Exchanging Your U.S. or Canadian Driver’s License in France: What You Need to Know

 

If you’re planning to make France your new home—whether for work, study, or retirement—one of the most practical steps you’ll need to take is sorting out your driver’s license. Driving in France as a resident requires a French license, but the process for exchanging your foreign one depends on where it was issued. Here’s a clear guide for those coming from the United States or Canada.

Driving Legally in France as a New Arrival

If you hold a valid driver’s license from the U.S. or Canada, you can legally drive in France using that license for up to one year from the date you establish residency (the date you receive your residence permit or carte de séjour).After that period, you must hold a French license to continue driving legally.

However, whether you can exchange your existing license or need to take a French driving test depends entirely on where your license was issued.

License Exchange Agreements

France has signed reciprocal agreements with certain U.S. states and Canadian provinces, allowing for a direct exchange of licenses without the need for retesting.

For U.S. Drivers

Not every U.S. state has an exchange agreement with France. As of recent regulations, you can directly exchange your license only if it was issued in one of the following states (this list can change, so always verify with your local prefecture or the French government website):

• Delaware

• Maryland

• Ohio

• Pennsylvania

• Virginia

• South Carolina

• Texas

• Illinois

• Massachusetts

• New Hampshire

• Michigan

• Florida

• Connecticut

If your license was issued in one of these states, you can apply for a licence d’échange at your local prefecture (or online via the ANTS portal).If your state is not on the list, you’ll need to pass both the French theory (code de la route) and practical driving test to obtain a French license.

For Canadian Drivers

Canada has a broader exchange agreement with France, making the process easier for most Canadians. You can exchange your driver’s license if it was issued in one of these provinces or territories:

• Quebec

• Ontario

• British Columbia

• Alberta

• New Brunswick

• Prince Edward Island

• Newfoundland and Labrador

Residents from these provinces can exchange their licenses directly for a French one. Unfortunately, licenses from provinces or territories not listed above require you to retake the French driving tests.

When and How to Apply

You must submit your exchange application within one year of becoming a resident in France. After this window closes, you’ll have to start from scratch as if you never held a license.

Applications are processed through the ANTS website (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés): https://ants.gouv.fr

You’ll need to provide:

• Proof of residence in France (e.g., utility bill, rental agreement)

• A valid U.S. or Canadian driver’s license (with an official translation into French by a certified translator)

• Proof of the date you became a French resident (residency permit, visa, or first residence card)

• Passport or ID

• Recent passport-style photos

• Medical certificate (for certain license categories)

• Driving record or abstract from your home DMV or provincial authority

The processing time can vary—sometimes taking several months—so it’s best to apply early.

Important Details to Remember

• Your foreign license must be valid at the time of exchange. Expired licenses cannot be converted.

• You must have obtained your original license before becoming a French resident.

• Once exchanged, your foreign license is surrendered and returned to the issuing authority in your home country.

• If you later move away from France, you’ll generally need to reapply for a license in your new country based on local rules.

Driving Confidence on French Roads

Adapting to French driving norms may take a little time—especially with the country’s network of roundabouts, strict right-of-way rules, and the priority-to-the-right system (“priorité à droite”).

Still, once you’ve exchanged your license, you’ll enjoy full French driving privileges and peace of mind on the road.

The Glittering Legacy of LGBTQ Artists on the French Riviera

 

The French Riviera—bathed in Mediterranean light and drenched in glamour—has long been a magnet for artists seeking beauty, freedom, and inspiration. Beyond its palm-fringed boulevards and azure coastlines, the region has also played a pivotal role in queer artistic history. From the early 20th century onward, the Riviera became both a haven and a muse for many LGBTQ artists, writers, and visionaries who found in its landscapes a sanctuary of expression. The following are just a small number of people who have helped shape the region through art and word.

