Driving licences in Svalbard

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Here you will find information about the rules applying to driving licences in Svalbard.

On this page, when we mention the Geneva or Vienna Convention, we are referring to the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

Foreign driving licences in Svalbard

Main rule

As a main rule, you may use a foreign driving licence that is valid in the your home country throughout your stay in Svalbard

Valid foreign driving licences

Driving licences from countries that are party to the Geneva or Vienna Conventions

You may use your driving licence as long as it is valid.
You may drive the motor vehicle category specified on your driving licence, with the exception of tractors.

You do not need additional documentation if your driving licence meets the model requirement under one of the conventions. All driving licences from EU/EEA countries meet this requirement.

If your driving licence is from a country outside the EU/EEA, you should check if it meets the model requirement under one of the conventions.

If your driving licence does NOT meet the model requirement, you will need the following in addition to your driving licence:

An authorised Norwegian translation of your driving licence, or
An international driving licence that meets the model requirements

Driving licences from countries that are not party to the Geneva or Vienna Conventions

You may use your driving licence for three months if it meets both of the following criteria:

It meets the model requirement under one of the conventions.
It is in a Scandinavian language, English, French or German.

If your driving licence does not meet both requirements, when driving you need to carry with you both your regular driving licence and an international driving licence that meets the model requirements.

Exchange of driving licences from the EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland or Japan

If your driving licence is from an EU/EEA country, the UK, Switzerland or Japan, you may exchange it for a Norwegian driving licence. Note that the deadline to apply for an exchange from a Japanese driving license does not apply to those residing in Svalbard.

The following criteria must then be met:

You are registered in the population register in Svalbard.
Your driving licence has not previously been exchanged from a country outside the EU/EEA area, the UK, Switzerland or Japan.

Driving licences from other countries when their period of validity expires

If you hold a driving licence from a country other than an EU/EEA country, the UK, Switzerland or Japan, and the validity period of your driving licence expires while you are staying in Svalbard, you need to renew your driving licence in the issuing country.

If your driving licence cannot be renewed in the issuing country, you can apply to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to continue to drive in Svalbard for up to five years. As a main rule, this applies only to motorcycle categories and passenger cars. If you have a special need to be able to drive a bus or lorry, you may also apply for this.

In order for such an application to be granted, the following criteria must be met:

Your foreign driving licence has been valid for more than three months in Svalbard.

Your driving licence was valid when your stay in Svalbard started.

You are registered in the population register in Svalbard.

Your application for renewal of your driving licence in the issuing country has been denied.

You are able to document that your driving licence has not been revoked in the issuing country.

There are strict documentation requirements when you apply for such permission. The documents must be in their original version, dated and signed by the driver licensing authority in the issuing country.

To apply for permission to continue driving, you need to fill out the application form for driving licences.

The application form contains a Personal Health Statement. You need to submit an eyesight and/or a health certificate for driving licence purposes if you answer “Yes” to one or more of the questions in the Personal Health Statement. The health certificate must be issued by a medical doctor with Norwegian authorisation. The eyesight certificate must be issued by an optometrist or a medical doctor with Norwegian authorisation.

If you have lorry and/or bus categories on your foreign driving licence, and you have a special need to be able to continue driving these categories, you must present documentation of your need. This may be a statement from your employer that you need to drive a lorry or bus for work. You will also need to submit a health certificate issued by a doctor on a designated form for driving licence purposes.

Your application and other required documents must be handed in physically to Svalbard Licensing and Registration Office (servicekontor) in Statens hus (the old post office and bank building) in Longyearbyen. You will also need to show your foreign driving licence.

Open snowmobile

If you have a driving entitlement for Categories A, A1, A2 or B, you may drive a snowmobile (Category S) in Svalbard. This applies regardless of when and where in the world you acquired the driving entitlement. If you have a Norwegian driving entitlement for Category T, the same applies. You may drive a snowmobile as long as your driving licence is valid for driving in Svalbard.

If you do not hold a driving licence that is valid for driving in Svalbard, you can take the practical driver training for Category S at an approved driving school in Svalbard. You can take the theory test at Svalbard Licensing and Registration Office in Statens hus in Longyearbyen. For snowmobiles (Category S), no practical driving test is required. You need to be registered in the population register in Svalbard in order to be issued a Norwegian driving licence for Category S.

Getting a driving licence in Svalbard

Basic training and driving tests

If you do not have a foreign driving licence, you can acquire a Norwegian licence through the regular process of training and tests. In order to be issued a Norwegian driving licence, you need to be registered in the population register in Svalbard. Practical driver training and practical driving tests for other categories than Category S must be carried out in mainland Norway. You will therefore need a residence permit in mainland Norway to acquire a Norwegian driving licence in other categories than Category S.

Theory tests in Svalbard

Before you can take the theory test, you must have applied for a driving licence and had your application approved.

Taking the theory test or renewing your driving licence at Svalbard Licensing and Registration Office

If you are going to take the theory test or renew your Norwegian driving licence, you must visit Svalbard Licensing and Registration Office in Statens hus (the old post office and bank building) in Longyearbyen.