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An age exception permit for a car driving licence can be granted to a 17-year-old if the young person’s travel to school, work, workplace education and training or a leisure activity is particularly difficult without a car.

An age exception permit can only be granted for special reasons. The permit is granted at Traficom’s discretion. The application for the exception permit should be submitted by the young person’s guardian.

Grounds for granting an age Exeption

The most common reasons for obtaining an exeption permit include long distances or slow or entirely lacking public transportation connections to:

  • school,
  • work,
  • on-the-job learning, or
  • a goal-oriented hobby.

The young person's need for transportation must be continuous and regular.

For more details on the requirements for obtaining a permit, see the section Grounds and preconditions for granting an exception permit at the bottom of this page.

Guardian: How to apply

1

Make sure the young person applies the requirements for an age exception permit

You can only apply for an age exception permit for special reasons and at the earliest when the young person is aged 16 years and 8 months.

We will grant a permit at the earliest when the young person is 16 years and 9 months old. The young person may take the theory test after turning 17. Read the instructions and ensure that the special reasons apply to you.

Read more about the preconditions for obtaining the permit below under Grounds and preconditions for granting an exception permit.

2

Fill in the application in the e-Service

Apply for an age exception permit in Traficom’s My e-Services. You can find the application form under the heading Driving licence.

Fill in both the young person’s personal and contact details and your own details (guardian’s information).

Only select the options that describe the specific grounds on which you are applying for an exception permit.

You must state in your application the regular journeys for which the young person needs a car. Write down the exact and full addresses of the points of departure and destination.

Also give the distance travelled in one direction in kilometres. If there are several addresses, attach a freely worded description of the trips to your application. 

3

Attach the required documents

The required accompanying documents vary depending on the grounds for your application.

  • Certificate of attendance issued by the educational institution if you are applying for an exception permit on the basis of school travel.
  • Certificate issued by the employer or educational institution, or employment contract, if you are applying for an exception permit on the grounds of employment or workplace education and training.
  • A certificate of goal-oriented and regular sports or other leisure activities given by the organiser of the activity if you are applying for an exception permit for travel to goal-oriented recreational activities.
  • A medical certificate or other certificate issued by a healthcare professional stating the health-related factors that restrict the young person’s mobility without a car.
  • A medical certificate detailing the health of a family member or other information of the essential need to travel if you are applying for an exception due to an unforeseen change in the family situation.

If you cannot submit all attachments digitally, send them to Traficom by post. You will not be able to supplement your application later in My e-Services.

As we process your application, we will contact you if we need additional information.

4

You will receive a decision on Suomi.fi or by mail

As a guardian and the applicant, you will receive the decision on the age exeption permit in  Suomi.fi Messages. Activate Suomi.fi Messages before submitting the application.

 If you do not use this service, the decision will be posted to your home address.

Once the permit has been issued, the young person will see it in their information in Traficom's My e-Services.

If you cannot use e-services, you can apply for an age exception using a printed form.

Fill in, print out and sign the application for an age exception permit. The application form must be signed by hand, or verified with an electronic signature (such as Visma Sign). The application will not be processed without the guardian’s signature.

Send the application form and accompanying documents to Traficom’s Registry at

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency

PO Box 320

00059 TRAFICOM

The application is subject to a fee. The fee will also be charged if the application is turned down. An invoice will be sent to you once the decision has been made.

Fill out, print, and sign the application (External link)

Do not fill out the application form if you are applying for an age exeption permit via My e-services.

Processing time for age exception permit applications

The average processing time for applications is 3 months.

The processing time applies to applications that do not require additional clarifications.

A longer processing time is usually due to the need to request additional information or attachments from the applicant.

Grounds and preconditions for granting an exception permit

More information on exception permits