How do I exchange a foreign driving licence for a UK licence?

For people who have moved to Great Britain with a driving licence from another country.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

If you live in Great Britain, you can swap an EU, EEA or 'designated country' car licence for a GB licence.

Apply by post on form D1. The fee is £43.
Designated country licences, such as from Australia, Canada or Japan, can be used for 12 months, then must be exchanged within 5 years of becoming resident.
EU and EEA car licence holders can drive in Great Britain until they are 70, or for 3 years if they are 67 or over when they become resident.
Licences from other countries cannot be exchanged. You can drive for up to 12 months, then you need a provisional licence and must pass the tests.

Different in Northern Ireland

Exchange with the DVA on form DL1. The fee is £62.50.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Fee: £43 by post (form D1)
Designated countries: 12 months
Exchange within 5 years
Other countries: take the tests

Can you exchange your licence?

You must be a resident of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). You normally count as resident if you live here for 185 days in each calendar year. What you can do then depends on where you passed your test. This table is for car and motorcycle licences.

Where your licence is from	How long you can drive on it	Can you exchange it?
EU or EEA country	Until you are 70, or 3 years if you are 67 or over when you become resident	Yes, no test needed
Designated country	12 months after becoming resident	Yes, up to 5 years after becoming resident, if it has not expired
Any other country	Up to 12 months	No, you must get a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests

The designated countries are Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.

Lorry, bus and minibus licences have different rules. Use the GOV.UK checker to see yours.

What you need

form D1, from a Post Office that offers DVLA services
the £43 fee
your foreign driving licence
any other documents the form asks for
proof you passed your test in a manual car, if you need it (see below)

How to exchange your licence

Use the GOV.UK checker to confirm your licence can be exchanged.
Get a D1 form from a Post Office that offers DVLA services.
Fill it in.
Send the form, the £43 fee, your licence and your documents to the address on the form.
Wait for your new licence to arrive by post.

Time and cost

The exchange costs £43 and you can only apply by post. Your new licence usually arrives within 3 weeks. It can take longer if you have told DVLA about a medical condition and your details need to be checked.

Manual or automatic

With some licences you can only drive automatic cars in Great Britain unless you can prove you passed a manual test. This applies to licences from Canada and New Zealand, and from some Australian states and territories. Ukrainian licences where the test was passed before 28 December 2021 only allow automatic cars.

Special cases

Ukraine: if you are here on a Ukraine visa scheme, you can keep driving on your licence without exchanging it for at least 3 years after becoming resident.
A full Northern Ireland licence can be exchanged for a GB licence for free.
If you have held a GB licence before, exchanging an EU, EEA or designated country licence is free.

If you live in Northern Ireland

You exchange your licence with the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), not DVLA. You use form DL1, and the fee for an EEA or other foreign licence is £62.50. Northern Ireland has its own rules on time limits, so check nidirect.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Check if you can exchange your licence

Common questions

How long can I drive in the UK on a foreign licence?

With a licence from a designated or other non-EU country, you can drive for 12 months after becoming resident. EU and EEA car licences can be used until you are 70.

Which countries are designated countries?

They include Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Moldova, North Macedonia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, the UAE and Zimbabwe.

How long does the exchange take?

Your new licence usually arrives within 3 weeks. It can take longer if DVLA needs to check medical details.

Official sources

1.Exchange a non-GB driving licence (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence
2.Driving licence fees (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees
3.Exchanging your foreign driving licence (nidirect)www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/exchanging-your-foreign-driving-licence
4.The cost of a driving licence (nidirect)www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/cost-driving-licence

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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