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Can you drive in mainland France with a licence issued overseas?

Verified 15 December 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The situation differs depending on whether the permit was obtained in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte or La Réunion or in an overseas community or in New Caledonia.

Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion

Yes, you can drive in mainland France if the driving licence is in force.

Overseas community or New Caledonia

You can drive in mainland France with a driving licence in force obtained in Com or New Caledonia, conditions.

The following permits, in force, allow you to drive in the metropolis:

  • Permit directly obtained in Com or New Caledonia, without an exchange procedure
  • Permit issued in a Com or in New Caledonia, in exchange for a licence European
  • Permit issued in a Com or in New Caledonia, in exchange for a non-European licence with which France practices reciprocal exchange of licences.
    For example, a permit issued in New Caledonia in exchange for a New Zealand permit.

Warning  

the validity of your licence 1 year limited if it was issued in exchange for a non-member country's permit European with which France does not practice reciprocal exchange of licences. For example, a permit issued in New Caledonia in exchange for an Argentine permit.

The 1 year period starts from the acquisition of your normal residence in mainland France.

At the end of this period, your licence is no longer valid or redeemable. To continue driving in mainland France, you have to take the test of the French driving licence.

Your driving licence issued in a Com or New Caledonia must be exchanged for a metropolitan permit in the 3 cases following:

  • The validity of your licence end
  • You are requesting new category of the permit (extension)
  • You live in the metropolis and have committed a traffic violation resulting in a loss of points, restriction, suspension, invalidation or cancellation of your licence

Application for driver's licence exchange is made online on theTWO: titleContent.

Online application for exchange of foreigner driving licence

You need the following documents, photographed or scanned.

However, additional documents may be requested depending on your situation.

You are French
  • Colour image duplex driving licence colour
  • Certificate of identity
  • Proof of domicile less than 6 months
  • Digital Signature
    If you don't have access to a digital signature and photo service, you can complete and mail a photo signature (FPS) form during the remote procedure.
  • Certificate of driving rights of less than 6 months issued by the authorities of the community which issued the driving licence.
    This document verifies that your licence has not been suspended, withdrawn or cancelled.
  • If you heavy permit, medical opinion of fitness for driving in heavy categories, or declaration of renunciation in heavy categories
  • If your licence has been cancelled or suspended, decision to cancel or suspend + mail informing of the obligation to exchange sent by the prefecture + medical opinion
You are European
  • Colour image duplex driving licence colour
  • Certificate of identity
  • Proof of domicile less than 6 months
  • Digital Signature
    If you don't have access to a digital signature and photo service, you can complete and mail a photo signature (FPS) form during the remote procedure.
  • Certificate of driving rights of less than 6 months issued by the authorities of the community which issued the driving licence.
    This document verifies that your licence has not been suspended, withdrawn or cancelled.
  • Justification(s) of normal residence in France at the date of application (at least 185 days with personal and/or professional ties).
    For example, tax/non-tax notice on income, employment contract, social security certificate ...
  • If you heavy permit, medical opinion of fitness for driving in heavy categories, or declaration of renunciation in heavy categories
  • If your licence has been cancelled or suspended, decision to cancel or suspend + mail informing of the obligation to exchange sent by the prefecture + medical opinion
You have the nationality of another State
  • Certificate of driving rights of less than 6 months issued by the authorities of the community which issued the driving licence.
    This document verifies that your licence has not been suspended, withdrawn or cancelled.
  • If you heavy permit, medical opinion of fitness for driving in heavy categories, or declaration of renunciation in heavy categories
  • If your licence has been cancelled or suspended, decision to cancel or suspend + mail informing of the obligation to exchange sent by the prefecture + medical opinion

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • A national interactive voice server providing automated responses regarding carte grise, driver's licence, national identity card and passport.

    If the user does not get the answer to his question about the carte grise or driving licence, he will be contacted by an adviser of the National Secured Securities Agency (ANTS).

    By phone

    From the city:

    34 00 (cost of a local call)

    From overseas:

    09 70 83 07 07

    From the foreigner:

    +33 9 70 83 07 07

FAQ