Jean Cocteau: The Poet of the Côte d’Azur

No name embodies the marriage of art and the Riviera’s mystique more than Jean Cocteau. The French poet, filmmaker, and artist—openly gay in an era when few dared to be—made the Riviera his creative refuge. His frescoes adorn the Chapelle Saint-Pierre in Villefranche-sur-Mer, a deeply personal masterpiece that merges sacred and sensual imagery. Cocteau also spent much of his time in Menton, where his works and personal items are preserved in the Musée Jean Cocteau. His artistic universe, filled with mythological motifs and homoerotic undertones, captured the region’s romantic spirit and celebrated a timeless vision of love and beauty.

Francis Bacon: A Turbulent Genius in Monaco

The British painter Francis Bacon, known for his raw, emotionally charged portraits, lived intermittently in Monaco and Beaulieu-sur-Mer during the 1940s and ’50s. The Riviera offered him both anonymity and indulgence—a place to paint, gamble, and live passionately. His relationship with his lover, Peter Lacy, was often stormy, yet it fueled some of his most powerful works. The light and decadence of the Riviera seeped subtly into his art, tempering his London darkness with Mediterranean vibrancy.

Patrick Procktor and David Hockney: British Color on the Côte

 

The Riviera also attracted members of the British queer art scene of the 1960s. Patrick Procktor, a painter known for his vivid watercolors and depictions of male figures, spent time along the coast capturing its luminous atmosphere. His contemporary, David Hockney, was equally entranced. Though better known for his Californian pools, Hockney visited and painted the south of France, drawing from the same sunlight and sensuality that defined so much of his work. Both artists helped link the Riviera to a broader international narrative of gay modernism and artistic liberation.

James Baldwin: Writing in Exile

Though best remembered for his activism and novels exploring race and sexuality in America, James Baldwin spent much of his later life in the village of Saint Paul de Vence. There, in a serene stone house overlooking the Mediterranean, Baldwin wrote and entertained a circle of international artists and thinkers. Openly gay and fiercely honest, he infused his work with themes of love, identity, and belonging. The Riviera gave Baldwin the peace to reflect on both personal and political struggles, and his presence there turned St. Paul de Vence into a quiet hub of intellectual exchange.

Paul Bowles and Jane Bowles: A Queer Literary Partnership

Before settling in Tangier, the American writer and composer Paul Bowles and his bisexual wife, Jane Bowles, spent time on the French Riviera during the 1930s. Their circle overlapped with other queer expatriates and artists of the interwar period, drawn by the freedom of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Their experiences in the south of France helped shape their later bohemian lives and the themes of dislocation and identity that permeated their work.

Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita: The Androgynous Modernist

The Japanese-French painter Foujita, known for his delicate depictions of androgynous figures and cats, frequented Nice and Cagnes-sur-Mer during the early 20th century. Though discreet about his sexuality, Foujita’s fluid self-presentation and gentle, intimate portrayals of the male body aligned him with the queer modernist movement that flourished on the Riviera’s shores.

A Haven for Freedom and Expression

What drew so many LGBTQ artists to the French Riviera? It was not only the light or the luxury—it was freedom. From the early 1900s, Nice, Cannes, and Monaco offered a degree of social tolerance rare in other parts of Europe. The cosmopolitan mix of artists, aristocrats, and expatriates created a space where gender norms and sexual boundaries could be quietly blurred or boldly defied.

The Riviera’s allure endures. The same coastal towns that inspired Cocteau and Baldwin now host vibrant Pride celebrations, queer film festivals, and exhibitions honoring LGBTQ heritage. The legacy of these trailblazing artists continues to shimmer in the Mediterranean light—a reminder that art and identity have always found a home on the Côte d’Azur.

In essence, the French Riviera was more than a backdrop—it was a canvas. For generations of LGBTQ artists, it became a place to paint, write, love, and live without apology.

November Art Highlights at NEO Art & Culture Lab x VogelART

 

This November in Nice, the NEO Art & Culture Lab x VogelART welcomes art and design lovers to two distinct exhibitions that celebrate creativity in motion and craftsmanship with flair.

