Netherlands Worldwide

Renewing your Dutch driving licence in Brazil

If you live in Brazil and your Dutch driving licence has expired (or has almost expired), you either can renew your Dutch licence or exchange it for a Brazilian one. This depends on how long you will be staying in Brazil. 

I will be staying longer than 6 months 

If you will be staying in Brazil for longer than 6 months, you will need a Brazilian driving licence. You can submit an application to an office of the Secretaria Nacional de Trânsito (SENATRAN) (information in Portuguese). When you exchange your driving licence you need to hand in your Dutch licence. It will be returned to the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). You don't need to retake your driving test because you are handing in your Dutch driving licence. 

What do I need?

If you want to apply for a Brazilian driving licence you will need to do a number of tests:

  • a written test, in Portuguese
  • a physical test (eyesight)
  • a psychological test.

If you pass the tests you will be issued with a Brazilian driving licence that is valid for 5 years. You will need to renew your licence every 5 years.

Moving back to the Netherlands

If you are moving back to the Netherlands you can ask the RDW to exchange your Brazilian driving licence for a new Dutch one. Find out more about exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Dutch licence.

I will be staying less than 6 months

If you will be staying in Brazil for less than 6 months and your driving licence has expired (or has almost expired), you can renew it via the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). Follow the steps to apply for a new driving licence.

Renewing your driving licence

Do you have the Dutch nationality? Or the nationality of another EU/EEA country? Then you can renew your Dutch driving licence at the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). Even if your driving licence has expired. However, you must have a (correspondence) address in the Netherlands. You will need this to receive the application form and your driving licence. The RDW does not send mail abroad.

Attention: Do you have a valid foreign driving licence in addition to your Dutch driving licence? Then it is not necessary to renew your Dutch driving licence. If you are visiting the Netherlands, you may drive with your valid foreign driving licence. Are you living in the Netherlands again? Then you can exchange your foreign driving licence back for a Dutch driving licence.

Follow the steps to renew your driving licence:

Step 1: Request an application form

You can request an application form for renewing your driving licence from the RDW's website.

Step 2: Collect the right documents

You will need the following original documents:

  • your Dutch driving licence
  • a photocopy of your valid travel document, e.g. a passport or identity card 
  • a completed and signed application form
  • 1 colour passport photo that meets Dutch passport photo requirements and is less than 6 months old. 

In the following situations you will need to supply additional documents. Click on the situation(s) that applies (apply) to you for more information.

Step 3: Submit your documents

Send all the documents needed for your application to the RDW: 

RDW, Unit Rijbewijzen
Postbus 9000
9640 HA Veendam
Nederland

Step 4: Pay the fee

Pay the fee for your application for a new driving licence. Scroll to ‘Kosten’ on the RDW's website to find out what the fee is and how to pay it. 

After your payment has been assessed, the RDW will process your application within 10 working days.

Does RDW approve your application? Then it will take 5 working days before you receive your new driving licence at your correspondence address in the Netherlands.

If your application is rejected you will receive a letter explaining why.