If you stay in Switzerland for less than a year, your original driving licence remains valid. All foreign nationals residing in Switzerland must apply for a Swiss driving licence after a maximum of 12 months' stay in the country.

One exception to this is if you are a professional driver. In this case you must apply for a Swiss licence immediately; this means before undertaking your first professional journey in the country.

Holders of licences from EU/EFTA- states and north America can obtain a Swiss license without a road test, provided that their foreign permit is still valid. Contact the Road Traffic Licensing Department (Strassenverkehrsamt) for further information.

The minimum driving age is 18 for cars and motorcycles, 16 years for a scooter and 14 for a moped.

Strassenverkehrsamt
(Road Traffic Licensing Department)
Hinterbergstrasse 41
6312 Steinhausen
Tel. +41 41 728 47 11
Fax +41 41 728 47 27
info.stva@zg.ch
www.zg.ch/strassenverkehrsamt - German