Traffic offices for exchanging a foreign driving licence

Traffic offices set their own routine for exchanges, so pick your city

Exchanges are handled by the provincial traffic offices and, in a few places, by a local traffic office. Choose a city to see which office handles yours, which appointment option to book and what to bring, such as your identity and residence documents and your original licence.

1 office in Barcelona
  • Barcelona

    Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico de Barcelona

    Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 184, Barcelona

    Licences from some other countries can be exchanged online with Cl@ve or a digital certificate.

    EU/EEA route: Prepare the official application, valid identity and residence evidence, original valid licence, current 32 × 26 mm colour photograph and fee reference. Fee 2.3 is €28.87; counter payment is by card, not cash. An authorised representative needs DGT (Spain’s traffic authority) authorisation and must be identified when booking. Other agreement countries: obtain the appropriate authorised medical fitness report, prepare valid identity and residence evidence, the valid original licence and evidence of when the licence was obtained relative to residence in Spain. Country-specific certificates and tests may be needed. The fee category is 2.3 without additional tests or 2.1 with tests; use the applicable current amount. Upload legible documents, respond to requests for corrections and retain the receipt. Follow the office’s instructions for the final original-document handover. Country-specific checks: Argentina requires a Certificado de Legalidad y Antigüedad. DGT excludes Venezuelan licences issued as PDF documents; its guidance accepts only the original plastic-card format for exchange. For the Republic of Korea, the licence may have been obtained after legal residence in Spain began; check the current agreement conditions rather than applying the usual timing rule automatically. For Moroccan and Colombian licences, DGT allows motorcycle/car exchanges without additional tests. Truck/bus categories differ: Morocco requires an on-road test; Colombia requires the specific theory test plus an on-road test. The issuing-country verification and other eligibility requirements still apply; test exemption is not automatic approval. UK and Northern Ireland: obtain the appropriate DVLA or DVA check code and an authorised medical fitness report. Select the UK procedure in the digital exchange service and follow your selected office’s instructions for handing in the original. DGT says Gibraltar-issued licences do not require that check code. Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man licences are not eligible for this exchange route. The six-month driving limit is not a final application deadline: exchange can remain possible afterwards, but you must stop driving if your entitlement has ended. Ask DGT to assess agreement-specific residence/date conditions or an expired licence before applying.

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Exchanging a foreign driving licence in Spain

Check whether your licence needs exchanging, what the traffic office usually asks for and how to find the office in your city.

Exchange a foreign driving licence in Spain