Try it and let us know if it works. Then we all know.
As you are aboard you can only get the confirmation about driving privileges and not a new license.

Weird that the Italian authorities can not issue a similar document.

The italian authorities say that if you have not renewed your DL for 5-10 years (not sure about the time limit), you need to re-do the test.

The Swiss confirmed i am in their system and that they can issue a certificate in english showing i was registered to drive in CH (Bestätigung über die in der Schweiz registrierten Fahrberechtigungen), but not a new DL since i don't live in CH anymore. There is, however, a time limit of 5 years to exchange the CH license for a UK one. After 5 years of being a resident in UK, the DL exchange cannot take place.

Does anyone know if i'm allowed to drive with this 'Bestätigung über die in der Schweiz registrierten Fahrberechtigungen' in the EU?

First of all amazing thread, very detailed and useful.

I jave some doubts about Part 2 and I'd like to know if you could guide me .

I have a non EU licence and I've been living in Basel stadt since 1.5 years. Last year I tried to exchange my lincence but my foreign license expired just the day before I went to the swiss transpot authority ( they didn't allow me to exchange it). I'm from Chile and we can only renew our licenses back in the country. Anyway, I went back to Chile and I renewed my DL but, like in the US licence it says it was issued very recently, I have also a certificate with the date when my first DL was issued. So the questions are,

1) do you think I can exchange the new one, although it was issued recently ( renewed rather than issued)

2) hiw flexible is BS regarding to exchanging DLs after the 12 months period? does anyone has some experience on this?

Many thanks for your help

Should be no problem, else a lot of us never would have been able to get a Swiss license, the 12 months rule is about being allowed to drive on a foreign license in Switzerland, after that the license is still valid to be used to apply for a Swiss one, just not to drive.

That form is not going to bypass any rulings.

Thank you @aSwissInTheUS for this super informative Mark II thread! The process is now much clearer for me.

I came from a non-happy country (unfortunately), which means I must attend the road test. And I believe it helps if I practice a bit with an instructor before I take the road test.

My question is: from a regulatory perspective when I can take the driving lessons? I prefer to start practising before triggering the conversion process (step six). Is it allowed?

Thanks in advance for your answer.

You are welcome. If you have a valid driving license you can drive up to a year since you became a Swiss resident. This includes driving alone and also "driving lessons". Strictly speaking, the blue L must not be on the driving school car as you have a valid driving license.

If you wish to take driving lessons or even drive alone after the one year grace period is up, you must register for the "road test" (Kontrollfahrt) and apply for exemption as the driving license is no longer valid in Switzerland. With this exemption you may practice for the road test (Kontrollfahrt).

As you see, the sooner you begin practicing the easier it will be.

Also have a look at https://simpli.ch/en which allows you to learn and understand the Swiss traffic rules. It is indented to learn for the theory exam, which do not have to pass, but it is nevertheless a wise udea to have a look at them and check what you already know and what may be new.

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On Strike - ChatGPT knows more than I, so use it (or doesn't it?)

Thanks for your answer. I have been in Switzerland for more than a year. Therefore, I must register for the Kontrollfahrt BEFORE I can practise driving on the road with an instructor. Finally I need to take the Kontrollfahrt.

Have I understand you point correctly?

Thank you!

Hi, you understand it correctly: After one year of living in Switzerland you are not allowed to drive with a foreign license anymore. So first apply for a license exchange, wait till they send you a piece of paper that says you're allowed to drive until the Kontrollfahrt date, then you can drive either with an instructor or alone till that date. The instructor would always ask you to show that document first.

Hello,

My wife changed hers UK driving license(had more then for 1 year) to Switzerland ones but still not get unlimited license. So what she have to do by the day hers swiss driving license is valid? Thanks

Had it more than one year before she became a Swiss resident?

If there is an expiration date on the license she must do two 2-Phasen/WAB courses before this date. For course providers see https://2-phasen.ch/ and also https://www.englishforum.ch/transpor...s-english.html

She had uk license from 2016.09.13 and become resident from 2017.05.16.. and we exchange hers license 2017.10.01.. i though enough to have license more then one year..

I hate to be the one to ask silly questions, but it is coming to the point where I need to change my licence (11 months here).
My B is older than 2 years, so no problem there, however my A is only 18 months old.
I'm guessing I'll recieve a full in both categories, but would it be possible they give a full B and a Provisional A?

In the last 2 years I've driven less than a 1000km in a car whilst around 30000km on two wheels, I'd be more more worried about a provisional B!

According to the rules, you should get both licenses unrestricted. Best to phone or go to the STVA in person to confirm, as there are some kantonal regulations regarding the provisional licenses.

Do get an unrestricted license you need it 12 months before you became a Swiss resident. In this case all is done correctly.

You will get an unconditional when either A or B has been acquired more than 12 months before you became resident. There is only one probation period which start when you acquire your first A or B license. There are also 2-phasen/WAB courses for A, but they are few and rare. People needing to do 2-phasen/WAB courses which have A and B can do the courses either on A or B as they wish.

There are no cantonal regulations or differences that I am aware of as all is regulated on federal level (Either VZV or ASA and ASTR guidelines). If you know them please share, thank you.

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On Strike - ChatGPT knows more than I, so use it (or doesn't it?)

Hi,
A question that I don't think was answered completely. When I convert my licence, do they give some kind of acknowledgement and is it ok to drive within Switzerland with this acknowledgement until the Swiss licence arrives? Or once the process begins you can't drive until the licence arrives in the post?

In the FAQ you mention that you can't drive outside Switzerland. My licence is from a "happy country"

hey,

I do not know where the happy country is but it seems that you do not need practical exam neither theoretical exam..

I only got the practical exam and when I applied for that, they took my driver licence and end of the exam they sent me it by post with a stamp on it (that was written "nicht gültig in CH).

And for your question, after the practical exam, the examiner gave me a paper (i've passed the exam btw) and he said that i can drive my car with this paper until I get my swiss driver licence, except i may not drive abroad.

So If you do not have that kind of paper and still your driver licence is valid here, then you may drive in switzerland.

The asked me if I wanted a photocopy of my "old" one so I could keep driving while waiting for the new passport. Received the new one the same week.

Once you handed in your foreign license until you get the real Swiss license you should not drive aboard (unless you have some other valid spare license you could use ). They should you give (you may have to ask) some paper statement or photocopy of your old license which allows you to drive in Switzerland. You may even drive with the photo copy/statement aboard, but do not blame me if you get in legal troubles, stripped searched by police, or what not

Can you copy the exact statement? I am not sure about which one you are talking about. Or do you mean step Ten a and Ten b of Part three? I corrected that one from must not to should not.