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Exchanging Driving Licences in Spain

  • Venetia House
  • Feb 22, 2024
  • 3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Exchanging driving licences in Spain with the miDGT app and Expay support
Exchanging your driving licence in Spain can now often be started online, and the miDGT app can help while you wait for the physical card.

If you are living in Spain and need to exchange your driving licence, the good news is that the process is much easier to understand than it used to be.

In many cases, it can now be started online, although the exact route depends on where your licence was issued and whether Spain has an agreement in place with that country.


This is one of those jobs that sounds simple until you actually start looking into it properly. People often get stuck on appointments, documents, Cl@ve, digital certificates, or just trying to work out whether their licence can actually be exchanged at all.

That is where a bit of proper guidance can save a lot of time and stress.


Who can exchange their driving licence in Spain?

That depends on the country that issued your licence.

Spain allows exchanges for certain non-EU countries where an agreement exists, and the rules are different again for EU and EEA licences.

DGT explains that foreign licences can only be exchanged where the legal requirements are met and where the relevant agreement or route applies.


For UK licence holders, there is an agreement in place allowing eligible licences to be exchanged in Spain without having to sit a practical or theory test, provided the conditions are met.

DGT also makes clear that some licences are not exchangeable, including certain cases where the licence was obtained while the holder was already legally resident in Spain.


Can it be done online?

Yes, in many eligible cases the canje can now be started online through the DGT Sede Electrónica.

To do this, you generally need Cl@ve or a digital certificate so you can identify yourself properly in the system.

That online access is often the part people do not already have set up, which is why the process still catches people out.

Even when the process starts online, you still need to make sure everything is correct.

If the wrong route is chosen, if documents are missing, or if access is not set up properly, it can quickly become frustrating.


What do you usually need?

The exact documents depend on the type of licence and the country involved, but the process usually includes proof of identity, proof of Spanish residency, your current valid driving licence, and any other supporting documents required by DGT for that particular exchange.

In many cases, you will also need a medical or psychotechnical certificate.

DGT’s canje guidance makes clear that the requirements depend on the route and the country agreement involved.


What happens while you are waiting for the new card?

Once approved, the final Spanish driving licence is sent by post.

DGT says that it would normally arrive before a month and a half.

While waiting, a provisional permit is issued and this is valid for driving in Spain.


After that, the miDGT app can also be very useful.

DGT says the app allows you to carry your driving licence on your phone and that it has the same legal validity as the physical document for driving within Spain.

So if your card is still on the way, the app can be a real help.


Just remember that if you are driving abroad, you should still carry the physical licence.


You can find the official miDGT app information on the DGT website here:https://sede.dgt.gob.es/export/sites/dgt/es/appmidgt/index.html


Do you need Cl@ve or a digital certificate?

In many cases, yes.

If you want to start the process online through the DGT Sede Electrónica, you will normally need Cl@ve or a digital certificate to access the service properly.

This is one of the main reasons people contact us, because the driving licence side may seem straightforward until they realise they cannot get into the system or are unsure which identification method they need.


How we can help

We help clients with Spanish paperwork every day, and that includes support around driving licence exchanges, digital certificates, Cl@ve, and general guidance on what is needed for the process.


So whether you are just starting out, stuck on the online access side, or waiting and wondering what happens next, we can help make it a lot less stressful.


It is always better to get things checked properly at the start than to lose time going down the wrong route or missing something simple.


If you need help with exchanging your driving licence in Spain, or with getting set up with Cl@ve or a digital certificate, feel free to get in touch.



For more information on the services we offer please give us a message or email

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