Use the D9 form to register a non-GB driving licence with DVLA, replace a lost or damaged EU or EEA licence, or apply for provisional entitlement to drive a car, motorcycle, bus, or lorry in Great Britain. It applies only to EU or EEA licences, is free to submit, and cannot be completed online.
What Is the D9 Form?
The D9 is an official certificate from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency used by people who hold a driving licence from an EU or EEA country. It covers three separate situations, such as registers your non-GB licence with DVLA, lets you apply for a replacement if your licence has been lost, stolen, defaced, or destroyed, and also allows you to apply for provisional entitlement to drive vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, lorries, buses, or minibusses, with or without a trailer.
Registering your licence through this application does not exchange it for a British licence. A licence exchange is a separate process handled through a different application.
Not for GB or non-EU/EEA licences
If you hold a licence issued in Great Britain, use the D1 form instead. If you hold a licence from outside the EU or EEA, such as the United States, Canada, or Australia, different DVLA rules apply, and this is not the correct document.
Do You Need to Register? Mandatory vs Voluntary
You need to register if you live in Great Britain and drive an EU or EEA licensed bus with 9 or more passenger seats, or a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes. This is confirmed on the official GOV.UK D9 publication page. Ordinary EU or EEA car licence holders generally do not need to register.
Registration is required by law if you live in Great Britain and drive a bus with 9 or more passenger seats, or any vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tonnes. This must be done within 12 months of taking up residence in the UK.
Registration is optional for ordinary EU or EEA licence holders. Following a change in legislation that took effect in April 2009, ordinary licence holders are no longer required to register their licence to accept a fixed penalty. Some still choose to register anyway, since it creates an official record with DVLA and can simplify a future licence exchange.
Automatic registration
If you exchange your EU or EEA licence for a GB licence, DVLA registers you automatically. No separate application is needed in that case.
|
Licence Type |
Registration Requirement |
Deadline |
|---|---|---|
|
Bus with 9+ passenger seats |
Mandatory |
Within 12 months of residence |
|
Vehicle over 3.5 tonnes |
Mandatory |
Within 12 months of residence |
|
Ordinary EU or EEA car licence |
Voluntary |
No deadline |
|
Licence already exchanged for GB licence |
Autometic |
Not applicable |
|
Non-EU or EEA licence, for example US |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Who Needs to Apply?
Three groups typically complete this application directly.
Employers and fleet managers
They do not submit this form on a driver’s behalf, since it is a personal application tied to an individual’s licence. Their role is to verify that any employee who drives a bus or heavy vehicle on an EU or EEA licence has completed the registration DVLA requires for that entitlement.
Eligible Countries for Registration
Current DVLA guidance lists the following EU or EEA countries as eligible for D9 registration:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Cyprus
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Licence from a non-listed country
If your EU licence was obtained by exchanging one from a country not on this list, DVLA will not register it. You can still drive Category B vehicles in the UK on that licence for up to a year, after which you must apply for a GB licence.
Downloading, Submitting, and Paying for Application
There is no fee to register a non-GB licence using this form, and it cannot currently be submitted online. You can download the official D9 PDF directly from the GOV.UK publication page, the only source that guarantees you have the current version.
Can you submit it online?
No. DVLA requires the completed paper form to be posted along with your original licence and any supporting documents. There is no digital upload option for this application.
Where do you get the current version of the form?
Always download the D9 from the official GOV.UK publication page or from our website, since DVLA updates the PDF from time to time and an outdated copy could be rejected.
How to Fill Out the D9 Form?
The application is a four part paper form. Fill it in using capital letters and black ink.
State what you are applying for
Tick whether this is your first application to register your licence, a replacement for a licence that was lost, stolen, defaced, or destroyed, or an application for provisional entitlement to a specific vehicle category. Provisional bus or lorry entitlement also requires a Medical Examination Report, form D4, as a supporting document.Tick whether this is your first application to register your licence, a replacement for a licence that was lost, stolen, defaced, or destroyed, or an application for provisional entitlement to a specific vehicle category. Provisional bus or lorry entitlement also requires a Medical Examination Report, form D4, as a supporting document.
Declare convictions if they apply to you
This section only applies if you are applying for lorry, minibus, or bus entitlement.
Provide your personal details
Fill in your full name, date of birth, current and previous UK address, country of birth, and the date you moved to the UK, plus your EU or EEA licence details. Enclose your current licence. DVLA returns it once processing is complete.
Sign and date the form
The application is not valid without a signature. Once complete, post it to DVLA in Swansea along with your original licence and any supporting documents.
