Norwegians Living Abroad Get Extended Time to Renew Driving Licenses
Expatriate Norwegians, particularly those residing in countries such as Thailand, were given a reprieve from the previous urgency surrounding the renewal of their driving licenses. This necessary renewal applies regardless of the license type, as long as the holder is under 80 years of age.
Back in 2019, the issue sparked considerable unrest among Norwegians living abroad, especially those in Thailand. Many voiced concerns about the need to renew their driving licenses to drive legally upon returning to Norway.
This prompted Thailand’s Tidende to spotlight the matter, leading to a more accommodating response from Norwegian authorities, which particularly favored older driving license holders.
READ: Green Light for Green Driving Licenses—Uncertainty Surrounds Pink Ones (July 26, 2019)
A recent follow-up survey has been conducted to evaluate the current state of these regulations.
Senior adviser Kristoffer Rød-Lindberg from the Communications Unit in the Ministry of Transport has shared important insights on the matter. The guidelines affect:
Individuals who were issued a driving license prior to April 1, 1979 (green book) or between April 1, 1979, and December 31, 1997 (large pink driving license) and who have officially reported moving from Norway.
Rød-Lindberg explains:
– These individuals can legally use their Norwegian driving licenses in Norway until the day before they turn 80, but not beyond January 18, 2033, provided they satisfy the Norwegian health requirements for maintaining a driving license. According to the EU’s driving license directive, all old-model licenses in the EEA will be phased out by January 19, 2033. After this date, only the latest EEA driving license model will be recognized in Norway.
When it comes to the more recent bank card-sized driving licenses issued from 1998 onward, the validity period is typically 15 years. After this period, license holders must renew their credentials by having a new photo taken at a traffic station, as stipulated by the Norwegian Road Administration. However, expatriate Norwegians seeking clarity on this issue were directed to the Norwegian Road Administration for further explanation.
We received a statement from Jørgen Melbye Ingebrigtsen at the Norwegian Road Administration, Traffic and Vehicles:
– Individuals holding a driving license issued from January 1, 1998, through January 18, 2033 (EEA model 1) and who have reported moving from Norway can use their licenses until the day before they turn 80, but not beyond January 18, 2033. After this date, EEA driving licenses must adhere to the latest EEA model in order to be valid for driving in Norway.
(© Thailands Tidende. October 21, 2025)