Translating a Foreign Driving Licence in Bruges: DIV Exchange and Flemish Procedure

Living in Bruges and wishing to exchange your foreign driving licence for a Belgian one? The procedure goes through the Population Service of the City of Bruges, then theDIV (Direction pour l'Immatriculation des Véhicules). If your licence is written in a non-Latin language or script, a sworn translation into Dutch is mandatory. This guide explains everything.

See also: driving licence translation in Belgium · translation agency in Bruges

Foreign licence exchange in Bruges: who is affected

Bruges is an international city that welcomes thousands of new residents each year: tourists who have become residents, European workers attracted by companies at the neighbouring port of Zeebrugge, students at the College of Europe, and foreign families established in West Flanders. All those holding a driving licence issued outside the European Union who wish to drive legally in Belgium are affected by the exchange procedure with the DIV.

The Bruges municipality (Dienst Burgerzaken) collects your file and transmits it to the DIV, which issues the Belgian licence. A sworn translation into Dutchis required if your licence is:

• In Arabic: Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Egyptian licences
• In Cyrillic: Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Serbian licences
• In non-Latin characters: Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Hindi, Persian, Georgian
• In a language poorly mastered by Flemish agents: the desk may request a translation even for certain licences in Latin script if the mentions are not comprehensible

Exchange procedure in Bruges: practical steps

Here is how to proceed to exchange your foreign licence with the City of Bruges:

• 1. Check your country's eligibility:consult the official DIV list on mobilit.belgium.be — certain non-EU licences are exchangeable without re-sitting the tests, others are not.
• 2. Order the sworn translation:send a front-and-back scan of your licence. Specify that the translation is intended for the Bruges Dienst Burgerzaken — the target language is Dutch.
• 3. Compile the complete file: original foreign licence, sworn translation, valid residence permit, recent identity photograph, and DIV exchange application form.
• 4. Submit the file at the desk: go to the Population Service of the City of Bruges (Burg 1). The file is forwarded to the DIV, which issues the Belgian licence in 4 to 6 weeks.

The College of Europe welcomes hundreds of officials and diplomats in training: if you are in this situation, enquire about specific provisions related to your diplomatic or international status before beginning the exchange procedure.

What your licence translation covers

The sworn translation of a foreign driving licence covers all information appearing on the document:

• Full name, first name(s), date and place of birth of the holder
• Date of issue, expiry date, and issuing authority
• Authorised vehicle categories (A, B, C, D, BE, CE…) and their meaning
• Restrictions and special conditions (spectacles, automatic gearbox, etc.)
• Licence number and any administrative identifier