How to Convert a Foreign Driving License to a Swedish One (2026)

If you've moved to Sweden with a licence from another country, one of two things is true: either your licence keeps working indefinitely, or you're on a one-year clock before it stops being valid here. Which one depends entirely on where your licence was issued.

This guide explains exactly how to convert (officially, exchange — utbyte av utländskt körkort) a foreign driving licence for a Swedish one: who's eligible, who has to retake the test instead, where to apply, what it costs in 2026, when you need a certified translation, and where to get the vision and medical certificates. We've kept it national — the rules and the address you post to are the same wherever in Sweden you live.

Related: if you're not eligible to exchange and have to take the test from scratch, read our Driving Test in Sweden guide for the full theory + practical process.

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First: Can You Even Exchange Your Licence?

Eligibility splits into three groups. Find yours before doing anything else.

Your licence is from…	Can you exchange it?	Validity in Sweden
EU / EEA country	Yes — and it's optional	Valid as long as it's valid at home
UK, Switzerland, Japan, Faroe Islands	Yes — direct exchange	1 year after registering, then must exchange
Any other non-EU/EEA country	No	1 year after registering, then must take the full Swedish test

The EEA = the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EU / EEA Licence Holders

Your licence is valid in Sweden for as long as it stays valid in the issuing country. You do not have to convert it. You may exchange it for a Swedish one (handy if it's near expiry or you simply prefer a Swedish card), and the process is straightforward because there's mutual recognition across the EEA.

Non-EU/EEA — But From an Exchange-Agreement Country

Sweden has direct-exchange agreements with only four non-EEA jurisdictions: the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, and the Faroe Islands. If your licence is from one of these, you can swap it for a Swedish licence without taking any test — but you must do it before your one-year window closes.

Everyone Else (Non-EU/EEA, No Agreement)

If your licence is from the US, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, most of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, it cannot be exchanged. After your first year as a registered resident, you must obtain a Swedish licence by going through the full process: a learner's permit, the two mandatory risk courses, the theory test, and the practical test. See the Driving Test in Sweden guide.

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⚠️ The One-Year Rule (Don't Get Caught Out)

For non-EEA licences, the clock starts the day you become folkbokförd (registered in the population register), not the day you arrive.

Aspect	Detail
Validity	1 year from registration date
After 1 year (no exchange/Swedish licence)	Your foreign licence is no longer valid to drive in Sweden
Driving anyway	Treated as driving without a licence — risk of a ~3,000 SEK fine
Consequence	You can be barred from obtaining a Swedish licence for two years

This catches a lot of newcomers from exchange-eligible countries (especially the UK) who assume there's no rush. There is. Start the exchange months before the deadline, because processing alone can take 8–12 weeks.

Temporary stay (e.g. students)? If you're in Sweden short-term, you can apply to Transportstyrelsen for an exemption to keep driving on your non-EEA licence beyond the year — send your details, purpose and length of stay, a copy of the licence, and evidence of the temporary reason to the Örebro address below.

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How to Apply for the Exchange (Step by Step)

The authority for all licences in Sweden is Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency). Exchanges are handled by post to their office in Örebro.

Step	What to do
1	Order/download the form "Ansök om utbyte av utländskt körkort" (application to exchange a foreign driving licence)
2	Gather your documents (see checklist below)
3	Include any required certified translation
4	Include the health declaration / vision certificate if required
5	Post the form with your original foreign licence enclosed
6	Wait for the decision and pay the 375 SEK issuance fee
7	Your Swedish licence is printed and posted to you

Where Do You Send It?

Transportstyrelsen 701 97 Örebro Sweden

You must be a permanent resident in Sweden and meet the personal and medical requirements for a Swedish licence. Note that you send your physical foreign licence in the original — you'll surrender it as part of the exchange.

How Long Does It Take?

