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Swedish authority wants to stop “driving license tourism”

by AI | 30.Sep 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Sweden wants to stop so-called driver’s license tourism. Several other European countries have more generous exchange rules than Sweden, which are exploited by people who do not have a valid driving test.

Will there be new European rules regarding driving licenses? Photo: Magnus Lejhall/TT

Stockholm – The Swedish authority Transportstyrelsen wants to stop so-called driving license tourism.

Among other things, they want it to require an approved driving test in an EEA country to be able to exchange it for a Swedish driving license.

According to Transportstyrelsen, there are clear indications that thousands of registered Swedes travel to other EEA countries every year to get a third-country driving license exchanged for a European one. Several other European countries have more generous exchange rules than Sweden.

Back in Sweden, a switch to a Swedish driving license is then requested – something Transportstyrelsen cannot deny if the person is permanently resident in Sweden.

In an analysis, Transportstyrelsen estimates that around 3,000 people in Sweden last year may have obtained their driving licenses without having taken a valid driving test. In a submission to the government, the authority now wants to see several changes to reduce driving license tourism.

Members of the EEA are the EU member countries as well as Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

(September 30)