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Do you have a driving licence from a non EEA country and plan to stay in Sweden for a limited period but more than one year?

If you have a driving licence from a non-EEA country, your driving licence will be valid in Sweden for one year from the date that you were registered here. The Swedish Transport Agency can in some cases grant an exemption from this rule, in which case you can continue to drive with your foreign driving licence for more than one year. We can only grant an exemption if you plan to stay in Sweden for a limited period of time and if the exemption does not involve any risks to road safety.

Exemptions can only be granted in some cases

It is the purpose of your residence in Sweden and how long you are going to stay, that will determine if we can grant you an exemption or not.We may grant an exemption from this rule if, for example, you study here temporarily or if you have a time-limited job.

Please note:

  • Even if you have a residence permit or a work permit, we cannot guarantee that you will be granted an exemption. 
  • We cannot grant you an exemption on the basis that you have difficulties getting an appointment to do the driving test or similar.
  • If you have a coordination number you are not yet a registered resident. This means that you may still use your foreign driving licence in Sweden.

How do I apply for an exemption and what do I need to include in my application?

Write your application as a regular letter. Make sure you include the information we need – read more below.

You can apply for an exemption any time, but we recommend that you do it a few months before the end of your first year as a registered resident in Sweden.

Send your application to:
Transportstyrelsen
701 97 Örebro

  • Personal identity number, name, address and contact details.
  • A description of the purpose of your residence in Sweden and information about how long you are planning to stay.
  • A copy of the foreign driving licence. If the driving licence is not in English, German, French, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish, you need to send in a certified translation of the driving licence, or an international driving permit (IDP).
  • A certificate showing that you are currently studying and the total period of time you are going to study in Sweden. Please note that a record showing the courses you are registered on doesn’t count as a certificate in this particular situation.
  • A copy of your Swedish residence permit.

  • Personal identity number, name, address and contact details.
  • A description of the purpose of your residence in Sweden and information about how long you are planning to stay.
  • A copy of the foreign driving licence. If the driving licence is not in English, German, French, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish, you need to send in a certified translation of the driving licence, or an international driving permit (IDP).
  • A certificate of employment or a copy of the employment agreement, showing the total period of time you are going to work in Sweden.
  • A copy of your Swedish residence permit.

  • Your personal identity number, name, address and contact details.
  • Information about the person you have accompanied to Sweden.
  • A description of the purpose of your residence in Sweden, and information about how long the two of you are planning to stay.
  • A copy of the foreign driving licence. If the driving licence is not in English, German, French, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish, you need to send in a certified translation of the driving licence, or an international driving permit (IDP).
  • A certificate showing that the person you are accompanying is currently working or studying and the total period of time he or she is going to work or study in Sweden. Please note that a record showing the courses he or she is registered on doesn’t count as a certificate in this particular situation.
  • A copy of your own Swedish residence permit, and a copy of the residence permit of the person you are accompanying.

We may grant an exemption from this rule if, for example, you study here temporarily or if you have a time-limited job.

Please note:

  • Even if you have a residence permit or a work permit, we cannot guarantee that you will be granted an exemption. It is the purpose of your residence in Sweden and how long you are going to stay, that will determine if we can grant you an exemption or not.
  • We cannot grant you an exemption on the basis that you have difficulties getting an appointment to do the driving test or similar.
  • If you have a coordination number you are not yet a registered resident. This means that you may still use your foreign driving licence in Sweden.

No, you don’t.

It will normally take somewhere between 8 and 12 weeks before you get a response. During certain periods of the year, for example May to August, it may take longer.