Norway has driving licence exchange agreements with the following countries:

• Australia
• Canada
• Hong Kong
• Israel
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• San Marino
• South Korea
• USA

In addition, Norway accepts Japanese driving licences (category B) and Swiss driving licences (all categories) for exchange.

For those who would like to exchange their foreign driving license for an equivalent Norwegian driving license, you will have to pass a practical driving test within one year of taking up normal residence in Norway.

You may also exchange your driving license within two years of taking up normal residence by passing a theoretical and a practical test, and you will also have to complete the following mandatory training which includes:

• First aid (4 hours)
• Safety and skid pan course (4 hours)
• Night driving (3 hours)

After 2 years of normal residency in Norway, you no longer have the right to exchange your foreign driving licence. You will be considered a first-time applicant and must complete the full mandatory driving licence programme, including both theoretical and practical tests.

Exchanging your foreign license

• Upon submission of your application, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office will keep your original driving licence and take copies of documents submitted. This is done because in Norway, you are only allowed to have one driving license, you will not get your original driving licence back.
• If for some reason you need to have your licence back, the exchange procedure will be stopped. You will receive a copy of your original driving licence and a temporary driving permit valid for maximum 3 months, which will allow you to drive in Norway.
• The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office will send an enquiry to the issuing country in order to verify the validity of your driving licence. Once the documents are confirmed by the issuing country, you will receive a letter from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office with further information.

Applying for a Norwegian driving license

• If your foreign license does not qualify to be exchanged, you will need to apply for a Norwegian driving license which can be done on line or by filling out a form at your local Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
• You will need to attend driver training courses, complete mandatory training and pass one theory test and one practical test.

For EU/EEA licenses:

• Driving Licence application form
• Original driving licence
• An authorised translation of the driving licence if it is not written in English, French or German
• Approved picture ID
• Registration certificate for EEA citizens
• Certificate of residence in Norway (bostedsbevis)
• For licenses obtained while temporarily staying in another EU/EEA country:
  • Documents that will prove continuous stay in the issuing country for at least 6 months. Examples: travelling documents with arrival and departure dates, records from an educational institution.

If documentation from the issuing country shows that the driving licence in question is either false or invalid, the incident will be reported to the police.

For licenses issued outside EU/EEA:

• Driving Licence application form
• Original driving licence
• An authorised translation of the driving licence if it is not written in English, French or German
• Approved picture ID
• Residence permit
• A document that will confirm when you moved to Norway

The Directorate of Public Roads (Vegdirektoratet)

Directorate of Public Roads (head office):
Statens vegvesen Vegdirektoratet
P.O. box 8142 Dep
NO-0033 OSLO
Norway

Directorate of Public Roads (office address):
Brynsengfaret 6A
Oslo
Telefax: + 47 22 07 37 68
Telephone: 02030
Traffic conditions: 175

Regional Offices

NPRA - Eastern Region

P. O. Box 1010

NO-2605 Lillehammer

Telephone: 02030 (from abroad +47 915 02030)

Telefax: +47 61 25 75 80

E-mail: firmapost-ost@vegvesen.no

NPRA - Southern Region

PO Box 723

NO-4808 Arendal

Telephone: 02030 (from abroad +47 915 02030)

Telefax: +47 37 01 98 01

E-mail: firmapost-sor@vegvesen.no

NPRA - Western Region

Askedalen 4

NO-6863 Leikanger

Telephone: 02030 (from abroad +47 915 02030)

Telefax: +47 57 65 59 86

E-mail: firmapost-vest@vegvesen.no

NPRA - Central Region

Fylkeshuset

NO-6404 Molde

Telephone: 02030 (from abroad +47 915 02030)

Telefax: +47 71 27 41 01

E-mail: firmapost-midt@vegvesen.no

NPRA - Northern Region

PO Box 1403

NO-8002 Bordeaux

Telepho

Exchanging your license

Holders of driving licenses issued in EU/EEA who resides in Norway may exchange their driving licence for an equivalent Norwegian driving licence. The driving licence to be exchanged must be valid and must have been issued before the applicant took up residency in Norway. The applicant must also meet the Norwegian age requirements for the licence category in question.

If the applicant is a resident of Norway and have acquired the driving license during his/her temporary stay in another EU/EEA country, he/she must present a document that will prove continuous stay in the issuing country for at least 6 months. Examples: travelling documents with arrival and departure dates, records from an educational institution.

Age Requirements

International Categories

16 years old:

• AM - Moped (AM146)
• AM - Moped (AM147), limited weight
• A1 - Light motorcycle

18 years old:

• AM - Moped (AM147), unlimited weight
• A2 - Motorcycle
• B - Car, van
• C - Lorry
• C1 - "Light" lorry
• BE - Category B with trailer
• CE - Category C with trailer
• C1E - Category C1 with trailer

20 years old:

• A - Heavy motorcycle, gradually acquired entitlements

21 years old:

• D1 - Minibus
• DE - Category D with trailer
• D1E - Category D1 with trailer

24 years old:

• A - Heavy motorcycle, full entitlements
• D - Bus

National Categories

• Category S:
  • Snowmobile, limited to Category 1: 16 years old
  • Snowmobile, unlimited: 18 years old
• Category T:
  • Tractor, limited weight: 16 years old
• Tractor, unlimited weight: 21 years old*

Note*: 21 years old or 2 years' driving experience.

National categories or driving entitlements are valid for driving in other countries provided they are accepted by the authorities of that country.

Applying for a Norwegian driving license:

Applicant must:

• have been a resident of Norway for at least 6 months
• meet the Norwegian age requirements
• meet the health requirements
• have an approved record of good conduct from the police

Norwegian driving licence: NOK 305.

This amount must be paid when your Norwegian driving licence is issued.

Norwegian driving licences for heavy vehicles [categories C1(E)-D1(E)-C(E)-D(E)] have to be renewed every 5 years in Norway. Driving licenses with these categories are valid only for 5 years from the date its holder took up residency in Norway.

Application for driving licence

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Norway adopts the European Unions legislation on driving licences through the EEA-agreement. Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences, became effective in Norway on January 19th 2013.

Holders of driving licences issued in the EU/EEA are permitted to drive in Norway as long as it is valid in the country it was issued. However, please note that heavy categories are valid only for 5 years from the date you took up residency in Norway.

Driving licences issued outside the EU/EEA are valid for driving in Norway for up to 3 months after entering Norway. This also applies if you take up normal residence in Norway. After 3 months you can no longer use your foreign driving licence. You have to either exchange your driving licence or apply for a driving licence in Norway.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office strongly recommends that you start the exchange/application procedure as soon as you have taken up normal residence in Norway. You are considered to be a resident of Norway from the date you obtain a Norwegian national identity number, or if you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year because of personal and occupational ties.

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A driver's license is a legal document issued by the state. It expresses a persons capability to operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Laws relating to the issuance of licenses vary between jurisdictions.

The validity of a foreign driving licence in Norway depends on whether the driving licence were issued within or outside the European Union.

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