Issue date was June 2017 and Entry date was November 2018

I thought B1 is a vehicle with unladen weight of less than 550kg. So my class 3 license fits into this category, am I missing something here...

That should be converted into class B. Class B1 is an ATV/Quad at best.

Big question: Did you pass the driving license test in Singapore, or did you get your Singapore license by converting a foreign license as well? If you passed you driving test in an other country then Singapore, and this other country is not on the happy list, then the request for a Kontrolfahrt is unfortunately correct.

If you passed the driving test in Singapore simply contact the StVA/SAN were you applied for conversion by e-mail and informally ask why their very own information and the information by ASTRA should not apply in your case. Hopefully it is just a simple mistake and misunderstanding.

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Thanks aSwissInTheUS. Indeed it was a mistake on their part. After a quick phone call and a reference to article 150, they said the converted license will be sent by post .

I was happy without a car during 3 years here, but now I realised the car gives some advantages.

Now I'm in a step 10B of this quest:
All points 1-10 were as in the described procedure, just now the documents (together with a driving license) may be sent to office via post.

I received "Anmeldung Zur Kontrollfahrt" document and must send the signed paper back in next days.
I want to get additionally few lessons. Also I hopefully going to be in holiday next month. It would be nice to get some lessons and go though this test in August-September. But I must send this paper back right now (during 10 days after receiving), and the office defines test drive date, not I

This paper has a field for notes, I'm going to describe my problem. Do you think it's enough or I should write anything else?
I just want to get the temporary driving license for lessons in August, and get the test only after this.
Of cause, I will translate it to German. it's another my issue....
The text is below.

Hi Folks,

I would like to share my experience in the last week in Zurich. I’m from an “unhappy” country and moved to Zurich a year ago. I had to take driving test to convert my licence to Swiss one. So I took the driving test last week and unfortunately I failed it. And after some research on the internet , I found out that I must start all process from scratch which means taking first aid course , theory exam and traffic awareness course and then driving test again. But today I got in contact with Strassenverkehrsamt Zurich and the woman told me that I don’t have to take first aid and traffic awareness courses . I need to take only theory exam and then driving test again. I think this is a new regulation for foreigners who have to take driving test for licence conversion. Does anyone know this change ?. I hope the woman I talked with was not mistaken.

Just wanted to add a couple of data points for US licensed drivers converting to a Swiss license.

Me: I came to CH in June of 2019. My US license was still valid and had been issued in 2016 per the date on the license. My original license in the US was more than 30 years ago, but nothing would show that on the license. Anyway. My license was set to expire in late June.

I scheduled an appointment at Visilab for an eye test. I filled out the forms for converting a foreign license (B class - for cars) as well as a form to apply for an A-1 (125cc scooter) learning permit. Took both forms to Visilab in Sihlcity. Did the eye test and the clerk completed the vision test section on both, although she offered that she didn't think I needed both. Charged one fee, 20chf I believe. Stopped at a photo booth in HB and took some quick photos.

Took the forms to the STVA in Zurich on a Saturday in May. Due to distancing and this being a Saturday, there was a long line stretching outside. Took about an hour of waiting. The friendly clerk appreciated my very limited German but quickly switched to English for me. She took the forms, took my US license, my residence card and took the entire sheet of photos. She actually cut out the photos I needed for both forms and attached them. She gave me a receipt and a form in case I needed to have proof of a license in the US. In fact, she actually made a photocopy of my license and my residence card and gave me a copy. That was it, I was done.

About a week later I received my new Swiss license. I also received another envelope with a bill. A couple of days later, I received an envelope with my old US license. On the back of the card was an orange sticker saying "Not valid in Switzerland".

Mrs.LSUFan: Almost identical process as above. Had to get a statement from the US state DMV that had a field showing the original date her license was issued in that state ~2007. This was because she had her license renewed in 2019.

