Temporary stay in the NetherlandsEdit

If you do not live in the Netherlandsbut you do participate in traffic in the Netherlands, you may need to have an international driving permit in addition to a valid licence issued in a foreign country. This is dependent on the country in which your driving licence was issued. The rules are as follows:

• Driving licence issued in the EU/EFTA
  • If your driving licence was issued in a European Union (EU) Member State or a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country it will always be valid in the Netherlands.
• Driving licences issued outside the EU and EFTA
  • If you have a driving licence that was issued by a non-EU or non-EFTA country, at some driving-licence checks you may have to produce an international permit as well as a valid foreign driving licence. An international driving permit is a translation of your driving licence and is available from recognized automobile associations. The Dutch embassy in the country in which you live can give you more information about the situations in which an international driving permit is necessary and where you can apply for one.

Living in the NetherlandsEdit

Once you become a resident of the Netherlands, you can still make use of your foreign driving licence for a certain period. This period depends on the country in which you obtained your driving licence. After this 'transition period' has elapsed, you must obtain a Dutch driving licence.

Exchange a foreign driving licenceEdit

If you have a foreign driving license and wish to exchange it for a Dutch driving license, then you can apply for an exchange at the municipality where you are registered. They will forward your application to the RDW. If you send the application directly to RDW, the application will not be processed. You also need to have the required documents with you.

• Valid identity papers
• Your foreign driving license
• A photo

By telephone

Inside the Netherlands:

1400 (local rates)

Outside the Netherlands:

Please call +31 77 4656767 (regular call charges apply.)

The Public Information Service line is open on weekdays from 08.00 to 20.00 hrs. In case your question cannot be answered immediately, you will be referred to another government agency.

By email

Please follow the link

https://www.government.nl/contact/contact-form

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Please explain the processing your application.    

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Please provide instructions on obtaining the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

If you have a foreign driving licence and you wish to drive a motorized vehicle in traffic in the Netherlands, you may need to have an international driving permit in addition to a valid licence issued in a foreign country.

Enter other informations which might help

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Place some external links which might help

More information which might help people.