Exchanging a driving licence in Spain: licences from Russia and the CIS

How long can you drive in Spain on a Russian, Belarusian or Kazakh licence?

No more than six months from the moment you became a habitual resident of Spain, and only while the licence is valid. This is set out in Article 21 of the Reglamento General de Conductores (Real Decreto 818/2009, hereinafter RGC): a foreign licence is valid if it is in force, the holder has reached the age required for the Spanish equivalent, and no more than six months have passed since obtaining residencia normal [1]. If residence has not been established, the six months run from the day of lawful entry into Spain [1].

After this period the licence is no longer valid for driving in Spain. Article 21.3 RGC provides the main way out: obtain a Spanish licence after the requirements are checked and the exams are passed. Exchange under Article 22 is available if the country has a convenio, that is a bilateral agreement on recognising licences, and for professional drivers [1]. The DGT repeats this on its pages: after six months it is either an exchange or a new licence [3][4].

The licence must meet one of the conditions of Article 21.1: be issued on the model of the Geneva or Vienna Convention, or be written in Spanish or come with an official translation (made by a sworn translator, a Spanish consul or a consul of the issuing country) [1][4]. Check with the DGT whether your particular licence model qualifies before the six-month countdown starts. The general procedure for translations: sworn translation in Spain.

What is canje and which countries are on the DGT list?

Canje (exchange) means that the DGT recognises your foreign licence and issues a Spanish one of the same class, keeping the original [2][3]. This only works for countries with which Spain has signed a convenio de canje. The DGT publishes the list with the dates the agreements came into force, the scope of exams and the amount of the tasa; the page shows an update date of 26.06.2026 [2].

What the list says for our readers’ countries:

We did not find any other former USSR countries in the DGT table. If your country is not on the list, the DGT says plainly: exchange is not possible, you will have to obtain a licence from scratch [3]. The list changes: the agreements with Georgia and Moldova only came into force in 2024. So before you apply, open the current table rather than a two-year-old article.

When does the exchange fail even if the country is on the list?

There are two situations the DGT mentions explicitly [2][3]:

• The licence was obtained in your home country when you were already a legal resident of Spain. The DGT makes an exception only for South Korea: there the date of issue may be later than the start of residence.
• The licence itself was obtained in exchange for another one issued by a country that has no agreement with Spain.

You need to prove that you were not a resident of Spain when you obtained the licence [3]. If you got it before moving, there is usually no problem, but gather documents on the date of issue and on where you lived at the time in advance.

How to exchange your licence in Spain: step by step

1. Check that your country is in the DGT table and what exams it lists for your licence class [2].
2. Prepare proof of residence and of the date your licence was issued. The DGT names a valid tarjeta de residencia, and to show that you were not living in Spain when you obtained the licence it lists documents that depend on the case: a resident or student card, a certificado de inscripción in the foreigners’ register and others [3]. Argentine citizens need a separate certificate with an apostille [3].
3. Obtain an informe de aptitud psicofísica (certificate of physical and mental fitness) at an authorised Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores. It is valid for 90 days: submit your application before it expires [3].
4. Apply for the canje through sede.dgt.gob.es or in person with an appointment. For an exchange without exams (classes A1, A, B, B+E) no tests are required [3][6].
5. Pay the tasa. In the DGT table as of 2 October 2026, an exchange without an exam carries tasa II.3 of €28.87, and an exchange with exams for groups C and D carries tasa II.1 of €94.05 [2]. In the description above the table the DGT shows placeholders XX,XX € instead of amounts, so check the amount in the payment form.
6. Get the temporary permit. When you apply you receive a provisional permit; the permanent licence arrives in about a month and a half [3]. You can check the status on the DGT website.

Class C and D licences (lorry, bus) usually require an additional check: a practical test and sometimes a theory test [2][3]. A professional driver employed by a transport company can ask the company to apply for the exchange on their behalf [6]. If you only need an ordinary car licence, this does not apply to you.

What to do if your country is not on the list: getting a new licence in Spain

For professional drivers, Article 22.1.b RGC allows an exchange even without a convenio: you need a national licence that follows the Geneva or Vienna Convention model or has an official translation, backed by at least six months of work as a professional driver for a Spanish company (with documents on alta and contributions), an on-road driving test of up to 30 minutes, and no driving ban [1]. We did not find on the DGT exchange page how the DGT applies this route to drivers from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Everyone else has to pass DGT exams: theory and practical (plus manoeuvres on a closed track for some classes) [5]. General conditions: residence in Spain, no driving ban, physical and mental fitness, the age required for the class, no licence from another EU state, and passing the exams at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico [5]. A foreign student from outside the EU needs proof of studying in Spain for at least six consecutive months [5].

In practice, the DGT notes that people usually prepare at a driving school, but you can also prepare on your own and book the theory test directly [5]. We do not assess or recommend driving schools. Booking times and exam costs in Catalonia should be checked on the DGT website and with your Jefatura at the time you apply.

While you wait for the exam, your old licence is valid only for six months from obtaining residence. If you plan to drive for longer, it is best to start preparing in the very first weeks after you receive your residence permit and TIE.

Do you need an international licence and what do you do with it?

An international driving permit (permiso internacional para conducir) is issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention and is valid for one year [1][4]. Under Article 21.1.c RGC it is recognised in Spain if it was issued abroad on the Convention model [1]. The DGT recommends that people coming from a non-EU country get one in their home country before arriving, and carry it together with their national licence and passport [4].

An international driving permit does not extend the six-month period for residents and does not replace an exchange. If you have settled in Spain, six months from obtaining residencia normal remains the deadline [1][4]. Spanish international permits are issued only to residents of Spain under Article 32 RGC and only at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico [1], so you do not need one for moving.

Common mistakes when exchanging and driving on a foreign licence

• Counting the six months by their own calendar. The law counts the period from obtaining residencia normal, established under Ley Orgánica 4/2000. If you entered earlier or lived under a different status, ask the DGT from which date it counts your period [1].
• Putting off the exchange until the period ends. The law lets you apply for an exchange as soon as you obtain residencia normal, without waiting for the six months (Article 22.2 RGC) [1].
• Not checking the medical certificate. It is valid for 90 days: an expired certificate sends you back a step [3].
• Expecting a Russian or Belarusian licence to be exchanged under the general rule. If the country is not in the DGT table, applying will not help [2][3].
• Getting a licence at home when already a resident. The DGT does not exchange such licences [2][3].
• Ignoring the translation. A licence not issued on the Convention model and without Spanish text needs an official translation [1][4].

How we can help

Driving entitlement is the DGT’s domain, not a matter of immigration status, and we do not advise on licences as such. We can help with what is adjacent: confirm from which date your habitual residence counts under your residence permit, prepare documents and translations for the exchange, and suggest the order of first steps after you receive your TIE (the first 30 days after approval, empadronamiento). If you are also bringing a car to Spain, see the article on moving your belongings and car. The first 30 minutes of a consultation are free: book a slot. A general overview of residence grounds and first steps is on the residence permit in Barcelona page.

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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.