Can British nationals who have obtained a non lucrative Spain visa, exchange their foreign driving license for a Spanish license without having to retake their driving test?

Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question

Part of the non lucrative Spain visa is that you give up, in our case a UK driving license after 6 months I think. Has anyone who has successfully obtained their non lucrative Spain visa actually been able to exchange their foreign license for a Spanish license without retaking their driving test?

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

“No unless you asked and registered to before 31/12/2020”

“It should pass through government this year 2023. UK only”

“Signing of the Agreement that Will make exchanges of UK licences possible again, is ‘imminent’…”

“If you mean a UK driving licence then no not currently. Final agreement is in discussions to proceed.
We have a waiting list so as soon as the agreement is made we can get them all done.
There are a lot of people waiting.”

“The Agreement for UK driving licenses has not been approved yet. In February 2023, an agreement between New Zealand and Spain was approved, we hope the UK-Spain one will also be approved sooner than later.”

In conclusion, individuals who have obtained an non lucrative Spain visa and wish to exchange their foreign driving license for a Spanish license without retaking their driving test may not be able to do so currently. The process of exchanging a UK driving license is currently on hold and awaiting government approval. However, there is hope that an agreement will be reached soon, and many people are eagerly waiting for it to happen. In the meantime, it is advisable to keep an eye out for updates on the progress of this agreement.

Bruno Bianchi CEO & Spain Immigration Expert

Bruno Bianchi is the founder and CEO of Spainguru, Spain's largest expat immigration community with 150,000+ members. Since 2014 he has helped thousands of people relocate to Spain through expert guides, webinars and vetted professional services covering visas, residency, taxes and life in Spain.

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