Daily life · Sweden
Driving & Transport
Rules, licenses, and great public transit
Foreign License
Using Your Foreign License
Your foreign driving licence is valid in Sweden for a limited time. The rules differ for EU and non-EU licence holders.
- EU/EEA licence
- Valid indefinitely while resident
- Non-EU licence
- Valid for 1 year after registration
- After 1 year (non-EU)
- Must pass full Swedish driving test
- No exchange programme
- Non-EU must retake theory + practical
- Check if your licence is from an EU/EEA country
- If non-EU, note the 1-year deadline from registration
- Book theory and practical tests at Trafikverket
- Consider driving school lessons for Swedish road rules
Getting a License
Getting a Swedish License
Getting a Swedish driving licence requires both a theory test and a practical test. The process is thorough but straightforward.
- Theory test
- 65 questions, 52 correct to pass
- Practical test
- 45 minutes on-road assessment
- Theory test fee
- SEK 325
- Practical test fee
- SEK 800
- Study material
- Körkortonline.se or Trafikverket's Kunskapsprov app
- Apply for a learner's permit (körkortstillstånd) at Transportstyrelsen
- Study theory using Körkortonline or official material
- Pass the theory test at a Trafikverket centre
- Take professional or private driving lessons
- Pass the practical driving test
Road Rules
Swedish Road Rules
Sweden drives on the right. The rules are strict, especially around speed limits, winter tyres, and alcohol limits.
- Speed limits
- 30/50/70/90/110/120 km/h (strictly enforced)
- Alcohol limit
- 0.02% BAC (effectively zero tolerance)
- Winter tyres
- Mandatory December 1 – March 31
- Headlights
- Must be on 24/7, year-round
- Speed cameras
- Extensive — fines are income-based
- Switch to winter tyres by December 1 each year
- Keep headlights on at all times (daytime running lights count)
- Observe strictly posted speed limits — cameras are everywhere
- Never drink and drive — the 0.02% limit is near zero
Official sources
Public Transport
Buses, Trains & Metro
Sweden has excellent public transport. In Stockholm, the SL system covers buses, metro, trams, and commuter trains.
- Stockholm monthly pass
- SEK 970/month (SL)
- Stockholm app
- SL app — buy tickets and plan routes
- Long-distance trains
- SJ (Swedish Railways) — Stockholm to Gothenburg in 3 hours
- Youth discount
- Reduced fares for under 20 and over 65
- Regional transit
- Each region has its own operator (Skånetrafiken, Västtrafik, etc.)
- Download your regional transit app (SL, Västtrafik, Skånetrafiken)
- Buy a monthly pass if you commute daily
- Use the SJ app for intercity train bookings
- Register your transit card for automatic top-up
- Check if your employer offers subsidised transit passes
Official sources
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