How long can I drive on a foreign licence after moving to Norway, and how do I exchange it?
The three-month rule, which licences can be exchanged and the tests.
Short answer
After moving to Norway you can drive on a non-EU/EEA licence for three months from the date you are registered in the National Population Register. A valid EU/EEA licence can still be used. Only licences from a short list of countries, including the USA, the UK and Japan, can be exchanged for a Norwegian one.
Why
- Statens vegvesen counts the three months from the date of registration in the National Population Register, even if you were already in Norway temporarily before that.
- Licences from Australia, Canada, Israel, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, the USA, the UK, Switzerland, Japan and Greenland can be exchanged, while licences from unlisted countries cannot.
- For a car licence from countries such as the USA or Canada, you must pass a theory test and a practical driving test, and you have two years to pass after the exchange is granted.
Details
There is no deadline to apply for exchange, but the right to drive on the foreign licence still ends after three months. Hand in the application at a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office after booking an appointment, or send it by post, with your original licence and proof of when you moved. If your licence cannot be exchanged, you need to get a Norwegian licence through ordinary driver training.
Tip
Apply soon after you register, so you have time to take the tests before your three months of driving on the foreign licence run out.
What may differ
UK and Swiss licences have the same rights as EEA licences. A Japanese licence is valid for one year for passenger cars, and Ukrainian licences remain valid while Norway offers temporary collective protection.
Common misconception
You must apply to exchange a foreign licence within one year of moving to Norway, or you lose the right to exchange it.
What actually happens
Statens vegvesen says there is no deadline for applying for exchange, but you may only drive on the foreign licence for three months after registering as resident.
People also ask
- How long can I drive with a foreign licence after moving to Norway?
- How do I exchange a foreign driving licence for a Norwegian one?
Sources
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: Using a driving licence from a non-EU/EEA country in NorwayChecked at:
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: Exchanging a driving licence from a country outside the EU/EEAChecked at:
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: Exchange of licences from Australia, Canada, Israel, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea and the USAChecked at:
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration: Using an EU/EEA driving licence in NorwayChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Statens vegvesen before you travel.
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