UK to French Driving Licence exchange
Discussion
Well, it just gets better......
It now appears that as there is no reciprocity agreement in place for driving licences between the UK and France, the ANTS system will not currently allow UK licence holders to process an exchange until a reciprocal agreement is put in place between France and the UK.
It now appears that as there is no reciprocity agreement in place for driving licences between the UK and France, the ANTS system will not currently allow UK licence holders to process an exchange until a reciprocal agreement is put in place between France and the UK.
rdjohn said:
Ah, thats probably why we have not received our French licenses despite applying for them in mid-October.
Which leaves my wife in the boo as she is 70 in March.
Do you have a source for that information?
I tried this morning to open a request via ANTS for a UK to France exchange and the website confirmed that it was not possible as at the present time there is currently no reciprocal agreement between the UK and France for licences. Which leaves my wife in the boo as she is 70 in March.
Do you have a source for that information?
Edited by rdjohn on Wednesday 6th January 16:23
In your specific case, I'd go onto ANTS and see what the current state is with your dossier - you may be ok as there was no issue before 1.1.2021
Good luck!
smifffymoto said:
It’s a joke.I submitted my licence in November,for the second time. The first time was 2 years ago and it was returned to me,them saying it wasn’t necessary to change it for a French licence as it was issued by an EU country,even though Brexit was decided and a done thing.
Same here, paper dossiers sent in in April 2019, these were returned March 2020 saying no, at the time they weren't changing them. Submitted online application in April 2020 and it was going ok until September then the applications vanished from the website and ANTS says that their system doesn't recognise the dossier number....I got mine exchanged in Spring 2019, it did however take ages and I was about to resubmit my application when I got an email saying that I'd omitted the medical test (my UK licence was from the 80s and covered some heavier vans that need a medical in France). The good news was that
they ignored the UK photocard expiry date of 2020 and gave me a photocard with a 2030's expiry; and
they ignored the certified translation requirement as I couldn't find a certified translator for Welsh to French (as I had a bilingual English/Welsh licence).
they ignored the UK photocard expiry date of 2020 and gave me a photocard with a 2030's expiry; and
they ignored the certified translation requirement as I couldn't find a certified translator for Welsh to French (as I had a bilingual English/Welsh licence).
Magooagain said:
Facebook pages are reporting various problems with the ANTS site.
It's not an ANTS problem per se, the website works, it's the lack of reciprocity that is the issue. It's the same with Spain, they've allowed UK licences to remain valid for UK citizens resident in Spain for 6 months until the UK / Spain reciprocal agreement is sorted....they hope!
A quick look at the Dutch govt website and the UK is no longer mentioned as a direct swap for a DL there either. I think this is going to affect a lot of folks throughout Europe :-(
Rushjob said:
Magooagain said:
Facebook pages are reporting various problems with the ANTS site.
It's not an ANTS problem per se, the website works, it's the lack of reciprocity that is the issue. It's the same with Spain, they've allowed UK licences to remain valid for UK citizens resident in Spain for 6 months until the UK / Spain reciprocal agreement is sorted....they hope!
A quick look at the Dutch govt website and the UK is no longer mentioned as a direct swap for a DL there either. I think this is going to affect a lot of folks throughout Europe :-(
Rushjob said:
Magooagain said:
Of course you are correct but French people are having problems with all aspects of ANTS. So it's not just about Brexit related problems from what I can see and read.
That's ANTS working normally
I found it easier than Amile.fr, or Impots.fr. I cannot create a profile for my wife with France Connect either and cannot get her an Ameli account. Tried different browsers, maiden name, the lot.
From the British Embassy Paris
We are aware that the ANTS (Agence National des Titres Sécurisés) online platform is not currently accepting applications to exchange UK driving licences. We are in close contact with the French authorities to confirm arrangements regarding driving licence exchanges and will share any updates as soon as we have them.
In the meantime, you can continue to drive in France with a UK licence, which continues to be recognised in France for both visitors and residents. See the Living in France Guide for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-france...
We are aware that the ANTS (Agence National des Titres Sécurisés) online platform is not currently accepting applications to exchange UK driving licences. We are in close contact with the French authorities to confirm arrangements regarding driving licence exchanges and will share any updates as soon as we have them.
In the meantime, you can continue to drive in France with a UK licence, which continues to be recognised in France for both visitors and residents. See the Living in France Guide for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-france...
Magooagain said:
Rushjob said:
Magooagain said:
Facebook pages are reporting various problems with the ANTS site.
It's not an ANTS problem per se, the website works, it's the lack of reciprocity that is the issue. It's the same with Spain, they've allowed UK licences to remain valid for UK citizens resident in Spain for 6 months until the UK / Spain reciprocal agreement is sorted....they hope!
