Are you staying in Norway over a longer period for work or planning a road trip to Norway?
If so, you might wonder if you can use your foreign driver’s licence in Norway? As a general rule, You can drive in Norway for up to 3 months as long as you have a valid driving licence and meet the Norwegian age requirements, which is 18 years of age.
That being said, you might be subject to additional requirements based on where your licence is issued. Continue reading to make make sure you use your licence legally when driving in Norway.
Using a foreign driver’s licence in Norway
You can drive in Norway for up to 3 months as long as you have a valid driving licence and meet the Norwegian age requirements, which is 18 years of age.
If your driver’s licence does not have a photo or is issued in an alphabet other than Latin (Arabic, Cyrillic, Japanese, Chinese), you have to get an international driver’s licence to carry alongside your regular driver’s licence.
This applies whether your stay in Norway is temporary or you have your permanent residence here.
However, if you plan to stay in Norway for more than 3 months different rules apply depending on where your licence is issued.
EU/EEA licence
If you hold a licence issued from an EU/EEA member country, you can use it for driving in Norway as long as it is valid, regardless of how long you are staying.
If you relocate to Norway you can continue using your original licence until it expires before having to exchange it for a Norwegian licence.
You do not have to take any tests when exchanging an EU/EEA driver’s licence for a Norwegian one. Your new Norwegian driving licence will then be valid in all EU/EEA countries.
Keep in mind that you won’t be able to exchange vehicle categories that fall outside international categories.
Also, if you obtained your EU/EEA driver’s licence outside Norway by exchanging from a non-EU/EEA country.
The rules for exchange depend on the rules for exchange with the country where you originally obtained your licence.
This means that if you obtained your licence in the US or Japan, then exchanged it for an EU/EEA licenced outside Norway. the rules for exchanging it for a Norwegian licence are the same as exchanging a US/Japanese licence for a Norwegian one.
UK licence
The rules for using a UK licence in Norway are the same as those applied for licenses issued in an EEA country, even after the UK left the EU.
This means that you do not need an international driving licence to drive in Norway. You can use your British driving licence whether you are a tourist or live here, as long as it is valid.
The rules for exchanging your British driving licence for a Norwegian driving licence are the same as those applied to driving licences from EEA countries.
US licence
You can drive in Norway for up to 3 months as long as you have a valid driving licence and are 18 years old.
If plan to stay for longer than 3 months you can use your US licence for up to 6 months if you have a valid residence permit for your stay and a valid employment contract.
These have to be brought along with your licence when driving.
If your stay surpasses 6 months, you have to get a Norwegian driver’s licence. This can be done by submitting an application at a driver and vehicle licensing office within 1 year of taking up residence in Norway.
To be allowed to exchange your foreign driving licence for a Norwegian one, you have to meet certain requirements;
- Documentation of when you took up normal residence in Norway.
- Your best option is to use a residence certificate (bostedsattest) issued by the Norwegian Tax Administration
- Your US licence has to be valid.
- If your licence has expired, you need will need a written, stamped and signed confirmation from the state driver’s licence agency (DMV) stating that you still have a valid driving entitlement.
- You must have completed all training and tests.
- There cannot be any restriction on when or where you can drive, or on passengers in the car.
- This includes US conditional driver’s licences.
If you meet all the requirements, you will need to pass a practical driver’s test for motorcycles and passenger cars.
For a driver’s licence in the heavy vehicles categories, you have to pass a practical driver’s test for a passenger car or passenger car with a trailer, as well as a practical driving test for the heavy vehicle category (light lorry, lorry, minibus or bus).
Other licences from outside the EU/EEA
For licences from other countries, separate rules apply depending on the country that issued your licence.
For licences issued in Japan or Switzerland, separate rules apply. For countries in the list below, the same requirements for exchanging a US licence apply.
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Hong Kong
- South Korea
- San Marino
- Israel
- Monaco
- San Marino
Japan
You can drive in Norway for up to 3 months as long as you have a valid driving licence and are 18 years old.
In addition, you need to get an international driver’s licence to carry alongside your regular driver’s licence as the Japanese licence is not issued in Latin.
If plan to stay for longer than 3 months you can use your Japanese licence for up to 6 months if you have a valid residence permit for your stay and a valid employment contract.
These have to be brought along with your licence when driving.
If your stay surpasses 6 months, you have to get a Norwegian driver’s licence. This can be done by submitting an application at a driver and vehicle licensing office within 1 year of taking up residence in Norway.
You may exchange a passenger car driving licence without taking a new driving test. However, If you have not exchanged your licence within the one-year deadline, you will need to undergo additional training.
This includes a night driving test, a first aid course and a safety course on a practice range, as well as passing the theory test and the practical driving test. The deadline for doing this is two years after you took up normal residence in Norway.
If you have a Japanese driving licence with heavy vehicle categories, you can apply for an exchange on the condition that you take a practical driving test.
Switzerland
You can drive in Norway for up to 3 months as long as you have a valid driving licence and are 18 years old.
If plan to stay for longer than 3 months you can use your swiss licence for up to 6 months if you have a valid residence permit for your stay and a valid employment contract, which you have to bring when driving.
If your stay surpasses 6 months, you have to get a Norwegian driver’s licence. This can be done by submitting an application at a driver and vehicle licensing office within 1 year of taking up residence in Norway.
A driving licence from Switzerland may be exchanged for a Norwegian driving licence with the corresponding driving entitlements (licence categories) without you having to take new tests.
After the one-year deadline, you need to take the practical driving test for Category B. If you pass the test, you will acquire a Category B licence with any other entitlements (licence categories) that were included on your Swiss driving licence.
If you fail, you will need to pass a driving test in the heaviest licence category you wish to have exchanged. If your driving licence only has Category A1/A2/A (moped, motorcycle), you need to pass a practical riding test in the corresponding category.
Countries not on the list
If you have a full driving licence from a non-EU/EEA country that is not on the list above, you have to obtain your driving licence in the same manner as Norwegian first-time appliers.
You are exempt from some parts of the basic traffic course, but you do have to complete the compulsory night driving instruction and a course in first aid and behaviour in the event of an accident.
A few important reminders
The requirements for driving in Norway are fairly strict. In many ways, being allowed to drive in Norway is a privilege that is earned, not a right.
Because of this, you’d be wise to not underestimate a Norwegian practical or theoretical driver’s test. Make sure to refresh your driving skills and/or practical knowledge before taking the test.
This will increase your chance of passing the exam which will save you both time and money.
If you fail the exam, you will have to you have to obtain your driving licence in the same manner as Norwegian first-time applies, which is both times consuming and costly.
Automatic transmission
Although it is gradually changing, it is common for cars in Norway to have manual transmissions. Because of this, a practical driver’s test in Norway is conducted with a car with manual transmission.
If you are used to driving with an automatic transmission you should practice using a manual transmission before taking the test.
Alternatively, you can apply for getting an automatic transmission license. However, this will limit you to only being allowed to drive cars with automatic transmissions.
Sources
Using an EU/EEA driving licence in Norway – Statens vegvesen
Using a driving licence from a non-EU/EEA country in Norway – Statens vegvesen
Exchanging driving licences issued in EU/EEA countries – Statens vegvesen
Exchanging driving licences from non-EU/EEA countries – Statens vegvesen
