Exchanging US drivers licence for Finnish one

rachelandomar · Post by **rachelandomar** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 1:36 pm

To those who have been through this process:

The Finnish police indicate it is possible for permanent residents to exchange their US licence for a Finnish one if they do so within two years of arriving in Finland and provide evidence they have been driving in Finland for at least 6 months.

My residence permit is tied to my employment contract - which is renewed annually - and so expires at the end of this calendar year. Does this mean I am not a 'permanent resident' for the purposes of being able to exchange my US licence? Do the police ask to see the residence permit?

Any advice much appreciated!

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Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 1:40 pm

If you are here on an "A" permit then you are "permanent" enough - a "B" is slightly iffy, but they can only say "no". The other option is your 2 years goes and you pay 3 grand for teh car school...

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 1:49 pm

rachelandomar wrote:The Finnish police indicate it is possible for permanent residents to exchange their US licence for a Finnish one if they do so within two years of arriving in Finland and provide evidence they have been driving in Finland for at least 6 months.

If I understand it correctly, the limits are not within two years of arriving in Finland but within two years of becoming a permanent resident.

But for definite information you should ask the police.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:43 pm

Theres a difference between residing permanently and permanent resident (permit)... the police look at domiciled residence vs. "tourist" IIRC.

rachelandomar · Post by **rachelandomar** » Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:57 pm

Thank you - this was helpful. I have a B type visa, so may not be permanently resident and therefore should still be able to drive on my US licence. I wonder though if insurance companies charge a premium for those with non-Finnish/non-EU drivers licences?

foca · Post by **foca** » Fri Aug 30, 2013 3:08 am

why not just try to apply to exchange it? if you get a Finnish license, your us license is not destroyed but is held with police, so you can get it back if you hand back the Finnish one.as for insurance companies- they are more interested in getting info on your insurance claim records ( if you apply for full comprehensive) - so get a statement from your previous insurer. third party insurance, it seems, is calculated on the basis of the car info not the driver really.

rider1000 · Post by **rider1000** » Fri Aug 30, 2013 11:31 am

I'm planning on attempting this sometime in the next couple months, as well. If only for the ability to have a government issued ID that isn't my US passport. It's annoying to get somewhere and need ID when my residence permit doesn't work and I don't have my passport with me...

I've got the "A" permit, don't have €3k in the bank, and I've been here just over a year already... better get on it!

ritan7471 · Post by **ritan7471** » Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:29 pm

I'm from the US and the exchange was very easy. I just needed to bring a health certificate and my old driving license as well as a letter signed by two witnesses saying I have been driving at least 6 months in Finland.

Then I waited 2 months and went back to the police to make the exchange.

hychamaz · Post by **hychamaz** » Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:59 pm

Then anytime that you want your US license back and vice versa you just go to the police station. Very simple..

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:04 pm

Adrian42 wrote: If I understand it correctly, the limits are not within two years of arriving in Finland but within two years of becoming a permanent resident.

Within two years from "first" arrival in Finland, even if you did not have a residence permit at the time.

Was once quite relevant, I did ask that in writing from relevant police officer in Helsinki.

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:32 pm

Rip wrote:
Adrian42 wrote: If I understand it correctly, the limits are not within two years of arriving in Finland but within two years of becoming a permanent resident.
Within two years from "first" arrival in Finland, even if you did not have a residence permit at the time.

Was once quite relevant, I did ask that in writing from relevant police officer in Helsinki.

When did you ask this? The rules changed at some point from the date of arrival to starting to reside permanently. I think this was a couple years ago.

cors187 · Post by **cors187** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:44 pm

I think the reference points are-
Has permanent residing address, = maistratti
Can prove driving in finland for 6 months.

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:14 pm

cors187 wrote:I think the reference points are-
Has permanent residing address, = maistratti
Can prove driving in finland for 6 months.

The rules come from the implementing the EU directive 2006/126/EC. The relevant article is attached. For example EU nationals studying here quality for a permanent address under section 4 of the home municipality act but should not need to exchange their driver's licenses.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/Lex ... 26:EN:HTML

Article 12
Normal residence
For the purpose of this Directive, "normal residence" means the place where a person usually lives, that is for at least 185 days in each calendar year, because of personal and occupational ties, or, in the case of a person with no occupational ties, because of personal ties which show close links between that person and the place where he is living.
However, the normal residence of a person whose occupational ties are in a different place from his personal ties and who consequently lives in turn in different places situated in two or more Member States shall be regarded as being the place of his personal ties, provided that such person returns there regularly. This last condition need not be met where the person is living in a Member State in order to carry out a task of a definite duration. Attendance at a university or school shall not imply transfer of normal residence.

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:27 pm

betelgeuse wrote:
cors187 wrote:I think the reference points are-
Has permanent residing address, = maistratti
Can prove driving in finland for 6 months.
The rules come from the implementing the EU directive 2006/126/EC. The relevant article is attached. For example EU nationals studying here quality for a permanent address under section 4 of the home municipality act but should not need to exchange their driver's licenses.

That legislation is not applicable for driver's licenses from non-EU/EEA countries.

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:45 pm

Adrian42 wrote:
betelgeuse wrote:
cors187 wrote:I think the reference points are-
Has permanent residing address, = maistratti
Can prove driving in finland for 6 months.
The rules come from the implementing the EU directive 2006/126/EC. The relevant article is attached. For example EU nationals studying here quality for a permanent address under section 4 of the home municipality act but should not need to exchange their driver's licenses.
That legislation is not applicable for driver's licenses from non-EU/EEA countries.

Wrong. See for example Article 11(6):

6. Where a Member State exchanges a driving licence issued by a third country for a Community model driving licence, such exchange shall be recorded on the Community model driving licence as shall any subsequent renewal or replacement.
Such an exchange may occur only if the licence issued by the third country has been surrendered to the competent authorities of the Member State making the exchange. If the holder of this licence transfers his normal residence to another Member State, the latter need not apply the principle of mutual recognition set out in Article 2.

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