Exchange a driving licence from Caribbean Netherlands
A driving licence which was issued in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba or Sint Eustatius is valid for only a short period in the Netherlands. When you come to live in the Netherlands, you may still use your foreign driving licence for a maximum of 185 days. After that, you will need to have a Dutch driving licence. You can exchange your valid foreign driving licence for a Duch driving licence at the municipality.
How it works
- A municipal official will take your foreign driving licence. You will get a copy and a receipt.
- The municipal official will forward your application and foreign driving licence to the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW).
- The RDW will review your application and send you a notification when you can collect the licence at the municipality.
- You pick up your driving licence in person at the Begin link: City Hall Spui or the Leyweg City Office, end link. (depending on where you applied for it). You must collect it within 3 months after you apply for it. After that the document will be invalidated and the municipality will be obliged to destroy it. Do you still want a driving licence after this 3-month period? Then you have to fill in a new application and pay for it again.
- You will not get your old driving licence back. The RDW will send it to the authorities in the country which issued it.
Flowchart: Convert a valid foreign driving licence and how to fill in the medical statement
(PDF, 1.7 MB)
Conditions
- You must have a valid driving licence.
- You must be registered in the Municipality of The Hague.
- You must have lived 185 days in the country where you got the driving licence. This is a half year plus 5 days.
Needed to apply
- A passport photo: the passport photo may not be over 6 months old. There are strict requirements for passport photos. Read these requirements on the Begin external link: website of the Government of the Netherlands(External link), end external link..
- A valid form of identification.
- The valid driving licence you want to exchange. You will not get it back.
- A Begin link: Statement of Health, end link. .
- Has your foreign driving licence been lost or stolen? Then you first need to fill in a declaration of loss with the police. Make sure to bring the police report as well as a declaration from the authority which issued the driving licence.
Fees
Exchanging a driving licence costs € 52.10.
These fees must be paid upfront when you submit your application. You can pay in cash or use a bank card at City Hall Spui. You can only use a bank card at the Leyweg City Office. Unfortunately it is not possible to pay with a credit card.
How long it takes
The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW) will notify you when you can pick up your driving licence at the municipality. Your Dutch driving licence is valid for a maximum of 10 years.
Make an appointment
To exchange your driving licence you must visit a Public Service counter in person. You can make an appointment to do this.