Foreign driver's licenses can be exchanged in Switzerland if:

 

• they have been issued by the competent authority
• they have been legally acquired and are valid (also applies to the categories)
• they have reached the minimum age required in Switzerland
• they are comprehensible with the categories and are issued in Latin script

Driving licenses acquired abroad by persons legally resident in Switzerland can be accepted if the license was acquired during a stay of at least 12 continuous months in the issuing country and can be proven in writing.

The following documents, for example, are considered as confirmation of residence: Employment contract / employment confirmation, school confirmation, confirmation from the foreign resident municipality.

Good to know: An expired driver's license cannot be exchanged! If you want to drive motor vehicles of category C, C1, D and D1 or for passenger transport in Switzerland on a professional basis, you must have the Swiss driver's license of the corresponding category before starting your first drive.

The exchange formalities may take longer in individual cases. Consequently, the exchange of the foreign driver's license must be initiated in good time, as a rule 9 months after entry into Switzerland. 

The following documents must be presented in person (without an appointment) at the Road Traffic Office in your canton of residence:
 

• Fully completed application with confirmed eye test - (Download) "Exchange of a foreign driver's license" 
• Fully completed form - (Download) "Additional information for the exchange of a foreign driver's license "
• 1 recent color passport photo (format approx. 35 x 45 mm)
• Original of the valid foreign driver's license
• Original of the foreigner's identity card or Swiss passport / ID (the registration in the municipality of residence in the canton must have already taken place)
• Officially certified translation (for driver's license without Latin script)

Good to know: The control drive in the canton of Zug is officially in German. Consequently, the required documents are only available in German. I will be happy to support you with all questions and administrative tasks.

Holders of foreign driving licenses from EU-/ EFTA-countries are granted a Swiss driving license with all categories without a control drive.

• Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Holders of foreign driving licenses from the following countries are granted a Swiss driving license only the categories A, B, B1, F, G, M without a control drive:

• Andora, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Korea (Republic), Morocco, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, Taiwan, Tunisia, United States.

 

Good to know: An exchange after 5 years since entry into Switzerland requires a control drive if no driving experience can be shown.
 

 

Holders of foreign driver's licenses of all other countries or holders without sufficient driving experience must prove on a control drive the driving competence that they know the traffic rules and can safely drive cars of the corresponding category.

After submitting the necessary documents to the responsible road traffic office, you will receive a definitive invitation with a set deadline of maximum 3 months for the final control drive. Within this period you can then prepare for the upcoming control drive. As a rule, this period cannot be extended.

Holders of foreign driver's licenses of all other countries or holders without sufficient driving experience, have to prove their driving competence on a control drive, that they know the traffic rules and can drive cars of the corresponding category safely. 

A control drive lasts approx. 45 - 60 minutes and the following is tested:

• Faultless vehicle operation
• Knowledge of the general traffic rules and traffic signals
• Dangerous behavior and correct lane entry when turning
• Speeding
• Driving according to signposts
• Driving on highways or freeways
• Anticipatory, ecological and economical driving (ECO-Drive)
• Execution of maneuvers: turning, parking, reversing
• General behavior in traffic
• Emergency braking

A control drive is comparable to a driving test! If the control drive is negative or if the control drive is not attended without excuse, it is considered as failed. A negative control drive cannot be repeated and results in an immediate driving ban in Switzerland. In this case, the foreign driving license will be revoked and annulled for an indefinite period of time with costs. 

Good to know: It is possible to obtain the Swiss driver's license after the regular procedure (emergency aid course, theory test, learner's license, traffic safety course, practical driver's test). However, if medical reasons have led to the order to drive, it must be clarified whether the minimum medical requirements for driving a motor vehicle are met.

Preparation is strongly recommended by having your driving skills checked early by an experienced driving instructor. The control drive can be completed with a vehicle with automatic gear shift. After passing the test, you will then be allowed to drive vehicles with manual gear shift.

You will be assessed on your driving skills based on your driving experience and from personal experience you will need between 3 and 20 driving lessons to achieve the required test maturity.


Good to know: The control drive in the Canton of Zug is officially in German. I will carefully prepare you for the exam so that you can easily follow the instructions of the expert.

Yes, this is possible in principle. The prerequisite is a vehicle that complies with the regulations and is safe to operate, which must belong to the category being tested.

If necessary, I will be happy to provide you with my driving school car:

• The driving school car is equipped with auxiliary pedals and auxiliary mirrors and is generally considered safe to operate.
• The experts know us and can assume a serious preparation for the upcoming control drive.
• You know the driving school vehicle from the preparatory driving lessons and can use all modern assistance systems during the control drive (e.g. blind spot assist, rear view camera, parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, distance cruise control etc.). - this increases your chances of success!
• In case your control drive is negative (which we hope is not the case), no one will have to pick up your car.

Good to know: In case of a negative driving test, your foreign driving license will be canceled immediately. You are no longer allowed to drive and must have your vehicle collected by a third party.

• An operationally safe vehicle of the appropriate test category
• The car registration document of the test car
• Identification papers in the original (passport / identity card / alien's identity card)
• The invitation to the test drive

Good to know: The Road Traffic Office does not provide a test car for the test drive. 

The control drive starts and ends at the road traffic office in your canton of residence.

A Test Drive is subject to a charge (fees in the canton of Zug: from approx. Fr. 265.00) and is the responsibility of the driver's license holder, even if the road traffic office has ordered the check drive. It is best to find out about this directly from the road traffic office in your canton of residence.

Information and forms for the exchange of a foreign driving license

The Swiss driver's license is generally issued on a probationary basis. This does not apply if categories B or A were acquired before December 1, 2005 or since then before entering Switzerland. 

Good to know: The expiration date is listed on the driver's license under "Number 4b"