If you settle in France, your non-European driving licence (permis de conduire) is valid for 1 year after you acquire normal residence, except for a British licence issued before 2021. To keep driving beyond that period, you must exchange it for a French licence; you apply online through France Titres - ANTS.
Steps
Use the online checker to see whether your non-European driving licence (permis de conduire) can be exchanged for a French licence.
Apply online through France Titres - ANTS, using photographs or scans of your documents.
Buy the electronic timbre fiscal tax stamp. You can pay at the end of the online application, or buy it through the tax website or a tobacconist equipped with the approved sales application.
When requested by SMS and email, send your original driving licence (permis de conduire) by registered post as explained in the email, unless your licence is suspended or cancelled.
After the service receives your original licence, download the secure deposit certificate (ADS) from France Titres - ANTS. It is valid for 4 months and lets you drive in France while waiting, only within the period when your foreign licence is recognised.
Give your full address in the online application and put the recipient's surname and first name on the letterbox.
Track delivery using the link emailed after your licence is produced, or the tracking number on the La Poste website.
Documents to bring
You are a foreign national
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You are a foreign national with refugee status, subsidiary protection or stateless status
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Key facts
Your electronic timbre fiscal tax stamp costs 40 € (20 € in French Guiana).
If you are a foreign student with a student residence permit (titre de séjour) or a job-search/business-creation card (RECE), you do not need to exchange your non-European driving licence (permis de conduire).
If you are a legally arriving foreign national, you have 1 year from acquiring normal residence in France to request exchange of your licence obtained outside the EEA.
Renewing your residence permit (titre de séjour) or changing your residence status does not restart the 1-year application period.
You should receive your driving licence (permis de conduire) about 15 days after the SMS confirming validation of your online application.