How do you convert a driving licence in Monaco in 2026?

Official guidance says a user who holds a foreign licence recognised by Monaco, is an officially recognised resident, and is present 185 days or more per calendar year must request an exchange at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office. Settling-in pages state you have a maximum of one year after arrival to swap the foreign licence for a Monaco permit. After that deadline, a driving skills test with a Driving Licence and Road Safety Inspector, arranged through a driving school, can replace a simple administrative exchange.

Finish or advance your residence permit first; the licensing office expects resident status, not a tourist story. Keep the original foreign licence until collection day, when you typically surrender it against the Monaco document.

Book the medical certificate with an authorised Monaco doctor on the form the office uses. Bring identity proof, residence card or equivalent residence evidence, photos if requested, and the foreign licence. File online or on paper through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office channels Mon Service Public lists, then attend the appointment to submit originals and pay the fee.

On collection, present ID again and hand over the foreign licence and medical certificate as instructed. Processing is usually measured in weeks, not hours. English often works at counters, but forms and medical wording lean French.

Parking costs and garage scarcity can erase the joy of keeping a car even after the licence is converted: Work-life balance. Many newcomers stay car-light until they know their real weekly map.