I've procrastinated long enough now that I'm close to the limit of my US drivers license validity here in CH (1 yr). I have an M endorsement on it but don't know if it transfers to A25kW or A. I sold my old-timer bike before moving here and don't yet know exactly what I'm getting here. My guess is apply for the bigger bike permit but don't know if I'd need to take any additional tests for it, etc. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Andrew
I just went through this a couple of months back & it's much easier than I thought it would be.
You need the drivers license application form from your Geminde which probably can be downloaded from thier website. Bring it with you to the eye doctor. I found one by walking in to a local eyeglass store and asking if they could make the eye test for me. They looked at my US license to verify what I was allowed to drive in the States and marked the correct boxes (not sure if that was his responsibility or if he was just being nice ), gave me a standard eye test and signed off on it.
Send in the form, required passport photos (cheapest at the photo keosks at the train station) and your US license.
I got my old US license and new Swiss license back in less than a week. A bill will follow in a couple of weeks for about 85 chf.
You won't need to take a test unless you wait until your year is up.
When I arrived in Sweden five years ago, I was unable to transfer neither my car nor my MC license from the States. I was forced to start the driving process over just like an 18 y.o. It was a challenge considering I had been driving for more than 25 years and was too confident a driver.
I have keep my US license current, and I still a US passport, so I hope when I relocate I can easily transfer my US license into a Swiss one WITH MC ENDORSEMENT!
Just seen your other post where you mention Swedish citizenship as the basis for your move here. You will not be able to exchange your US driving license in these circumstances. The reason is that as you lived in Sweden long enough to get citizenship then your US license became invalid (after 12 months) in EU states and by bilateral agreement in Switzerland. You cannot exchange an invalid license.
If you had registered as a US citizen then you might have got away with it .
You can, of course, exchange your Swedish license.
So the work permit will say that I am Swedish? I wondered about that.
I thought because I still had a valid US Passport and a valid US driver's license I might be able to get the Swiss one using them. I didn't think they would check my work permit.
I heard from a colleague that he held a British Passport and a Canadian driver's license and he had no problem changing the DL in for a Swiss one.
Maybe, since I don't have my permit yet, I can have my company use my US citizenship as the basis.
Now that would be a mistake - you got your permit as an EU citizen. As a non-EU citizen you probably won't get one in the current climate .
Worst case, they say 'no' and then I have to go through the process of getting my MC license in Switzerland.
I will search this forum, but I'm hoping there's a possible of completing the task without speaking fluent German.