Exchanging US drivers licence for Finnish one

[cors187]

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.

What i am talking about is Maistratti only classified me with a permanent residing address when i had been switched over from B to A permit.
The whole year i was on B permit i was ineligible for a permanent residing address and a Finnish ID issued by polisii.I needed a Finnish ID to open a credit card account.Oww well,
Anyway
So the reference would be of a foreigner who has stayed in finland long enough to receive a permanent residing address.
And also a reference of using the roads.

The Finnish residence card does not even count as ID in posti, so a Finnish ID is a must , or maybe better to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and get the drivers licence swap.

[betelgeuse]

What i am talking about is Maistratti only classified me with a permanent residing address when i had been switched over from B to A permit.
The whole year i was on B permit i was ineligible for a permanent residing address and a Finnish ID issued by polisii.

A B permit can allow you to get a permanent address too (section 4, point 5 of the home municipality act [1]). My girlfriend got a Finnish id from the police on a B permit. With a B permit the situation is subjective.

[1] http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1994/19940201

[Adrian42]

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.

Yes, but it doesn't say anything about when and under what conditions to exchange a non-EU driver's license.

That's based on different (non-EU) treaties.

[sielele]

Hi, I am not from the US, but I am also trying to exchange my license these days. I just went to the police to pick the forms my witnesses will fill in and sign (they had them two years ago) and they told me that witnesses are not needed and that the rule stated on the website is not correct. Can anyone confirm me this before I book my time?

Thanks!

[onkko]

The Finnish residence card does not even count as ID in posti, so a Finnish ID is a must , or maybe better to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and get the drivers licence swap.

Legally only official ID card and passport count as ID, drivers licence is accepted in many places but its not legally mandatory.

[onkko]

Hi, I am not from the US, but I am also trying to exchange my license these days. I just went to the police to pick the forms my witnesses will fill in and sign (they had them two years ago) and they told me that witnesses are not needed and that the rule stated on the website is not correct. Can anyone confirm me this before I book my time?

Thanks!

Well if they say so and give you licence then where is problem? If you think that you lose your fee then ask written "no need for witnesses" from them.

[Upphew]

Hi, I am not from the US, but I am also trying to exchange my license these days. I just went to the police to pick the forms my witnesses will fill in and sign (they had them two years ago) and they told me that witnesses are not needed and that the rule stated on the website is not correct. Can anyone confirm me this before I book my time?

Thanks!

Well if they say so and give you licence then where is problem? If you think that you lose your fee then ask written "no need for witnesses" from them.

Or just do your own form and get couple of signatures and give if needed.

[betelgeuse]

Hi, I am not from the US, but I am also trying to exchange my license these days. I just went to the police to pick the forms my witnesses will fill in and sign (they had them two years ago) and they told me that witnesses are not needed and that the rule stated on the website is not correct. Can anyone confirm me this before I book my time?

Thanks!

The law [1] does not require witnesses. It only requires you to show that you have been driving for six months. Maybe their policy is just to take your word for it. As said already it can be free form so you can just ask two people to sign a document drafted by you.

[1] http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2011/20110386

[sielele]

Thanks! I couldn't believe what the guy at the info desk (not a policeman) told me, so I had to ask if someone has done it that way. I guess they have given it up, since it's as reliable as one's word. I will see what happens or prepare some note just in case.

[Pursuivant]

EU licence exchange is totally different than a non-EU as in "Vienna or Geneva" licence exchange, much more straightforward.

[cors187]

What i am talking about is Maistratti only classified me with a permanent residing address when i had been switched over from B to A permit.
The whole year i was on B permit i was ineligible for a permanent residing address and a Finnish ID issued by polisii.

A B permit can allow you to get a permanent address too (section 4, point 5 of the home municipality act [1]). My girlfriend got a Finnish id from the police on a B permit. With a B permit the situation is subjective.

[1] http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1994/19940201

Well if your stuck on B permit and your here for more than 1 year then whatever, my story was to emphasize that a permanent residing address is necessary.

[cors187]

The Finnish residence card does not even count as ID in posti, so a Finnish ID is a must , or maybe better to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and get the drivers licence swap.

Legally only official ID card and passport count as ID, drivers license is accepted in many places but its not legally mandatory.

this is a problem, it seems that many passports are classed in "ANOTHER CATEGORY".

The biggest example i came across was when i tried to get credit card extension .
The computer classed my Australian Passport as "not enough".
In short i needed a Finnish id and problems like this are solved instantly.

So are you saying the Finnish drivers license is not considered Legit FIN ID?

[Pursuivant]

It is "generally accepted" but if you get a faceoff with someone anal, no it isn't.

[Adrian42]

So are you saying the Finnish drivers license is not considered Legit FIN ID?

Try flying from Finland to Germany with only your Finnish driver's licence as ID.

[onkko]

So are you saying the Finnish drivers license is not considered Legit FIN ID?

yes.