Driving License in 노르웨이 for Expats
Yes, for Non-EEA: 3 months from arrival / residence. EEA + UK + Switzerland + Japan: exchange is required but there is no 3-month driving cut-off in the same way.. After that, you must convert to a 노르웨이 license. Good news: the official test is available in English.
Key Facts: 노르웨이 Driving License for Expats
- Test Authority
- SVV — Statens vegvesen (Norwegian Public Roads Administration)
- Official Test Language
- Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian (Nynorsk), English (Category B), Sami, Sorani, Arabic, Turkish
- Grace Period
- Non-EEA: 3 months from arrival / residence. EEA + UK + Switzerland + Japan: exchange is required but there is no 3-month driving cut-off in the same way.
- Processing Time
- Set by vegvesen — check the current processing time for your case
- Theory Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Practical Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Medical Exam
- Not required
- Total Cost
- Vegvesen fee + any required translation; full-test path also includes trafikalt grunnkurs, mørkekjøring, glattkjøring, driving-school classes
Eligibility by Nationality
EU/EEA Citizens
EU / EEA licences can be exchanged for a Norwegian one without any tests (source: vegvesen.no — "Exchanging a driving licence from an EU/EEA country"). Before becoming resident you can drive on the licence for up to 3 months in Norway.
US/UK Citizens
UK / Northern Ireland: exchange without tests under the same rules as EEA licences, explicitly covered in the vegvesen.no UK canje page ("The rules are the same as for driving licences from EEA countries"). USA: exchange requires passing the Norwegian theory and practical tests (no full driver-training course).
Other Non-EU Citizens
Norway uses a tiered system per vegvesen.no: (a) UK, Switzerland and Japan exchange under the same rules as EEA — no tests; (b) Australia, Canada, Israel, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea and USA exchange with the Norwegian theory and practical tests; (c) any other country must take the full Norwegian driver-training programme.
Students
You may drive on a foreign licence for up to 3 months from arrival in Norway. After that, residency-based rules apply: exchange (if eligible) or full driver training.
Required Documents
- ✓D-number or Norwegian personal number (fødselsnummer)
- ✓Valid residence permit (oppholdstillatelse)
- ✓Original foreign driving licence
- ✓Completed vegvesen application form
- ✓Certificate of residence or documentation of when you moved to Norway
- ✓International driving permit or approved Norwegian translation if the licence is not in English, French or German
- ✓Health / eyesight certificate only if relevant to your situation — not automatically required for exchange
Costs Breakdown
- Conversion/Exam Fee
- Current rate published by vegvesen.no — check the driving-licence fees page for your category
- Medical Exam
- Only required if your situation calls for a health certificate (not automatic)
- Translation
- Sworn-translator rate — only if the licence is not in English, French or German
- Total Estimated
- Vegvesen fee + any required translation; full-test path also includes trafikalt grunnkurs, mørkekjøring, glattkjøring, driving-school classes
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 5
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 5
No Agreement (Full Test Required): Any country not on the EEA-rules list or the theory+practical list must complete the full Norwegian driver-training programme (trafikalt grunnkurs, mørkekjøring, glattkjøring, klasseopplæring) plus all tests.
Tips for Expats in 노르웨이
- The Category B theory exam in Norway is offered in English as well as Norwegian, Sami, Sorani, Arabic and Turkish — contrary to the folk belief that the test is Norwegian-only.
- UK and Swiss licences exchange under EEA rules — no theory exam, no practical test, no mandatory Norwegian driver-training course.
- Japanese licences also exchange without tests for Category B.
- US, Canadian, Australian, Korean, NZ, Israeli, Monegasque and San Marino holders exchange with the Norwegian theory + practical exam, but skip the full trafikalt-grunnkurs / mørkekjøring / glattkjøring training.
- Countries outside both lists face the full Norwegian driver-training programme (mandatory dark-driving and slippery-road courses) — one of the most thorough in Europe.
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“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.