Hey guys, I have this little big problem with my driving license conversion, and I thought maybe someone knows something to help me out.

So the problem I have is that i tried to change my driving license that I got in my own country for the swiss one, but apparently you need to get your driving licence 12 months before entering switzerland and before getting your residence (something that I havent seen anywhere on the Ch website). I thought in a foolish way that it would be fine to do my license in my own country during the summer vacation after 2 years of living in Switzerland and afterwards converting it to the Swiss one(thinking it would be easier with the language and what not).

But now after sending them all the documents and forms that i filled and including the original driving licence, they decided to keep the original license and making me do the whole driving school once again but in Switzerland.

My question is, has it happened to someone else as well?. And if yes, do I have to redo the Swiss driving school again or just the tests (theoretical and practical).

Thank you

Yes, that is normal and yes, the driving licence done during the summer holidays is not valid here.

Thank you for the fast reply,
One more question if its ok. Is it possible to do the exams without doing the whole driving school? Since in most European countries it is kind of mandatory.

Thank you

No idea, sorry.

It is in a lot of countries that you cannot just pop over to your home country, get your driving licence and convert it.

Thank you for the reply

You'll have to do the lot, including your First Aid Certificate, etc.

About thirty years ago I'd started taking lessons with a view to exchanging my newly acquired UK licence for a swiss one, but they changed the rules before I'd finished. It's not a new rule by any means.

PS; Part of the problem was apparently people from countries such as India buying licences back in their home countries for a few hundred francs without having a clue how to drive, and then simply swapping it for a swiss one.

What a bummer, but at least I will get up to date with the swiss rules and what not.
Thank you for the info

You don not need to have your license for more than 12 months before registering as a residence. But, you would only get a provisional one valid for two years. In this two years you must two driving courses, have no major traffic infractions, and a BAC of max 0.01%.

Any driving license from aboard while beeing a Swiss resident can not be converted into a Swiss one.

What do you have do to:

Do the first aid course (Nothelferkurs).
Get the application form from your locals SAN/StVA website: http://www.strassenverkehrsaemter.ch
Get a nice photo of you
Get an sight test at an optometrists/optician (Cost CHF 10 to 20. )
Bring form and proof of first aid course to SAN/StVA or commone office.
Learn for the theory exam http://asa.ch/dienstleistungen/Theoriefragen/
Take
Pass the theory exam.
Do the road awarness course.
Pass the practical exam (no lessons needed).

If you hurryup it can be done in less than a month.

Done. You will get a provisonal license valid for the next three years. During that period you must two driving courses, have no major traffic infractions, and a BAC of max 0.01%.

__________________
"Okay, I just hope we don't wake up on Mars or something surrounded by millions of little squashy guys."

Thank you very much for the information, you have been very helpful.

Out of interest, which country is 'back home'?

Things will of course change for British people post Brexit- and they will probably have to re-take driving licence all over- just as I did in 1970. I did 3 driving licences in just over a year, Swiss car, Swiss motorcycle, the UK car licence - as it was not possible to convert in those pre-EU days.$

Perhaps few here remember the pre-EU days, visas, work permit and job to be found before entering the country, etc, etc,

Its the wonderful country of Estonia

Only weird thing is that they kept my license and if i want to drive outside Switzerland, I have to send them a form in which I specify how long I'll be away for, so I can send it back o them once back from the trip. And from what i understood, its quite a long process

That's the law: Art. 42 Abs. 4 and Art. 45 VZV
https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifi...247/index.html

Err no, they won't. Agreements about recognising licences are completely independent of the EU, so Brexit, Frexit, or EUdisintegration would have no effect on this whatsoever.

As far as I know, if you have an EU drivers license should be a straight swap... but reading here, it looks like you need to had it for more than 1 year

what nonsense again. driving license conversion rules are not exclusively for EU countries.

Exactly. Nobody knows what's going to happen so your initial post stating that of course things will change is just daft ( and that is what I believe people have an issue with, not the fact that you actually had to take the tests). Things may change or they may not but until we know exactly what is going to happen there is no of course about it.

Whatever happens I think it is very unlikely that things will be as they were in the1970s as an awful lot of things have changed since then.

My Swiss licence was valid for 1 year as a visitor, and only 6 months once resident. Did you ever try then, to swap your licence in pre EU/reciprocal agreements days? Perhaps you were not born ?

And yes, I had to drive with an L - didn't realise that until just before the test- in Walton-on-Thames - MIL made 2 with lipstick on cardboard and tied them to the TR4 with ribbon. The Examiner checked, gave me a funny look but didn't say anything, but passed me - saying 'powerful car, you will be careful out there' - before I had to pull him out of the car as he was huge

You won't believe me of course - but I truly don't care

That in 1970!!! Things have changed quite a lot since then.

I believe every word of your DL conversion story.

Telling people that 'of course', 'probably' Brexit will affect UK driver's licenses in CH, is just plain silly. CH isn't even in the EU FFS.

Were you really UK resident at the time........
This is presumably before you went as a to the UK as a secretary, then got married & stayed in the UK for 40 years.
Canadians & Americans can swop their licenses as can many other 3rd country citizens.

From your final paragraph you were already married, I call BS to some of your claims.