“The Art of Taking Flight” by Harald Gottschling

November 13–16, 2025
Vernissage: November 13, 6–9 p.m.
Exhibition Hours: November 14–16, 2–7 p.m. | Free Admission

Designer and artist Harald Gottschling invites visitors on an artistic journey through air and imagination. His exhibition, The Art of Taking Flight, showcases a captivating retrospective of over 20 aircraft models, along with paintings, sculptures, and design studies.

Rooted in childhood memories of building model airplanes with his father, Gottschling’s work explores the harmony between engineering precision and artistic expression. His creations reflect a lifelong fascination with aerodynamics, structure, and the poetic beauty of flight.

POP-UP: Motel a Miio at NEO

November 21–22, 2025
Friday: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. | Saturday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Following its summer success, Motel a Miio returns to NEO for a two-day pop-up ceramics sale. Visitors can browse and purchase a vibrant selection of handcrafted ceramic pieces, each blending function and design at accessible prices. Known for their unique colors, textures, and artisanal quality, Motel a Miio’s creations bring a touch of warmth and style to any home.

Explore, discover, and take home a piece of art this November at NEO Art & Culture Lab x VogelART—where innovation, craftsmanship, and inspiration come together.

Dozens of New Flight Routes to the French Riviera to Launch in 2026

 

The French Riviera is preparing for a major boost in air connectivity, as dozens of new flight routes to and from France are set to launch in 2026 — with a strong focus on the Côte d’Azur. The region, already a world-renowned destination for luxury, leisure, and innovation, is expected to see significant growth in both international and regional air traffic.

Expanding Horizons from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport

At the heart of this expansion is Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE), France’s second-busiest airport after Paris. In 2024, it handled nearly 15 million passengers, serving more than 120 destinations across 45 countries. Now, with the surge in global travel demand and increased interest in the Riviera as a year-round destination, airlines are responding with new long-haul and short-haul connections.

One of the most anticipated announcements is from Delta Air Lines, which will introduce a direct flight between Boston and Nice beginning May 17, 2026. The route will operate three times a week — on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays — and marks an important step in strengthening ties between the U.S. and the south of France. This new transatlantic link will make it easier for American travelers and business professionals to reach the Riviera without needing to transit through Paris or London.

New International and Regional Routes

Beyond North America, several European and Middle Eastern carriers are also expanding their offerings. EasyJet, one of Nice Airport’s main operators, is adding new destinations for the winter 2025/2026 season, including Hurghada, Egypt, highlighting the Riviera’s growing appeal as a launch point for year-round travel.

Meanwhile, a pioneering step in sustainable regional transport is taking shape. Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur has partnered with Lilium N.V. and UrbanV to introduce electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft — known as air taxis — by 2026. These zero-emission jets are expected to connect key Riviera destinations such as Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille in minutes, signaling the dawn of a new era in eco-friendly air mobility.

Economic and Tourism Impact

The new flight routes are expected to have a significant impact on the regional economy, creating new opportunities for tourism, business, and investment. The Boston–Nice route, in particular, is designed to boost “economic, tourist, and cultural ties” between the United States and southern France.

For the hospitality and real estate sectors, increased flight connectivity will likely encourage off-season travel and longer stays, while also strengthening the Riviera’s reputation as a hub for international business, events, and conferences.

Looking Ahead

While some of the new routes will initially operate on a seasonal basis, their success could lead to permanent year-round service. The challenge will be to balance growing passenger volumes with sustainable development — ensuring the Riviera’s airports remain efficient, environmentally conscious, and well connected to ground transport networks.

As the world’s airlines continue to invest in new routes and technologies, the French Riviera is clearly positioning itself as one of Europe’s most accessible and forward-thinking destinations.

By 2026, travelers can expect smoother, greener, and more diverse travel options to reach the glittering coastline — whether arriving from Boston, Cairo, or Marseille. The skies over the Côte d’Azur are about to get a lot busier — and brighter.