Do I need an International Driving Permit in Norway?
When a permit or translation is required, and when your licence is enough.
Short answer
You need an International Driving Permit in Norway only in some cases, for example if your licence has no photo or is written in a non-Latin alphabet. A valid licence from an EU or EEA country is enough on its own. Most other licences can be used for three months, in some cases with a certified translation.
Why
- Statens vegvesen gives three typical cases that require an international driving licence alongside your own: no photo, a non-Latin alphabet, or categories that differ from the international ones.
- If your country has signed the Geneva or Vienna Convention but your licence does not follow the convention model, you need a certified translation, and an international driving licence counts as one.
- If your country has signed neither convention, the licence is accepted when it follows a convention or EEA model and its text is in English, French or German.
Details
The international permit is used together with your ordinary licence, not on its own. A certified translation can also come from the authority that issued your licence or from an authorised translator in Norway. Licences from the UK and Switzerland have the same rights in Norway as EEA licences.
Tip
If your licence is not from an EU or EEA country, check both the rental company's terms and the rules of Statens vegvesen, and bring an international permit if either asks for one.
What may differ
If you move to Norway, a non-EU/EEA licence can be used for three months from your registration in the National Population Register. A Japanese licence is valid for one year for passenger cars, and Ukrainian licences remain valid while Norway gives temporary collective protection.
Common misconception
Everyone who drives in Norway on a foreign licence needs an international driving permit.
What actually happens
EU/EEA, UK and Swiss licences are enough on their own, and for other licences a permit is needed only in specific cases, such as a licence without a photo.
People also ask
- Do I need an international driving licence for Norway?
- Do tourists need an international driving permit in Norway?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Statens vegvesen before you travel.
Driving in Norway with a national licenceRelated questions
-
Are Norway's mountain roads open in May, or is it too early for a road trip?
Some seasonal mountain roads in Norway are open by May, but others, such as Trollstigen and Gamle Strynefjellsvegen, have opened as late as June in previous years.
-
Has Norway banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars?
No, Norway has not banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, but it has a political goal that all new passenger cars should be zero-emission by 2025.
-
Can other electric cars use Tesla Superchargers in Norway?
Yes, most Tesla Supercharger stations in Norway are now open to other electric cars with a CCS charging port, and you start and pay for charging in the Tesla app.
-
Can I get E5 or 98 octane petrol in Norway?
Yes, you can still buy 98 octane petrol labelled 98 E5 in several places in Norway, but every pump marked 95 now sells E10 with up to 10 percent ethanol.