Period	Typical processing time
Normal	8–12 weeks
Busy season (≈ May–August)	Longer — apply earlier

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What Documents Do You Need? (Checklist)

• Completed application form (Ansök om utbyte av utländskt körkort)
• Your original foreign driving licence
• A certified translation (only if your licence isn't in an accepted language — see below)
• Hälsodeklaration (health declaration) where required
• Synintyg (vision/eyesight certificate) where required
• Läkarintyg (medical certificate) — only for higher categories (trucks/buses) or declared conditions
• A valid ID / personnummer for identification

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Costs of Converting a Foreign Licence (2026)

The state fee itself is small; translation and certificates are where extra cost can creep in.

Cost item	2026 amount	When it applies
Licence issuance (Transportstyrelsen)	375 SEK	Always
Certified translation	~Translator's rate (varies)	If licence not in an accepted language
Vision certificate (synintyg)	~Optician's rate (often low/free)	If required for your exchange
Medical certificate (läkarintyg)	~Doctor's rate	Higher categories / health conditions only

There is no separate application fee on top of the 375 SEK issuance charge for a standard exchange. Budget mainly for translation if your licence is in a non-accepted language or script.

Paying or moving money from abroad? If you're settling these costs (or related moving expenses) while your income is still in another currency, transferring with Wise typically gives a better exchange rate and lower fees than a standard bank transfer.

What About an International Driving Permit (IDP)?

An IDP is not a licence and cannot be "converted" into a Swedish one. It's simply an official translation of your existing national licence and is only valid alongside that licence. So:

• An IDP can satisfy the translation requirement during your valid period and exchange.
• But you still exchange the underlying national licence (if eligible) or take the Swedish test (if not).
• There's no Swedish state fee to "convert an IDP" — the only conversion route is exchanging the national licence (375 SEK) or testing.

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When You Need a Certified Translation — and Who Can Do It

You need a certified translation of your licence if it is not written in one of these accepted languages:

Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, German, or French.

If your licence is in another language or a non-Latin script (e.g. Arabic, Persian, Chinese, Cyrillic, Thai), you must enclose a certified translation or a valid International Driving Permit.

Where to Get an Authorized Translation

Transportstyrelsen accepts translations from an authorized translator (auktoriserad translator). The official, free way to find one:

Option	How
Kammarkollegiet register	The Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency keeps the official searchable register of authorized translators — search by language
Certified translation companies	International services (e.g. RushTranslate and similar) offer certified Swedish/English driving-licence translations online
International Driving Permit (IDP)	Obtained in your home country before you move — acts as an accepted translation

Tip: confirm the translator is authorized/certified for legal use. A casual or machine translation will be rejected. If you still have time before moving, getting an IDP at home is often the cheapest and simplest route.

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Vision and Medical Certificates: Where to Go

Two different documents get confused here. Most ordinary car (B) exchanges only involve a health declaration and a vision check — a full doctor's medical exam is reserved for higher categories or declared health conditions.

Synintyg (Vision Certificate)

Aspect	Detail
What it proves	Your eyesight meets the licence standard
Where to get it	Opticians (e.g. high-street optician chains), some driving schools, or a healthcare clinic
Cost	Often inexpensive, sometimes free with an eye test

Läkarintyg (Medical Certificate from an Authorized Doctor)

Aspect	Detail
When needed	Higher categories (C/CE, D/DE — trucks/buses) or if you declare a medical condition
Who issues it	A doctor trained in traffic medicine
Where to find one	Your vårdcentral (health centre), or dedicated services specialising in körkort medical certificates (these doctors are familiar with Transportstyrelsen's requirements)

How to find an authorized medical practitioner:

1. Ask your vårdcentral — many GPs issue driving-licence certificates or can refer you.
2. Use a specialist läkarintyg för körkort service, which exists specifically for traffic-medicine certificates and knows the exact forms Transportstyrelsen needs.
3. For vision only, walk into an optician — no doctor required.

Whoever you use, make sure they complete the correct Transportstyrelsen form for your category. The agency rejects certificates on the wrong form.

