You can exchange a foreign driving licence for a Finnish driving licence under certain conditions. However, you do not always need to exchange your driving licence. Instead, the need for this depends on your driving licence and situation. To obtain a Finnish driving licence, you must live permanently in Finland.
You can exchange a foreign driving licence for a Finnish driving licence under certain conditions. However, you do not always need to exchange your driving licence. Instead, the need for this depends on your driving licence and situation. To obtain a Finnish driving licence, you must live permanently in Finland.
You may drive in Finland as long as your EU or EEA driving licence is valid. You must exchange your driving licence at the latest when your driving licence is about to expire.
The precondition for exchanging the licence is that you live permanently in Finland or study in Finland and the studies have lasted for at least six months.
You only need a medical certificate if your driving licence has expired.
The medical certificate is valid for six months. You do not need a medical certificate if your driving licence is still valid when you exchange it for a Finnish one.
Fill in the application form at Ajovarma. Bring the following:
You will receive a temporary driving licence from Ajovarma, which you can use until you receive the actual driving licence.
You can use the temporary driving licence in Finland and other Nordic countries.
The Finnish driving licence will be sent to your home address within about two weeks of exchanging the licence. The driving licence is valid for a maximum of 15 years, after which it must be renewed.
You may continue driving with your driving licence issued in a Contracting State for two years after you have moved permanently to Finland. See a list of the Contracting States and other states treated similarly to them at the bottom of this page.
If you want to continue driving in Finland after the 2-year period, start the driving licence exchange process well in advance before the period of validity expires.
Exchanging the driving licence takes around 3–4 months. You will be provided with a temporary driving licence valid for driving in Finland for this period.
You will not receive a temporary driving licence if your foreign driving licence has expired in Finland.
You cannot exchange your foreign driving licence if you have received the right to drive for the driving licence for the first time during your residence in Finland.
However, if you have renewed a driving licence obtained abroad while living in Finland, the driving licence may be renewed.
Exchanging a driving license issued in a Contracting State requires a medical certificate. .
Booking an appointment speeds up the process and makes it easier for you to use Ajovarma’s services. When visiting Ajovarma, bring the following:
You will receive a temporary driving licence from Ajovarma for the duration of the exchange process if your foreign driving licence would still be valid in Finland. Your foreign driving licence will only be returned to you when you move out of the country.
Once a decision has been made on the application, you will receive
If you need to take a driving examination, book an appointment for the tests at Ajovarma. The driving examination consists of a theory test and a driving test.
If you have lived permanently in Finland for more than 2 years, your right to drive has expired, or you are exchanging a category BE, lorry and/or bus driving license, you must take a driving examination.
When driving, carry the certificate of the passed driving examination you received from the examiner and a photo ID with you.
You can use the driving examination to drive until you receive your driving licence.
The official driving licence will be sent to your home address within about two weeks of the examination.
The states are listed at the bottom of this page.
If the country is included on the list, follow the instructions provided above.
If the country is not on the list, continue reading these instructions.
You will need a medical certificate when you exchange a driving licence issued in a country other than an EU or EEA country or a Contracting State.
When visiting Ajovarma, bring the following
Your foreign driving licence will remain with Traficom. You will receive a temporary driving licence if your foreign driving licence would still be valid for driving in Finland.
Your application will be processed at Traficom.
The processing time is approximately 3–4 months. Once a decision has been made, you will receive a message from Traficom.
The driving examination consists of a theory test and a driving test. Schedule the examination at Ajovarma.
When driving, carry the certificate on the passed driving examination you received from the examiner and a photo ID with you.
You can use the driving examination to drive until you receive your driving licence.
The official driving licence will be sent to your home address within about two weeks of the examination.
