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Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Finnish driving licence



A person who lives permanently in Finland or has been studying in Finland for at least six months may apply to exchange a driving licence issued in another EU or EEA country, excluding temporary driving licences, for an equivalent Finnish driving licence without having to take a new driving test.

A driving licence issued in EU and EEA countries may be exchanged without taking a driving test, if no more than two years have passed since the expiry of the holder’s previous Group 1 driving licence, or if no more than one year has passed since the expiry of the holder's previous Group 2 driving licence.

A driving licence permit application must be submitted to the police in person.

When applying for a driving licence permit, the following must be submitted:

  • 2 photograps (if the applicant has handed in photos for a driving licence since 1 January 2010, new photographs will not be necessary as a rule)
  • a valid driving licence (if the driving licence has been lost, a written report of how it was lost)
  • a medical certificate for a driving licence on the same criteria that apply to renewing a Finnish driving licence.

At the police station, the applicant must fill in a driving licence application form and a form asking whether he or she already has a driving licence or is banned from driving in another EU or EEA country.





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