Ukrainian driving licences in Sweden

General requirements

In order for you to be able to use your Ukrainian driving licence in Sweden it has to be valid. Ukrainian authorities have extended the validity for first-time driving licences which are valid for two years. Such first-time licences that have expired after December 21, 2021, can be used for a year after the expiration date.

In order to verify the validity of the licence the police may ask for another form of identification or contact Ukrainian authorities. If there is doubt that the driving licence is valid and authentic the Swedish police may refuse to recognise the driving licence if the Ukrainian authorities, when consulted, give a negative answer (or do not answer).

If there is a reason to withdraw the licence (for example due to traffic violations or drunk driving) the validity of the driving licence in Sweden will be reconsidered.

For those not protected under the Temporary Protection Directive

For licences issued in the Ukraine (and other states outside the EEA) Swedish law (chapter 6, 1-2 §§ körkortslagen (1998:488) states the following (when regulation (EU) 2022/1280 does not take precedence, see next section):

• If the design of the licence is in compliance with the examples in the Road Traffic Conventions signed in Geneva 19 September 1949 or Vienna 8 November 1968, or is issued in English, German or French, it is valid without an International Driving Permit (IDP) or authorised translation.
• For older driving licences of a different format or with just Cyrillic letters an authorised translation or an IDP is required. 
• When using licences without a photograph of the holder another form of identification must be provided.
• Your Ukrainian driving licence is valid for a year after you have been registered as a resident in Sweden. To be allowed to drive after that you need to get a Swedish driving licence.

Information about how to obtain a Swedish driving licence can be found on the National Road Administration website.

Exceptions for those protected under the Temporary Protection Directive

From regulations (EU) 2022/1280 it follows that valid Ukrainian driving licences should be accepted in Sweden even without an authorised translation or an International Driving Permit if the holder is a person with the right to protection under the Temporary Protection Directive 2001/55/EG. A residence permit card (UT card) which states that is the type of permit you have can be used as proof that the directive applies to you.

If the Temporary Protection Directive applies to you that means that you can keep using your Ukrainian driving licence in Sweden until the temporary protection expires.

More information about the Temporary Protection Directive can be found on the Migrationsverket website.