Moving to Belgium – The driving licence

Anyone who drives a motor vehicle on public roads must possess a driving licence and have this on them. 

However, there are some exceptions. The driving licence must be one of the following: 

• a Belgian driving licence
• another European driving licence
• a recognised foreign driving licence
• an international driving licence

A driver must also show their driving licence if requested to do so by an authorised person. There are many different categories of driving licence, depending on the vehicle being driven. 

The following bodies are authorised to carry out and provide further information on:

• driving lessons: recognised driving schools
• tests: test centres
• issue of documents: local authorities

If you have an address in Belgium, you should visit your local authority armed with your identity documents and have your old driving licence registered or exchange it for a Belgian driving licence (European model), in which case the local authority will return the old licence to its country of origin.

No rights can be derived from this text.

Text last edited on: 08/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
Reproduction is authorised.