Do you need an international driving permit in Sweden?
Which licences are valid as they are and which need a translation or permit.
Short answer
No, an international driving permit is not needed if your licence is in English, German or French or follows the Geneva or Vienna convention model. Other foreign licences are valid in Sweden only together with a certified translation or an international driving permit.
Why
- According to the Driving Licence Act, foreign licences are valid in Sweden according to their content, but a licence that does not follow the convention model and is not in English, German or French needs a certified translation or an international licence.
- According to Transportstyrelsen, the translation must be in English, German, French, Swedish, Danish or Norwegian, and an authorised translator can help.
- According to Transportstyrelsen, an international permit is also a valid translation, but it cannot be issued in Sweden and you must bring it from your home country.
Details
A licence without a photo is valid only together with an ID document with a photo. A licence from an EEA country is valid in Sweden if it is valid in the home country and has not been exchanged for a Swedish one. Translation firms are listed under translation services in Stockholm, and the overview is in foreign driving licences in Sweden.
Tip
Get the international permit or the certified translation before you travel if your licence needs one, because Transportstyrelsen says the international permit cannot be issued in Sweden.
What may differ
An EEA licence is valid in Sweden if it is valid in the home country and has not been exchanged for a Swedish one, while a licence from outside the EEA stops being valid one year after registration in Sweden, with exceptions for UK and Faroese licences.
Common misconception
You always need an international driving permit to drive in Sweden.
What actually happens
According to the Driving Licence Act, only licences that do not follow the convention model and are not in English, German or French need a certified translation or an international licence.
People also ask
- Do I need an international driving licence in Sweden?
- Is an international driving permit valid in Sweden?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Transportstyrelsen before you travel.
Foreign licences in SwedenRelated questions
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.