Control Drive Zürich
Driving School Baschi KlG

Then you can exchange your foreign driving licence for a Swiss one under the following conditions:

1. if you first took the driving test abroad and only then received the Swiss settlement permit, or
2. if you had your residence abroad for at least 12 months and acquired your driving license during this time.

In both cases, you can take a control drive and receive your Swiss driving licence after passing it.

Please note that you must register with the relevant road traffic office within 12 months of receiving your permanent residence permit.

The control drive is also a EXAMINATION!

I therefore recommend that you take the necessary driving lessons to bring you back up to the "current" level!

Important: A failed or missed test drive cannot be repeated and will result in a driving ban in Switzerland and your foreign driving licence will be revoked. In this case, you would have to acquire the entire category again from the beginning (First aid course, Basic theory exam, the obligatory driving sensitization course, practical driving test).

For the countries listed below (EU / EFTA countries), you can have all categories rewritten without examinations.

In the countries listed below  you can have categories A and B rewritten without a test. For categories C and D as well as professional passenger transport, you would have to take an additional theory test.

You have a driving licence from Ukraine - you can find more information here at
“Strassenverkehrsamt Zürich“ and “Strassenverkehrsamt Thurgau“.

For Ukrainians with S protection status and a Ukrainian driving licence, new legal regulations will apply from 6 April 2024 new legal regulations will apply:  

If Ukrainians have been granted S protection status between 24 February 2022 and protection status S between 24 February 2022 and 5 April 2024, they must present their Ukrainian driving licence no later than two years from the date of entry into into Switzerland into a Swiss driving licence in order to be able to continue continue to be allowed to drive in Switzerland. With the invitation to the driving test, they may continue to drive until they have completed the continue to drive until the test drive has been completed.  

If Ukrainians have been granted S protection status after 5 April 2024 have been granted S protection status (or another residence status), the usual 12-month period applies to the exchange of driving licences and the usual rules apply. 

Driving in accordance with traffic regulations is tested. This includes the following points:

• Correct vehicle operation
• Correct lane entry
• Knowledge of the right of way rules and general traffic rules
• Being aware of traffic
• Driving with foresight
• Driving according to signposts
• Driving on motorways and roads

A manoeuvre (parking) and emergency braking are tested during the test drive.

The test drive must be completed within three months of the application being submitted.

Yes, once you have passed the test drive, you can also continue driving on manually switched vehicles.

When you move to Switzerland, you must exchange your foreign driving licence for a Swiss driving licence within one year. If you have held your foreign driving licence for less than three years, you will also receive a probationary driving licence - Führerausweis auf Probe.

In the event of a negative driving test, you will receive a driving ban and your foreign driving licence will be declared invalid in Switzerland.