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EU/EEA Exchange: The Easy Case

If you're swapping an EU/EEA licence, the process is lighter:

Aspect	Detail
Required?	No — your licence is already valid here
Test?	None
Translation?	Not needed (EEA formats are recognised)
Why bother	Card near expiry, lost/damaged, or you want a Swedish card
Fee	Same 375 SEK issuance

You still apply to Transportstyrelsen and surrender the original card, but there's no one-year deadline pressure and no medical/translation hurdle for a standard car licence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert a foreign driving licence to a Swedish one?

You exchange it: complete Transportstyrelsen's form Ansök om utbyte av utländskt körkort, enclose your original licence (plus a certified translation and any required health/vision certificate), and post it to Transportstyrelsen, 701 97 Örebro. The issuance fee is 375 SEK and processing takes 8–12 weeks.

How do I convert a non-EU driving permit to a Swedish one?

Only if it's from the UK, Switzerland, Japan, or the Faroe Islands — those can be exchanged directly. All other non-EU/EEA licences cannot be exchanged; you must take the full Swedish theory and practical test after your one-year validity ends.

Where do I apply for a driving licence conversion in Sweden?

By post to Transportstyrelsen, 701 97 Örebro. There's no walk-in counter for exchanges — it's handled centrally for the whole country.

What does it cost to convert my licence?

The state fee is 375 SEK (issuance). Extra costs only arise for a certified translation (if your licence isn't in an accepted language) and any vision/medical certificate.

Can I convert an International Driving Permit (IDP) into a Swedish licence?

No. An IDP is just a translation of your national licence and can't be converted on its own. You exchange the underlying national licence (if eligible) or take the Swedish test.

Where can I find an authorized medical practitioner for the health certificate?

For vision, use an optician. For a full medical certificate (higher categories or a declared condition), use your vårdcentral or a specialist läkarintyg för körkort service with doctors trained in traffic medicine, ensuring they use the correct Transportstyrelsen form.

Which companies offer driving licence translation services for Sweden?

Use an authorized translator from the official Kammarkollegiet register, or a certified translation company (e.g. online services like RushTranslate). Alternatively, get an International Driving Permit in your home country, which counts as an accepted translation.

What happens if I keep driving after the one-year period?

Your foreign (non-EEA) licence is no longer valid, so you'd be driving without a valid licence — risking a ~3,000 SEK fine and a potential two-year bar from getting a Swedish licence.

Do I get my original licence back?

No. You surrender the original foreign licence as part of the exchange.

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Summary

Key Takeaways

1. EU/EEA — valid indefinitely; exchange is optional and easy.
2. UK, Switzerland, Japan, Faroe Islands — direct exchange, no test, but within one year.
3. All other non-EU/EEA — no exchange; take the full Swedish test.
4. Apply by post to Transportstyrelsen, 701 97 Örebro, with your original licence.
5. Cost — 375 SEK, plus translation/certificates if applicable.
6. Translation — required unless your licence is in SV/NO/DK/EN/DE/FR; use an authorized translator or an IDP.
7. Don't miss the one-year deadline — fines and a two-year bar are real.

Your Checklist

Right after registering in Sweden:

• Check which group your licence falls into
• Note your one-year deadline (non-EEA)

To exchange (eligible licences):

• Get the Ansök om utbyte av utländskt körkort form
• Arrange a certified translation or IDP if needed
• Get a vision certificate (synintyg) if required
• Post everything (incl. original licence) to Örebro
• Pay the 375 SEK issuance fee

If you can't exchange:

• Plan for the full test — see the Driving Test in Sweden guide

Converting a foreign licence is simple if you're eligible and start early. The fatal mistake is assuming you have unlimited time — the one-year non-EEA window, plus 8–12 weeks of processing, means you should begin within your first few months in Sweden.

Lycka till!

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Related Guides:

• Driving Test in Sweden: The Complete Guide - If you must take the full test
• Moving to Sweden from a Non-EU Country - The bigger picture
• Personnummer in Sweden: The Complete Guide - Registration starts the clock
• Moving to Sweden Checklist - Everything to set up on arrival