How do you exchange a foreign driving licence for a Swedish one?
Which licences can be exchanged, how to apply and what changed on 1 May 2026.
Short answer
Licences from other EEA countries, Switzerland, Japan, the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands can be exchanged for a Swedish licence through Transportstyrelsen. You must be permanently resident in Sweden and send the application with your original licence, and an EEA licence stays valid in Sweden without an exchange.
Why
- According to Transportstyrelsen, you can exchange a licence only from another EEA country, Switzerland, Japan, the United Kingdom or the Faroe Islands.
- According to Transportstyrelsen, you send the application with your original foreign licence, receive a payment slip, and show valid ID at a Trafikverket office for the photo and signature.
- According to Transportstyrelsen, stricter rules apply from 1 May 2026: an EEA licence that originates in a third country is accepted in only three cases.
Details
The three cases are a valid EEA licence held for at least five years before you became permanently resident in Sweden, an original licence issued in the Faroe Islands, the United Kingdom, Japan or Switzerland, or a licence issued after a passed driving test in an EEA state. Licences from other countries cannot be exchanged, and a non-EEA licence stops being valid one year after you were registered as a resident. See foreign driving licences in Sweden for the overview and driving schools in Stockholm if you need a Swedish licence instead.
Tip
Check the one-year rule first: a licence from outside the EEA stops being valid in Sweden one year after you were registered as a resident, with exceptions for the UK and the Faroe Islands.
What may differ
If your foreign licence has expired, you may in some cases need to complete the application with a körkortstillstånd.
Common misconception
You must exchange your EU driving licence for a Swedish one after you move to Sweden.
What actually happens
Transportstyrelsen says an EEA licence is valid in Sweden if it is valid in your home country, and that it stays valid even if you are registered as a resident in Sweden.
People also ask
- Can I swap my foreign driving licence for a Swedish one?
- How do I exchange my driving licence in Sweden?
Sources
- Transportstyrelsen: Körkort från länder inom EESChecked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: Körkort från länder utanför EESChecked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: Frågor och svar, utländska körkortChecked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: Tougher exchange rules (4 May 2026)Checked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: Ha utländskt körkort i SverigeChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Transportstyrelsen before you apply.
Foreign licences in SwedenRelated questions
-
How often does a car need inspection in Sweden?
A passenger car is inspected first within 36 months of the month it was put into traffic.
-
Can you take a Swedish rental car to Denmark or Norway?
Sixt says its rental cars may be taken from Sweden to Denmark, Finland and Norway, while Hertz and Avis require written permission before you drive outside Sweden.
-
Do you need a credit card to rent a car in Sweden?
Hertz accepts debit cards, but a renter paying with one must also show a credit card at pickup, so a credit card is the safe choice.
-
Where can you find EV charging stations in Stockholm?
You find EV chargers in Stockholm with apps and maps such as ChargeFinder and PlugShare, or in an operator's app such as Vattenfall InCharge.