Recognition of foreign driving licences proposed to be extended

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 23.11.2017 13.22
News item
Photo: Rodeo/Juha Tuomi
Photo: Rodeo/Juha Tuomi

According to the Act on Driving Licences, a licence issued in a European Union or European Economic Area Member State as well as a licence issued in a signatory country to the Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic Convention is recognised in Finland.

The Government proposes that for driving in mainland Finland the scope of recognition of foreign driving licences be extended. In future, driving licences issued in other states recognised by Finland would also be approved. The licence would give entitlement to drive in Finland, if it was valid in the issuing country and met certain requirements of form.

The information contained in the licence would have to be in Latin alphabet and indicate the right to drive or include an official translation into Finnish or Swedish.

In order to prevent driving licence tourism, a licence qualification requirement would be that the person's habitual residence was not in Finland at the time of issuing the licence.

The Government submitted the proposal for amending the Act on Driving Licences on 23 November. The proposal is part of a forthcoming broader reform of driving licences but was submitted already now to enable the recognition of driving licences issued in these countries before the winter tourist season starts.

The amendment is intended to come into force on 1 February 2018.