A quick look at the Dutch govt website and the UK is no longer mentioned as a direct swap for a DL there either. I think this is going to affect a lot of folks throughout Europe :-(
I tried a simple change of ownership back in march, however the owner was dead, power of attorney with someone else, so it has been going on now nearly a year as it is more complicated than a simple tickbox no one wants to be willing to do anything and the delays between getting a response are incredible.
We have now been waiting 3-months for our French licenses. Still heard nothing.
Just made the call to ANTS and someone was available to answer the phone. The gist of the conversation was that if its in the queue, then it will eventually come out. When we explained the problem with my wife turning 70 in March, we envisaged a French-shrug and got no sensible answer.
We are going to have a chat at the local Gendarmerie to get their opinion about her using her out of date licence, post March.
The DVLA are pretty clear, that if you have applied for a French license, you could be fined £1000 if you apply for a UK replacement.
Anyone else got any updates?
Just made the call to ANTS and someone was available to answer the phone. The gist of the conversation was that if its in the queue, then it will eventually come out. When we explained the problem with my wife turning 70 in March, we envisaged a French-shrug and got no sensible answer.
We are going to have a chat at the local Gendarmerie to get their opinion about her using her out of date licence, post March.
The DVLA are pretty clear, that if you have applied for a French license, you could be fined £1000 if you apply for a UK replacement.
Anyone else got any updates?
Well they seem to have pretty much sorted it out now.......
24/06/2021 - UK LICENCES UPDATE RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT
Further to the update by the British Embassy tonight (24.06.21), we can finally confirm the terms of the agreement.
This is to be released officially by the Ministère de l'Intérieur soon, likely to be next week sometime, and have advised they want to ensure that CERT, CREPIC, ANTS and the Gendarmes/Police are fully mandated before the ANTS system goes live.
There will be a unified media release by the Ministère de l'Intérieur and the British Embassy Paris to publicise the new criteria and the opening of the ANTS system for UK licence exchanges.
The terms of the agreement are as follows:
_________________________________________________________________
Licences & Photocards (4a date) issued BEFORE 31.12.2020
(Licences issued whilst the UK was in the EU)
Licences and Photocards (4a) issued before 31.12.20 will continue to be recognised as legal and will be eligible for exchange 6 months before the expiry date of :
Photocard 4b
Photocard column 11
Original paper UK licence at 70
A WARP (Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit Article 50 Tue) will be required for UK citizens, or a CdS if you are required to hold one for application. If you hold EU citizenship, no changes to existing exchange procedure.
_________________________________________________________________
Expired - Licences and Photocards (4a date) issued BEFORE 31.12.20
(Licences issued whilst the UK was in the EU)
All Licences and Photocards (4a) issued before 31.12.20 but have now expired, whether before 31.12.20 or since whilst waiting for the new system to go live, will be eligible for exchange.
This won't be a quick process but once your application moves to the request to submit your licence you will receive an Attestation de Depot de Permis de Conduire (temporary licence) whist your French licence is being finalised.
_________________________________________________________________
Licences and Photocards (4a date) issued from 01.01.2021
Licences and Photocards (4a) issued from 01.01.2021 will have 12 months from the date of issue of your Residence Permit to start the exchange.
_________________________________________________________________
24/06/2021 - UK LICENCES UPDATE RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT
Further to the update by the British Embassy tonight (24.06.21), we can finally confirm the terms of the agreement.
This is to be released officially by the Ministère de l'Intérieur soon, likely to be next week sometime, and have advised they want to ensure that CERT, CREPIC, ANTS and the Gendarmes/Police are fully mandated before the ANTS system goes live.
There will be a unified media release by the Ministère de l'Intérieur and the British Embassy Paris to publicise the new criteria and the opening of the ANTS system for UK licence exchanges.
The terms of the agreement are as follows:
_________________________________________________________________
Licences & Photocards (4a date) issued BEFORE 31.12.2020
(Licences issued whilst the UK was in the EU)
Licences and Photocards (4a) issued before 31.12.20 will continue to be recognised as legal and will be eligible for exchange 6 months before the expiry date of :
Photocard 4b
Photocard column 11
Original paper UK licence at 70
A WARP (Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit Article 50 Tue) will be required for UK citizens, or a CdS if you are required to hold one for application. If you hold EU citizenship, no changes to existing exchange procedure.
_________________________________________________________________
Expired - Licences and Photocards (4a date) issued BEFORE 31.12.20
(Licences issued whilst the UK was in the EU)
All Licences and Photocards (4a) issued before 31.12.20 but have now expired, whether before 31.12.20 or since whilst waiting for the new system to go live, will be eligible for exchange.
This won't be a quick process but once your application moves to the request to submit your licence you will receive an Attestation de Depot de Permis de Conduire (temporary licence) whist your French licence is being finalised.
_________________________________________________________________
Licences and Photocards (4a date) issued from 01.01.2021
Licences and Photocards (4a) issued from 01.01.2021 will have 12 months from the date of issue of your Residence Permit to start the exchange.
_________________________________________________________________
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