Exchanging driving licences issued in EU/EEA countries
You can exchange a licence issued in an EU/EEA country for a Norwegian driving licence for the corresponding category.
You do not have to take any tests if you choose to exchange your driving licence.
You cannot exchange national categories that fall outside the scope of the driving licence directive’s international categories.
Once you have received your Norwegian driving licence, your foreign driving licence will be returned to the issuing country. Your new Norwegian driving licence will then be valid in all EU/EEA countries.
EU/EEA driving licences issued after exchanging non-EU/EAA licences
Did you obtain an EU/EEA driving licence by exchanging a licence from a non-EU/EEA country? The rules for exchange depend on the original licence.
Your application will be processed according to the rules that apply for the country that issued the original driving licence:
- If your EU/EEA driving licence was exchanged from a non-EU/EEA country listed in § 10-2 of the Norwegian Driving Licence Regulations (in Norwegian, Lovdata), you may exchange it for a Norwegian driving licence, provided the other conditions are met.
Example: If you have a Spanish driving licence that was issued after exchanging an American driving licence, it will be processed as an American driving licence. - If your EU/EEA driving licence was exchanged from any other non-EU/EEA country, you may not exchange it for a Norwegian driving licence.
Example: If you have a Polish EU/EEA driving licence that was issued after exchanging a Russian driving licence, it will be processed as a Russian driving licence. Consequently, you may not exchange it for a Norwegian driving licence.
In some cases, however, you may still be entitled to exchange an EU/EEA driving licence that was issued after exchanging a driving licence from a non-EU/EEA country.
- If your driving entitlement was upgraded in an EU/EEA country, the categories below the category you added are also considered EU/EEA categories.
Example: If you have a Polish driving licence that was issued after exchanging a Russian driving licence category B, which was later upgraded to include category C in Poland, category B will also be considered Polish. - If you passed the theory test and the practical driving test in connection with the exchange of a non-EU/EEA driving licence to a driving licence from an EU/EEA country, you may exchange your EU/EEA driving licence directly.
- If you have had a valid driving entitlement in one or several EU/EEA countries for a continuous period of at least ten years before you took up normal residence or moved back to Norway, your driving licence will be processed as a regular EU/EEA driving licence.
Example: If your driving licence was issued in Spain after exchanging a Moroccan driving licence, you are normally not entitled to exchanging your driving licence. However, if you have had a Spanish driving entitlement for a continuous period of at least ten years before you moved to Norway, you may exchange your Spanish driving licence for a Norwegian driving licence.
Special transitional provisions apply if you took up normal residence in Norway before 19 January 2013 and you have an EU/EEA driving licence issued before this date. In this case, your driving licence will be processed as a regular EU/EEA driving licence.
How to exchange your EU/EEA driving licence
When you apply for an exchange of a driving licence that was issued in another EU/EEA country, you must submit
- a completed application form
- your original driving licence
You can mail the completed form to your local Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office (trafikkstasjon) or hand it in there yourself. Book an appointment for handing in the form yourself to avoid waiting at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
Temporary driving permit
If you are entitled to a temporary driving permit when you submit the application, you must present valid proof of identity. A temporary driving permit is only valid in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
Driving licences from the UK
You can exchange your British driving licence for a Norwegian driving licence according to the rules that apply to driving licences from EEA countries. This applies even if your driving licence was issued after the UK left the EU.
For how long are the categories in a Norwegian driving licence valid?
Light vehicle licence categories will normally be valid for 15 years.
Licences for heavy vehicle categories (C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE) will have the same validity period as the licence you exchanged, or they will be valid for five years after you took up normal residence in Norway if this is shorter.
If you submit a health certificate, the validity of the heavy categories will be five years from the date when the health certificate was issued.
In some cases you must submit a health certificate
You must submit a health certificate from a doctor if you apply for an exchange of heavy vehicle categories and
- the foreign driving entitlement for heavy vehicle categories has expired
- you have had normal residence in Norway for more than five years
We need the original version of your health certificate. It must not be more than three months old when we receive it.
Ask your doctor if they can submit the health certificate electronically to the National Public Roads Administration. If so, the certificate will be registered immediately when your doctor has submitted it.
If your doctor does not have this option you can mail your health certificate to your nearest Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office. You can also hand it in yourself.
Book an appointment for handing in your health certificate yourself to avoid waiting at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
Was your application to have your licence exchanged rejected before 1 March 2017?
On 1 March 2017, the procedural rules for the exchange of driving licences issued in EU/EEA countries were changed. If your application to have your licence exchanged was rejected on the basis of Section 1-2 of the Regulations relating to Driving Licences, you may file a new application. The changes to the regulations relate to where you have permanent (“normal”) residence or reside as a student at the time of issue of your driving licence.