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Driving in Switzerland on a foreign licence

Article 42 of the Ordinance on the Licensing of Persons and Vehicles for Road Traffic Purposes (SR 741.51) stipulates that drivers from other countries may drive motorised vehicles in Switzerland provided that they are holders of:

  • a valid national driving licence, or
  • a valid international driving licence (in accordance with the International Convention on Motor Traffic [SR 0.741.11] and the Convention on Road Traffic [SR 0.741.10]), together with the relevant national driving licence.

Driver's licence information for tourists

Driving an automobile in Switzerland with a canadien driver's licence

Drivers from abroad are permitted to drive a motor vehicle for a year in Switzerland, provided they have reached the minimum required age to drive (18 for motorcycles, light motor vehicles and trucks; 21 for commercial vehicles) and they have a valid national or international driving licence. Drivers who have an international driving licence may drive in Switzerland as long as they also have a driving licence from their country.Source

Application for an international driving permit for a canadian driver

The following drivers must hold a Swiss driving licence:

  • foreign drivers of motorised vehicles who have lived in Switzerland for more than 12 months and without interruption of more than three consecutive months;
  • professional drivers of Swiss-registered motorised vehicles that require a category C or D driving licence,  a sub-category C1 or D1 licence, or authorisation as defined by Art. 25 of the Ordinance on the Licensing of Persons for Road Traffic Purposes.

Please contact the relevant road traffic office in your Swiss place of residence for more information. A list of all cantonal agencies can be found on the Association of Road Traffic Offices (ASA) website.

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Last update 27.11.2017