Driving licences in Åland
To drive a vehicle in Åland, you must hold a valid driving licence, which you must always carry with you when driving. Driving licences issued in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden or Finland are valid in Åland. Driving licences issued in the Faroe Islands or Greenland, however, are valid subject to certain restrictions. With a driving licence issued in Åland, you are entitled to drive in all the Nordic countries for as long as the licence is valid.
In Åland, the Åland vehicle authority is responsible for conducting driving tests and ensuring that drivers have the necessary knowledge, whilst the Åland police authority issues driving licences and provisional driving licences. If you want to read more about e.g. traffic regulations, importing and using vehicles, go to the Info Norden page Vehicles in Åland.
Foreign driving licences
Whether a driving licence issued abroad is valid and for how long depends on the country where it was issued. Find out more about the validity of foreign driving licences under the Åland driving licence act on the website of the Government of Åland and in the menu tabs below.
In Åland you are entitled to drive with a valid driving licence issued in an EU/EEA country in accordance with the vehicle categories specified on the licence. You can exchange a valid driving licence issued in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland or an EU/EEA country for an equivalent Åland driving licence without a driving test. This is provided that you are a permanent resident of Åland or have been studying in Åland for at least six months. A foreign driving licence issued after you have become a permanent resident of Åland is not valid. When exchanging it, you hand in your previous driving licence to the police.
If you hold a valid driving licence issued in the Faroe Islands or Greenland, you may continue to drive in Åland for one year after your arrival. To continue driving, you must apply for a driving licence permit and take a new test. Applications for a driving licence permit are made in person to the Åland police authority. Your previous driving licence must be handed in to the police.
If you have a driving licence issued in a country outside the EU or the EEA, the validity of the licence depends on whether it was issued in e.g. a convention state. A driving licence issued in a convention state is valid for two years, and a driving licence issued in another state recognised by Åland is valid for one year from the date of moving to Åland.
Requirements for an Åland driving licence
Åland has its own driving licence law, and there are specific eligibility requirements if you e.g. want to take a driving test or be issued with an Åland driving licence. A driving licence may be issued to a person who:
- has a driving licence permit from the Åland police authority
- is permanently resident in Åland or has been studying in Åland for at least six months
- meets the age requirement under the driving licence act
- has passed the driving test set by the vehicle authority
It is not permitted to hold more than one driving licence. A driving licence may therefore not be issued to anyone who already holds a valid driving licence, or to anyone whose driving licence has been restricted, suspended or revoked. You can find out more about driving licence categories on the Government of Åland webpage on the Åland driving licence act.
Obtaining an Åland driving licence
If you are registered resident of Åland and do not have a driving licence at all, you need to start by taking an introductory theory test with the vehicle authority. After that you can apply to the Åland police authority for a driving licence permit so that you can take driving training consisting of theory lessons and driving practice. The driving practice can be taken privately or through a driving school. Private driving practice must be under the supervision of an approved instructor who has completed instructor training and been granted an instructor’s licence by the Åland police authority. When you have completed the driver training, you take a driving test with the vehicle authority. On the webpage Driving schools and vehicle inspections in the business directory on aland.com, you can find most of the driving schools operating in Åland.
A driving licence permit from the Åland police authority is granted if you are deemed suitable as a driver on the basis of your personal and medical circumstances, meet the age requirements for the driving licence category you are applying for, and have the necessary knowledge. An application for a driving licence or driving licence permit must be accompanied by at least a health declaration, an eyesight certificate and passport photographs. You will need to visit the police in person when applying for a driving licence or driving licence permit. The permit or driving licence issued can be collected from the police station in Mariehamn only. More information is available on the police authority’s webpage under Apply for a driving licence.
Further information on how to obtain a driving licence in Åland can be found on the vehicle authority’s webpage Driving licences, or you can book a personal appointment with the Åland police authority to find out what you need to do to obtain a driving licence. The police authority can only check whether e.g. there are any obstacles to granting a licence when you have submitted the application.
Driving licence categories
In Åland there are various driving licence categories, e.g. for mopeds, cars, trucks and buses. The vehicles listed under the driving licence categories correspond to international standards and may only be driven by the authorised person; an eligibility requirement might be that you meet the age requirement. See all the driving licence categories on the vehicle authority’s website.
Validity period of driving licences
A driving licence is valid for a limited period and must be renewed in your home country before it expires. An Åland driving licence is valid for either five or 15 years, depending on the licence category. On the police webpage Authorisation to drive vehicles, you can see which group the driving licence category belongs to.
More information
On the Info Norden website you can find information on driving licences in the other Nordic countries and which authorities to contact if you have questions.
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.