Updated April 24, 2026
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
EU / EEA countries (EES-körkort recognised under 6 kap. körkortslagen; voluntary exchange)— Non-EES direct exchange (6 kap. körkortslagen): —United KingdomFaroe IslandsJapanSwitzerland
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take the Swedish theory test in English?
Yes. Trafikverket offers the category B teoriprov in British English in addition to Swedish and 14 other languages (Albanian, Arabic MSA, BKS, Finnish, French, German, Persian, Russian, Somali, Sorani, Spanish, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish). You pick the language when you book the test on trafikverket.se. You can also listen to questions in Swedish during the test and switch back at any point. The practical driving test (körprov) is conducted in Swedish — interpreters are not permitted during the practical.
How long can I drive in Sweden with my foreign licence?
An EES (EU/EEA) licence is valid in Sweden "enligt sitt innehåll" — for driving, as long as it is valid in the issuing country (6 kap. körkortslagen). A non-EES licence is valid for 1 year from the date you are registered as folkbokförd in Sweden. After that year your non-EES licence ceases to apply unless it was issued in the UK, Faroe Islands, Japan or Switzerland, in which case you may still exchange it for a Swedish körkort without that time limit.
Can I exchange my UK or Northern Ireland licence in Sweden?
Yes. Since Proposition 2020/21:126, UK (and Faroe Islands) driving licences are on the direct-exchange list in 6 kap. körkortslagen, joining Japan and Switzerland. You must be permanently resident in Sweden, hold a valid UK licence, and submit blankett TS8079 "Ansökan om utbyte av utländskt körkort" to Transportstyrelsen in Örebro with a hälsodeklaration / synintyg and proof the UK licence is valid. No theory or practical test is required for groups AM/A/B; groups C/CE/D/DE require a läkarintyg.
Can I exchange my US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand licence in Sweden?
No. Sweden has no exchange agreement with the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Once you have been folkbokförd for more than 1 year, your US / Canadian / Australian / NZ licence stops being valid in Sweden. To obtain a Swedish körkort you must apply for a körkortstillstånd (free), complete autoskola, Riskettan and Risktvåan, and pass both the Trafikverket teoriprov and körprov.
Can I exchange my Japanese or Swiss licence in Sweden?
Yes. Japan and Switzerland are two of the four non-EES jurisdictions on the direct-exchange list in 6 kap. körkortslagen (the other two being the UK and Faroe Islands). You must be permanently resident in Sweden, hold a valid licence, and meet the personal / medical requirements of chapter 3 of körkortslagen. Japanese applicants obtain the validity certificate from the Japanese Embassy in Stockholm before applying. No theory or practical test is required for groups AM/A/B.
What is folkbokföring and why does it matter for my driving licence?
Folkbokföring is registration in the Swedish population register, handled by Skatteverket (Tax Agency). When you register you receive a personnummer (personal identity number). For non-EES licence holders, the date you are folkbokförd is the start of the statutory 1-year validity window for your foreign licence under 6 kap. körkortslagen — a hard deadline that even USA, Canada and Australia cannot extend without a Transportstyrelsen undantag.
What are Riskettan and Risktvåan?
They are two mandatory risk-education blocks required before you can take the Trafikverket practical test (körprov) for category B (and analogous versions for A). Riskettan is a classroom module on alcohol, drugs, fatigue and risk behaviour. Risktvåan is practical training at an authorised track, including skid training on a slippery surface and high-speed braking. Both are required for the full-test route — they are NOT required when you exchange an EES / UK / Faroe / Japan / Swiss licence.
Can I get extra time on the theory test if I have a reading disability or do not speak Swedish well?
Yes. Trafikverket offers "teoriprov med stöd" — extended time (extra 25 minutes for category B), oral tests where the examiner reads out questions and options, and oral tests with a sign-language interpreter or a spoken-language interpreter (in which case the test duration is 120 minutes). You must apply in advance and attach a certificate or report documenting the need from a special-needs teacher, speech therapist, driving-school staff member or similar qualified professional.
How much does it cost to get a Swedish driving licence from an exchange?
Transportstyrelsen charges SEK 375 for "utfärdande av körkort" (issuance of the driving licence) — published in TSFS 2024:78 and confirmed for 2026. The ansökan itself has no separate fee on top of this issuance charge. You may also need a certified Swedish translation of the foreign licence (translator rate) if it is not in Latin script or a recognised language. The full-test route costs considerably more: typically SEK 15,000–25,000 when you include autoskola lessons, Riskettan, Risktvåan, teoriprov and körprov fees.
Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in Sweden?
An IDP is only a translation of your foreign licence, not a separate permission to drive. Sweden's 1-year rule under 6 kap. körkortslagen is based on your folkbokföring date, not on whether you carry an IDP — an IDP does NOT extend that window. Non-EES licences not in Latin script (e.g. Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese, Thai) may need to be accompanied by an IDP or a certified Swedish translation for Swedish police and Transportstyrelsen to accept them.
What if my foreign licence expires before I can exchange it?
You cannot drive on an expired foreign licence in Sweden, and exchange becomes harder once it has expired — Transportstyrelsen may still accept applications but you will need evidence of historical validity from the issuing authority. Best practice is to renew it in your home country before expiry, or — if you are already on the exchange list (UK, Faroe Islands, Japan, Switzerland, EES) — apply to Transportstyrelsen in good time.
How do I apply for an exemption (undantag) to keep driving on my non-EES licence beyond 1 year?
Write to Transportstyrelsen at 701 97 Örebro with your personal details, purpose of stay, planned duration, a copy of the foreign licence (certified translation if needed) and evidence of the temporary reason (study certificate, time-limited employment contract, etc.). The agency recommends applying a few months before the one-year deadline; processing typically takes 8–12 weeks. Undantag are intended for students, temporary workers and accompanying dependants — "difficulties obtaining a driving-test appointment" is explicitly not a ground.