Exchange Colombian driving licence in Spain: no exam for A1, A, B

In short: the agreement between Spain and Colombia (exchange of notes of 30 and 31 July 2003, in force since 28 November 2003) lets you exchange a Colombian driving licence in Spain without theory or practical tests for the classes that match A1, A and B. For C, C+E and D it requires a knowledge test and a road test. You need normal residence in Spain and a valid Colombian licence.

In person or by representative? Mixed. You do the medical fitness report (informe de aptitud psicofísica) in person at a driver assessment centre (CRC). The application goes to the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico, and the regulation says it is signed by the applicant (art. 23.1 of the General Drivers Regulation). Even so, according to the DGT page for Colombia and other countries with prior verification, the exchange has two phases. First Colombia is asked to confirm that your licence is valid, and only the holder can request that verification. After that, the exchange application can be filed by the holder or by anyone authorised on their behalf, online (digital certificate or Cl@ve) or in person at a Traffic Office (Jefatura u Oficina de Tráfico) with an appointment. To authorise someone, you appoint them in the DGT register of powers of attorney (procedure “Canjes de permisos extranjeros”). If they go in person, the DGT form “Otorgamiento de representación” signed by you and stating that the representation is free of charge also works; when booking, both people's ID documents are given. To finish, the original Colombian licence is handed in at the Jefatura.

Who can exchange (points 1 to 3 and 9 of the agreement).

• Your Colombian licence must be valid and issued to someone with normal residence in Colombia.
• You must be of the minimum age Spain requires.
• You must have acquired normal residence in Spain or show with documents that you have started the process to obtain it (point 3 of the agreement). The Spanish Regulation speaks of normal residence already acquired (art. 22.2) and the agreement does not say which documents prove that start: confirm with the DGT whether they already accept it before booking.
• If you obtained the Colombian licence while already a legal resident in Spain, according to the DGT it cannot be exchanged. It only counts if you obtained it before becoming a legal resident (DGT page on exchanging licences from non-EU countries, version of 28/04/2025).
• The agreement may not apply to a Colombian licence that was itself obtained by exchanging one from a third country.

Equivalence table in the annex (Spanish licence: Colombian class):

• A1: 01
• A: 02
• B: 03
• BTP: 04
• C: 05
• C+E: 06
• D: 05

BTP (Colombian class 04) appears in the agreement's table, but Royal Decree 1055/2015 removed that class from the Spanish regulation: the agreement does not say what you get today for class 04. Confirm with the DGT.

B+E, C1, C1+E, D1, D1+E and D+E have no box ticked. The text does not say what happens with those classes or explain what the Colombian numbers mean: confirm with the DGT how yours is exchanged.

Tests. For A1, A and B, the exchange is made without the theory and practical tests required to obtain a licence. For C, C+E and D you must show, by a test (oral, if you ask for it), that you know the technical points of driving that type of vehicle, leaving out mechanics, and also take a road test in open traffic with a vehicle of that class.

How long your Colombian licence is valid. The agreement sets no period of its own: it lets you drive temporarily for the time Spanish law decides. The Spanish rule is 6 months at most from when you acquire normal residence (art. 21 of the General Drivers Regulation); the card driving in Spain with a foreign licence explains it. Ask for it as soon as you can: after the 6 months, the Colombian licence stops being valid for driving in Spain (art. 21.3), although the exchange can also be requested later (art. 22.1). And you can ask for it as soon as you have residence, without waiting for the 6 months to pass (art. 22.2).

Documents (annex III, section E, of the Regulation; the DGT may add details, so this list may be incomplete)

• Official application form.
• NIE number (with your consent for your data to be checked) or, if you do not give it, a copy of the TIE.
• Recent 32 by 26 mm photo, in colour with a light plain background.
• Written statement that you have not been deprived of the right to drive by a court decision.
• Written statement that you do not hold another licence of the same class issued in the EU or EEA, nor one that is restricted, suspended or annulled.
• Medical fitness report (psicofísico) from an authorised driver assessment centre.
• Express statement that you answer for the authenticity, validity and currency of the licence and, if needed, its official translation into Spanish or the co-official language.
• Original Colombian licence and a photocopy.
• Payment of the fee (the agreement mentions the corresponding fee; the current amount is on the DGT site).

The Jefatura may ask for reports to check the licence, including a certificate from the body that issued it, endorsed and translated by the consulate where needed (art. 23.2). If there are well-founded doubts about authenticity, Spain may ask the Colombian authority to check it (point 5 of the agreement). The agreement allows other formalities, such as a medical certificate or a criminal-record certificate: for Spain, the official list is the one in annex III.

After the exchange. The Colombian licence is returned to the authority that issued it (point 7 of the agreement and art. 23.3). The Spanish licence will state that it comes from the exchange of a licence issued in a non-EU country (art. 23.4).

How long the agreement lasts. It has no end date and either party can denounce it with three months' notice (point 10). The BOE analysis shows no later references except the publication of its entry into force.

More on the topic: exchanging a foreign driving licence (overview by country) and car insurance for foreigners.

Steps:

1. Check that your Colombian licence is valid, that Colombia issued it when you lived there, which class in the agreement's table is yours, and that you did not obtain it while already a legal resident in Spain.
2. Confirm your normal residence in Spain and note since when you have it. If your residence is still in process, confirm with the DGT whether they already accept the started process, with documents.
3. Take the medical fitness report at an authorised driver assessment centre.
4. Request the verification of your licence with Colombia: online on the DGT electronic office or, in person, through the exchange appointment, which starts it. Only the holder can request it, and according to the DGT the reply can take days or weeks.
5. Once the verification is confirmed, gather the other documents and file the application (you or someone you authorise) at the Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico or online, with the fee.
6. If you ask for C, C+E or D, prepare for the knowledge test and the road test; hand in the original Colombian licence.

Official source: Spain-Colombia agreement, BOE-A-2003-18525, Royal Decree 818/2009, arts. 21 to 23 and annex III and DGT: agreement countries for exchange.

Informational only; check the official source and a professional for your specific case.