Required Documents and Supporting Evidence
Official guidance says to send your application together with your EU or EEA licence, and documentary evidence if needed. What counts as documentary evidence depends on your circumstances, so confirm with DVLA or check the current form notes before you apply.
|
Document |
Requirement |
|---|---|
|
Original EU or EEA driving licence |
Required for every application, returned to you after processing |
|
Medical Examination Report, form D4 |
Required only if applying for provisional bus or lorry entitlement |
|
Additional documentary evidence |
May be requested depending on your circumstances, for example a translation or proof of address. Confirm with DVLA before sending your application |
Convictions and Conduct Declarations
The D9 form’s own declaration section sets out the following rules. If you are applying for lorry entitlement, you must declare any findings of guilt, fixed penalties, or cautions related to drivers’ hours, driving records, roadworthiness, or vehicle loading.
If you are applying for minibus or bus entitlement, the rules cover more ground. You must declare any findings of guilt or cautions, even ones unrelated to driving. Passenger carrying vehicle drivers must also tell DVLA about court convictions unrelated to driving, unless the conviction is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Four year rule
Convictions older than four years do not need to be declared. DVLA and the local Traffic Commissioner use this information to decide whether to grant entitlement to drive large goods or passenger carrying vehicles.
Medical Requirements for D9 Applicants
Provisional bus or lorry entitlement requires a Medical Examination Report, form D4, submitted alongside your D9. Outside of that, DVLA still expects certain existing medical conditions, such as epilepsy, insulin treated diabetes with severe episodes, or conditions affecting eyesight or consciousness, to be reported directly to the Drivers Medical Group in Swansea, separately from this form.
Failing to report can mean a fine
Failing to report a relevant condition can result in a fine of up to £1,000. For the complete and current list of reportable conditions, see GOV.UK driving and medical conditions.
Vehicle Categories Relevant to D9 Applications
The table below covers the categories most relevant to D9 provisional entitlement applications, from ordinary car and motorcycle categories through to vocational bus and lorry categories. Minimum ages shown are standard figures; some categories have exceptions for armed forces members or specific training routes.
|
Category |
Vehicle Type |
Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|
|
A1 |
Light motorcycle |
17 |
|
A |
Motorcycle |
24, or 20 with two years on A2 |
|
B |
Car |
17 |
|
C1 |
Medium sized goods vehicle |
18 |
|
C |
Large goods vehicle |
21 |
|
D1 |
Minibus |
21 |
|
D |
Bus |
24 |
Renewal Rules for Bus and Lorry Drivers
If you hold an EU or EEA licence and drive buses or lorries, renewal timing depends on your age.
|
Age |
Renewal Frequency |
Medical Requirement |
|---|---|---|
|
Under 45 |
As per standard licence validity |
Medical questions on the renewal form |
|
45 and over |
At least every 5 years |
D4 medical examination report required |
|
45 and over |
Every year |
D4 medical examination report required |
Special Cases
Northern Ireland licence holders
Since April 2009, Northern Ireland licence holders no longer need to register to take advantage of the fixed penalty system.
Licence exchange
If you exchange your EU or EEA licence for a GB licence, DVLA registers you automatically. No separate submission is required.
Licences from non-listed countries
You can still drive Category B vehicles in the UK for up to a year on that licence before you need a GB licence.
Lost licence with no replacement available
If you cannot get a duplicate from the issuing country, you can apply directly to DVLA for a GB licence instead.
How D9 Differs From D1, D2, and D4
D9 is the main form for registering, replacing, or applying for provisional entitlement on an EU or EEA licence. D1, D2, and D4 serve related but separate purposes.
|
Form |
Purpose |
Who Uses It |
|---|---|---|
|
D9 |
Register, replace, or apply for provisional entitlement on an EU or EEA licence |
EU or EEA licence holders |
|
D1 |
Apply for a GB driving licence or provisional licence |
GB residents and new drivers |
|
D2 |
Apply for a lorry or bus driving licence |
Drivers seeking vocational GB entitlement |
|
D4 |
Medical examination report |
Submitted alongside D9 or D2 for bus or lorry entitlement |
Address, Processing Time, and Contact Details
Send your completed form, original licence, and supporting documents to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BH, as confirmed on the official GOV.UK D9 page. Processing typically takes a few weeks from the date DVLA receives your paperwork, though this can vary by case.
Contact DVLA
Call 0300 790 6801, Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm, or Saturday from 8am to 2pm, for questions about a submission.