Hi quick question

Have a British passport. Lived in Switzerland for a few years. Someone at home has bought me driving lessons. If I did the lessons and test in England would it be valid here? Would I be able to change it for a Swiss license? Or would I have to redo it all?
Thanks for the help

So I have a UK driving licence and have been living in Zurich just under a year & looks like I will be staying longer. I am now considering getting a Swiss driving licence so I have the option to drive here. How do I go about getting one and what happens with my UK licence once or if move back to the UK? I would also like to use my licence in the UK when I visit. Thank you

You apply for a Swiss licence at the licence office in Zurich (strassenverhersamt).
You can find the form online.

https://stva.zh.ch/internet/sicherhe...AUSL201902.pdf

You need a photo and an eye test.

https://stva.zh.ch/internet/sicherhe...umschreib.html


They will give you a Swiss licence in exchange for your U.K. licence and that will be sent back to the DVLA in the UK. Once you move back to the UK you apply to change your Swiss licence back to a UK one.
A Swiss licence is perfectly valid for driving in the UK when you visit.

Thank you - Thats great!

Hi everyone here,

Thank you all for the details and information. My situation is a little bit special and I did not find relevant information from the thread. I'm currently in USA and about moving to Zurich in August. I'm under 25 and got my DL back to Oct. 2018. Will I have to take some courses and tests if I want to convert my US DL to a Swiss one, if so, what are the courses and tests I will have to take, and are they have option to take in English? Thanks ahead!

Hello All,
We are moving to Fribourg very soon and was wondering if we can get Swiss license by producing US license to the authority?

Is there any exam which I need to clear to obtain driving license in Switzerland.

Also is there any need to get International permit to drive in Switzerland if I have valid US license ?

Have a look here: https://www.expatica.com/ch/living/t...erland-102892/


If you have a US license, no driving test is needed but only an eye test, and you need to convert within one year.

Older than 18 years? Check.
Had driving license for more than 1 year before the move? Check.
Acquired the license in a "happy country"? Not enough information. But assume it was acquired in the USA: Check.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but your situation is bog standard and in no way anything special at all.

The only test you have to do is the regular sight/eye test at an optometrist or optician which is done at nearly any eye wear shop.

Not for Switzerland. But as the country is rather small you might be inclined to visit places such as Pisa, Florence, Paris, Nyon, Dubrovnik, Barcelona etc.
It could be that the French, Italian, etc authorities might request one. I do not know the details, but the Italians are quite sticklers when it comes to bureaucracy and hefty fines. Better be save than sorry. Thus, it might be reasonable to get one from the AAA or the AATA (Only those can issue a valid one https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/article...-license-scams) before you leave.

It costs $20 + S&H
https://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html
http://aataidp.com/

Be aware: the international driving permit just acts as a translation document, it must always be shown together with your valid national driving license.

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Hi, thanks for the reply. I thought my situation would be special since I saw another thread saying if a person is under 25 then he/she has to do extra test and courses, other than just optical test. Anyway, thanks for the reply. I will go ahead and try first.

Hi, they have changed the website and the links no longer work. Can you tell me the name of the form I need to convert my UK licence to the Swiss one? Or where on the website I need to click to get the form? Thanks!

Wow what a cluster f...k is the new website is.
Here you go: https://www.zh.ch/de/mobilitaet/fueh...mtauschen.html

Google search phrase: "gesuch umtausch ausländischer führerausweis <canton name>"

I’m not sure this is true. I am Swiss-American and was for a few years a US diplomat at the UN. I had upon retirement to Switzerland a number of licenses some of which (Florida, Québec, GB) I took road tests for, others (France etc) I got for being a diplomat with a license. My spouse got a GE license on that basis, I never bothered, more’s the pity. Anyway they sent my French license back to Paris, gave me back my FL one with a sticker. But I basically drive rental cars in Switzerland and there’s the rub:

As other threads will say, those days when I rented a car at GVA and drove into France or Italy with a CH plated car exposed me to huge fines as I was resident in GB. I was never caught. I used to visit a dentist in Aosta but never brought back more wine or meat than allowed and was only asked to open the boot once, probably looking for asylum seekers as it was a rented Mercedes.

They never took my GB license but it will be void anyway with Brexit (non-settled aliens can’t rent property, have bank accounts or driver licenses in U.K.).

The driving license is not the issue.


Here the relevant part:
"B) The car's custom, duty, tax, insurance and road worthiness status must be in good order."

As you said: The problem is (was) the UK residency. The driving license has nothing to do with it. As an EU resident you cannot simply bring expensive goods into the EU custom area and use it there. You would need prior permission and the correct paperwork. Only tourist which have their residency outside the EU customs area can do that based on the Istanbul Convention on Temporary Admission. A non-EU license might help to fly under the radar and not rise suspicion, but it would still be a customs offence.

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