Driving License in Sweden for Expats
Yes, for Non-EES: 1 year from the date you become folkbokförd in Sweden (6 kap. körkortslagen). EES: valid for driving while the licence is in force in the issuing country.. After that, you must convert to a Sweden license. Good news: the official test is available in English.
Key Facts: Sweden Driving License for Expats
- Test Authority
- Trafikverket — Swedish Transport Administration
- Official Test Language
- Swedish, English (British), Arabic (MSA), Albanian, BKS (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian), Finnish, French, German, Persian (Farsi), Russian, Somali, Sorani (Kurdish), Spanish, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish
- Grace Period
- Non-EES: 1 year from the date you become folkbokförd in Sweden (6 kap. körkortslagen). EES: valid for driving while the licence is in force in the issuing country.
- Processing Time
- Exchange decision by Transportstyrelsen typically several weeks; full-test route with autoskola + Riskettan + Risktvåan usually 6–12 months depending on Trafikverket slot availability.
- Theory Test Required
- Yes (if no exchange agreement)
- Practical Test Required
- Yes (if no exchange agreement)
- Medical Exam
- Not required
- Total Cost
- SEK 375 issuance + optional translator fee for non-Latin-script licences. Full-test route (no exchange agreement): körkortstillstånd (free) + SEK 375 manufacturing fee + Trafikverket teoriprov / körprov fees + Riskettan + Risktvåan + autoskola costs — typical total SEK 15,000–25,000 depending on how many lessons you take.
Eligibility by Nationality
EU/EEA Citizens
EES-körkort (EU/EEA driving licences) "gäller i Sverige enligt sitt innehåll" (6 kap. körkortslagen 1998:488). They remain valid for driving in Sweden as long as they are valid in the issuing country; exchange for a Swedish körkort is voluntary. Once you are permanently resident (folkbokförd) in Sweden, Swedish rules such as renewal intervals and the medical-fitness regime apply.
US/UK Citizens
UK / Northern Ireland licences: direct exchange into a Swedish körkort without any test under 6 kap. körkortslagen — the holder must be permanently resident in Sweden and hold a valid UK licence (added to the exchange list via Prop. 2020/21:126). USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand: no exchange agreement with Sweden. US, Canadian, Australian and NZ licence holders who remain folkbokförda in Sweden for more than one year must take the full Swedish tests (teoriprov + körprov) at Trafikverket, including the mandatory risk education (Riskettan + Risktvåan).
Other Non-EU Citizens
A non-EES driving licence is valid in Sweden only while the holder has been folkbokförd (population-registered) for less than one year (6 kap. körkortslagen 1998:488). After that one-year mark the foreign licence ceases to apply unless it is from the UK, Faroe Islands, Japan or Switzerland — the four non-EES jurisdictions Sweden accepts for direct exchange. Holders from any other country must pass the full Swedish theory (teoriprov) and practical (körprov) tests via Trafikverket to obtain a Swedish licence.
Students
Non-EES students, temporary workers and accompanying dependants can apply to Transportstyrelsen for an undantag (exemption) that extends the validity of their foreign licence beyond the one-year rule, provided their stay is time-limited and traffic safety is not compromised. The agency asks you to apply "några månader innan" the one-year deadline; processing typically takes 8–12 weeks. EES-student licences remain valid for driving throughout the studies.
Required Documents
- ✓Valid passport and residence permit / EU-registration document
- ✓Proof of folkbokföring (personbevis) from Skatteverket
- ✓Original foreign driving licence
- ✓Ansökan om utbyte av utländskt körkort (blankett TS8079) posted to Transportstyrelsen, 701 97 Örebro
- ✓Hälsodeklaration and synintyg (health declaration and vision-test certificate) for group I (car / motorcycle) — or läkarintyg for groups II / III (lorry / bus)
- ✓Certificate from the issuing authority confirming the licence is valid (Japanese applicants obtain this from the Japanese Embassy in Stockholm)
- ✓Certified Swedish translation of the licence if not issued in Latin script or in a recognised language
- ✓For full-test route only: körkortstillstånd (licence permit — free application via Mina sidor), completed autoskola course, Riskettan + Risktvåan, then teoriprov + körprov
Costs Breakdown
- Conversion/Exam Fee
- SEK 375 – utfärdande av körkort (issuance fee for the Swedish licence after Transportstyrelsen approves the exchange), published in Transportstyrelsen's körkort-avgifter (TSFS 2024:78). The ansökan itself has no separate fee on top of the issuance fee.
- Medical Exam
- Not required for EES / UK / Faroe / Japan / Switzerland exchange at group I. For groups II/III (C/CE/D/DE) a läkarintyg is required; rate set by the medical provider.
- Translation
- Authorised-translator rate — only when the foreign licence is not issued in Latin script or a recognised language.
- Total Estimated
- SEK 375 issuance + optional translator fee for non-Latin-script licences. Full-test route (no exchange agreement): körkortstillstånd (free) + SEK 375 manufacturing fee + Trafikverket teoriprov / körprov fees + Riskettan + Risktvåan + autoskola costs — typical total SEK 15,000–25,000 depending on how many lessons you take.
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 6
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 6
No Agreement (Full Test Required): All other non-EES countries — including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, India, China, Brazil, Russia — require the full Swedish teoriprov and körprov at Trafikverket (plus Riskettan and Risktvåan) once the one-year folkbokföring period has elapsed.
Tips for Expats in Sweden
- Trafikverket offers the category B theory test in 15 languages in addition to Swedish, including British English, Arabic (MSA), Spanish, French, German, Russian, Persian and Turkish — one of the widest language catalogues in the EU.
- Sweden accepts direct exchange from only four non-EES jurisdictions: UK, Faroe Islands, Japan and Switzerland (6 kap. körkortslagen). US, Canadian, Australian and South Korean licences are NOT accepted for exchange — full tests are required.
- Folkbokföring via Skatteverket starts the 1-year countdown for non-EES licences. Plan the licence path before the 12 months elapse — Transportstyrelsen needs several weeks plus a Trafikverket photo visit.
- Mandatory risk education for the full-test route: Riskettan (theory — alcohol, drugs, fatigue) and Risktvåan (practical skid training on a slippery track). Both must be completed before you can book the Trafikverket körprov.
- Temporary residents (students, short-term workers, accompanying dependants) can apply to Transportstyrelsen for an undantag to extend their foreign licence beyond the one-year rule — submit a few months before the deadline; processing 8–12 weeks.
From a recent expat graduate
A real story from someone who got their licence as a foreigner
“I find the service invaluable. It helped me immensely and I am impressed by the format and content. First class!”I have now passed my driving theory test. The course and information was great and very helpful. The reason I had to take the test is because I am living in Chile which does not recognise the driver licence of my mother country.