A foreign driving licence in Sweden
Before driving, check validity, issuing country and population-registration timing. Translation and exchange are different issues.
What to know
EEA licences follow different rules from many non-EEA licences. Transportstyrelsen says many valid non-EEA licences cease to be valid after more than one year of Swedish registration; exceptions exist. Iran is not among the agency’s listed countries for direct exchange.
Prepare before starting
- Note the issuing country, category and expiry date.
- Check the date of Swedish population registration.
- Check whether translation or additional photographic ID is required.
- Disclose any previous exchange in another country.
A practical step-by-step approach
- Read the official rules for your country and category.
- Check driving validity separately from exchange eligibility.
- Ask the agency before driving if a date or exception is uncertain.
- Plan Swedish training and tests early if necessary.
- Keep the official response; an acquaintance’s experience is not a substitute.
Different circumstances and cautions
A translation or international permit does not automatically remove the original licence’s time limits. This guide does not determine your individual permission to drive.
A common question
Does translating an Iranian licence remove the need for Swedish tests?
Translation is not exchange. Check the issuing-country rules and the agency’s current requirements.
Official sources and review date
Sources checked on 19 October 2026. Read the current official page before acting.