Homologating your Dutch driver's license in Uruguay
A step-by-step guide for Frank Heijckers & Janine Heijckers — Dutch citizens now living in Uruguay, exchanging a valid RDW driving licence at the Intendencia de Montevideo.
The situation in one paragraph
Both of you hold a valid Dutch (RDW) driving licence. The Netherlands has no license-exchange treaty with Uruguay (only Spain does), so you follow the "sin convenio" route: obtain an apostilled RDW driving record plus a Spanish translation, and homologate to Uruguayan categories A, G1 and G2 (a normal private car = category A).
Do this twice. Frank and Janine each run the whole process independently — two RDW certificates, two apostilles, two translations, two medical certs, two appointments, two fees. This guide applies to each of you.
No apostilled record = exams. If you can't present the apostilled driving record, the Intendencia will require you to sit the theoretical and practical driving exams instead of a straight homologation.
Netherlands · RDW
Get the official proof of your Dutch licence, legalise it, and translate it. Start here — this side takes the longest (postal + apostille).
1 Download your free PDF extract FrankJanine
Log in to the RDW driving-licence register and download your data as a free PDF. Good as a quick reference and to check your categories/validity — but usually not sufficient on its own for Uruguay.
2 Order the official EchtheidsverklaringFrankJanine
This is the document Uruguay needs — the RDW “Certificate of Authenticity” (Echtheidsverklaring): an original, certified statement in English confirming your licence number, issue date, categories and validity.
A fee applies (check the current amount on the RDW page). Pay by direct debit, or transfer to IBAN NL25 ABNA 0477 2566 00 — Dienst Wegverkeer.
Delivered by post within ~10 working days.
Living abroad? Because you're deregistered from the Netherlands, the RDW can post it to a foreign address — fill in a correspondentieadres (correspondence address) on the form. Tip: have it sent to a trusted address in NL first (see step 3), so it can be apostilled without shipping it back and forth.
3 Get it apostilled FrankJanine
Uruguay is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille is enough (no full legalisation).
In the Netherlands, apostilles are issued by any District Court (rechtbank) — not by embassies or consulates.
Since you're in Uruguay: have a trusted person in NL take the certificate to a rechtbank, use the Dutch digital apostille service where available, or a paid apostille agency.
4 Sworn Spanish translation FrankJanine
The Intendencia requires Spanish, or a translation by a traductor público.
Best: once apostilled, have a Uruguayan traductor público translate the whole document — including the apostille — into Spanish.
Alternative: a Dutch beëdigd vertaler (sworn translator) into Spanish, with the translation itself apostilled too.
Uruguay · Intendencia de Montevideo
With the RDW paperwork in hand, complete the local requirements and book the homologation.
Local prerequisites (per person)
Cédula de Identidad uruguaya — requires legal residency in Uruguay.
Uruguayan medical certificate(certificado médico / carné de salud) from an authorised institution (institución habilitada).
Go on your appointment day to Edificio Sede, Av. 18 de Julio 1360, Montevideo, bringing:
Cédula de Identidad
Your valid Dutch driving licence
The RDW Echtheidsverklaring — apostilled + Spanish translation
Uruguayan medical certificate
7 Pay the fee FrankJanine
Cost: $2.591 (Uruguayan pesos) per person. Your Dutch licence is handled per the Intendencia's rules on the day.
✅ Master checklist (do it for each person)
NL — Download free RDW PDF extract (reference)
NL — Order RDW Echtheidsverklaring (English certificate), pay fee
NL — Apostille the certificate at a rechtbank
NL/UY — Spanish translation by a traductor público (incl. apostille)
UY — Obtain / confirm cédula de identidad
UY — Get Uruguayan medical certificate
UY — Book HOEXAM appointment
UY — Attend Av. 18 de Julio 1360 with all documents
UY — Pay $2.591
Costs & timing at a glance
Item
Where
Approx. cost
Time
RDW Echtheidsverklaring
🇳🇱 RDW
Fee — see RDW page
~10 working days by post
Apostille
🇳🇱 Rechtbank
Per-document court fee
Same day–2 weeks (varies)
Sworn Spanish translation
🇺🇾 Traductor público
Translator's rate
A few days
Medical certificate
🇺🇾 Institución habilitada
Local fee
Same day
Homologation
🇺🇾 Intendencia
$2.591 pesos
Appointment day
Plan the Netherlands side first — the postal certificate + apostille are the long poles. Start both of your RDW requests early and, if possible, together.