Housing and Logistics

Exchange your foreign driving licence

After you take up residence, a foreign driving licence entitles you to drive for at most twelve months; after that it must be exchanged for a Swiss licence. The application goes to the road traffic office of your canton of residence and requires an eyesight test, a passport photograph and the original licence, which is withdrawn. Licences from an EU or EEA state are exchanged without a test; licences from other states additionally require passing a control drive. Anyone who lets the deadline pass is driving without a valid licence and must retake the driving test.

Who this applies to. This guide applies if holding a foreign driving licence is yes, the country of origin is not Switzerland and the cross-border commuter status is no.

Checklist

Take an eyesight test

With a recognised optician or a doctor; when submitted the report may not be older than 24 months.
Submit the original licence and a passport photograph

Road traffic office of your canton of residence; the foreign licence is withdrawn.
For a licence from outside the EU and EEA: book a control drive

The cantonal road traffic office conducts it; it may be repeated once.
Complete the exchange within 12 months

The deadline runs from taking up residence; afterwards a new driving test is required.

Costs

Exchange fee CHF 20–100 · one-time · per adult
Eyesight test CHF 10–30 · one-time · per adult

At a recognised optician or a doctor; valid for two years.
Control drive not quantified

Only applies to a licence from a non-EU/EEA state.

No total: the items depend on conditions and on your situation. A total without your answers would be too high or too low depending on the case — the cost calculation in your plan uses them.

Frequently asked questions

Who does this guide apply to?

This guide applies if holding a foreign driving licence is yes, the country of origin is not Switzerland and the cross-border commuter status is no.

What does it cost?

Exchange fee: CHF 20–100 (one-time, per adult). Eyesight test: CHF 10–30 (one-time, per adult). Control drive: not quantified.

What do I need to do?

Take an eyesight test; Submit the original licence and a passport photograph; For a licence from outside the EU and EEA: book a control drive; Complete the exchange within 12 months.

As of: 08.10.2026