
Citizens from all other countries must pass both the theory test and the practical driving examination (Kontrollfahrt). There is a deadline to doing this and individuals must take the Swiss test within 3 months. A professional is ordered with the testing of your driving knowledge on Swiss roads (in practical). The Kontrollfahrt cannot be repeated. Henceforth it is worth to take in advance one or some driving lessons.
If your driving licence needs to be changed
When exchanging your licence, please go to one of the road traffic authority centres of your canton. The following paperwork is needed:
- application form of your canton
- original foreign driving licence (with translation, if applicable) - a copy for you to keep is highly recommended
- eye test (the optician has to fill in its part on the official form)
- photograph
- residency permit
- a valid form of ID
The fee for exchanging your licence varies depending on the canton.
The official form for exchanging your foreign driving licence can be obtained either from the road traffic authoroty center in your canton or from your local police station or online.
Zurich:
This link of the canton of Zurich leads you to the form for exchanging your driver’s licence. (It is only available in German, please look for: Gesuch Umtausch eines ausländischen Führerausweises)
Any other canton:
To find the application form of your canton, visit the website of the road traffic authoroty center in your canton HERE.
A translation of the form can be found here.
There is a mandatory eye test to take and this must be done before you apply – the optometrist will confirm the results of the test on the application form.
Once the form is completed you must drop off the documents at one of the following places.
- At the residents' registration office of your municipality of residence
- or at the local road traffic authority (Strassenverkerhsamt). - Locations can be found HERE.