Exchange My driving licence to a Finnish one

[Muna101]

Hello all! Am from East Africa, i have a driving license issued by my country. In order to drive in Finland,
1. Can i just exchange my current license to a finnis one? OR
2. Should i change my license to an International license at my home country first?
Thanks!

[Rip]

International driving licence is useless here.

If you and your licence are from one the countries listed here:
http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/ ... endocument

then instructions to follow are given here:
http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/ ... endocument

[Muna101]

Thanks a bunch!

[Muna101]

My country is not on the list what do i do?

[Flossy1978]

I am gathering you don't have the same road conditions as we have here where you are from. The ice and snow. It's probably advisable you take all the classes and whatnot and get a Finnish license. In the courses you are taught to drive in these conditions and all kinds of other things. It'll be worth the money and your safety.

[Muna101]

Cool. Thanks for the info!

[riku2]

The ice and snow. In the courses you are taught to drive in these conditions and all kinds of other things. It'll be worth the money and your safety.

I think those classes are only necessary for those with old cars. For drivers of modern ones (eg Audi, Volvo) the car behaves just as well icy conditions as on a summer's day. So can be driven just as much over the speed limit, close to cars in front etc. At least that what I observed today anyway (along with a few cars in the central reservation and one on its side - chelsea tractor at that).