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Exceptions to the renewals and validity of professional drivers' permits and qualifications

Due to coronavirus, there may be challenges in the availability of training, tests and non-urgent healthcare appointments for professional drivers. To make things easier in these exceptional circumstances, Traficom and the police have introduced exceptional procedures for renewing taxi driving licences and driving instructors’ licences as well as for the validity of ADR driving permits, security adviser certificates and traffic controller rights for special transport.

Renewal of taxi driving licences and driving instructors’ licences

In some cases, to renew a taxi driving licence and driving instructor's licence, you will need a medical report on your fitness to drive. The coronavirus situation may make it difficult to get a doctor's appointment, which is why Traficom and the police have introduced exceptional procedures for renewing taxi driving licences and driving instructors’ licences.

The exception does not apply to people who are not practicing the profession yet and are applying for their first taxi driving licence or driving instructor's licence.

If you already have a medical report, you can renew your permit normally and apply for your first license.

You do not need a medical report if:

  • When renewing a taxi driving licence, the fulfilment of medical standards of fitness to drive only need to be proven when you are 45 years of age or will turn 45 years old during the validity of the driving licence being renewed.
  • When renewing a driving instructor's licence, you do not need a medical report if you have a driving licence for a lorry and/or bus or coach.

You may not need to submit a new medical report as an attachment to your application if you have

  • submitted to the police an age-required medical report for people with the right to drive lorries and/or buses and coacher within five years or
  • upgraded your right to drive to a driving licence for a lorry and/or bus and coach (including an upgrade based on an examination certificate issued by the Finnish Defence Forces) or
  • renewed your driving licence for a lorry and/or bus and coach or
  • submitted a medical report in connection with a taxi driving licence or driving instructor's licence application. Note! However, a medical report submitted when applying for the current licence is not valid, even if less than 5 years have passed since it was submitted.

Applications for renewing taxi driving licences (13 March to 31 May 2020)

If your taxi driving licence has expired or is about to expire during the exceptional situation caused by coronavirus, i.e. between 13 March and 31 May 2020, and you are unable to submit the required medical report as an attachment to the application due to this situation, you may submit your application without a medical report as an exception. However, the medical report must be submitted to the police within 6 months of the renewal of your licence. We will remind you by letter about 4 months before the deadline for providing the medical report. 

Applications for renewing driving instructors’ licences (13 March to 31 May 2020)

If your driving instructor's licence has expired or is about to expire during the exceptional situation caused by coronavirus, i.e. between 13 March and 31 May 2020, and you are unable to submit the required medical report as an attachment to the application due to this situation, you may submit your application without a medical report as an exception. However, the medical report must be submitted to the police within 6 months of the renewal of your permit. We will remind you by letter about 4 months before the deadline for providing the medical report.    

Are you in a risk group?  Postpone your appointment or use a proxy

As the application for renewing a licence or permit must be submitted at an Ajovarma office, we recommend only visiting said office if absolutely necessary. Make an appointment in advance.

If you are in a risk group, postpone any face-to-face appointments or use a proxy.

If you have any questions – please contact Ajovarma!

If you have questions about renewing a taxi driving licence or driving instructor's licence, please contact Traficom's service provider Ajovarma (External link) tel. +358 75 323 9999 or tiedustelut(at)ajovarma.fi.         

Validity of ADR driving permits and safety adviser certificates

For transporting dangerous goods, the driver must have a valid ADR driving permit. At the moment, driving permit tests can still be taken at Ajovarma offices.

  • ADR licences issued in Finland that expire between 1 March 2020 and 1 November 2020 have been exceptionally extended until 30 November 2020. However, these ADR licences must be renewed by 1 December 2020 at an Ajovarma office. A prerequisite for the renewal is the completion of the ADR supplementary course and an approved driving permit test. 
  • This exception is valid until further notice only in Finland, but its possible expansion to international transport is under consideration.

A corresponding exception will be introduced for safety advisor certificates (TNA) as well.

  • TNA certificates issued in Finland that expire between 1 March 2020 and 1 November 2020 have been exceptionally extended until 30 November 2020. The certificate can be renewed by completing a safety advisor examination by 1 December 2020.
  • As with ADR licences, the exception concerning the validity of TNA certificates is only valid in Finland until further notice.

Validity of special transport traffic controller rights (EKL)

  • The EKL rights granted in Finland expiring between 13 March 2020 and 31 May 2020 have been exceptionally extended for a period of 4 months from the expiry date of the right.
  • EKL rights expiring between 13 March 2020 and 31 May 2020 can be renewed within 4 months of the expiry date with the same process as renewing a valid EKL right.

Enquiries:

ADR, TNA and EKL rights:

Marko Rajamäki, marko.rajamaki(a)traficom.fi, tel. +358 295345465  and

Tea Murtoniemi, tea.murtoniemi(a)traficom.fi, tel. +358 295345463