🪪 Am I allowed to drive on a foreign licence in Norway?

With conditions

Quick answer

It depends where the licence is from. An EU/EEA licence is valid in Norway with no time limit, and you can exchange it for a Norwegian one without a new test. If you have a licence from a country outside the EEA, you can drive for only 3 months after registering residence in Norway (up to 6 months with a residence permit and employment contract). After that you must exchange or take a Norwegian test. Licences from certain countries — such as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea — can be exchanged with a practical test, while others must take the full theory and driving test.

📋 The rules

EU/EEA licence valid with no deadline and exchanged freely
Outside the EEA: drive for 3 months after registering residence
Up to 6 months with a residence permit and employment contract
Certain countries are exchanged with a practical test
Others must take the full theory and driving test

🔓 Exceptions

An EEA licence originally exchanged from a non-EEA country follows the original country's rules
The UK and Switzerland are treated as EEA
A 10-year continuous EEA licence can be exchanged directly

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Driving after the permitted period has expired counts as driving without a valid licence and can bring a fine and loss of the right to drive.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-06-20

❓ Frequently asked

Can I drive on an EU/EEA licence in Norway?

Yes. An EU/EEA licence is valid with no time limit, and you can exchange it for a Norwegian one without a new test.

How long can I drive on a non-EEA licence?

3 months after registering residence, or up to 6 months with a residence permit and employment contract.

Must I take a test to exchange?

Licences from certain countries are exchanged with a practical test. Others must take the full theory and driving test.

Does this apply to the UK and Switzerland?

The UK and Switzerland are treated as EEA, so their licences can be exchanged freely without a test.

What happens if I drive too long on a foreign licence?

It counts as driving without a valid licence and can bring a fine and loss of the right to drive.

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