Apply for a driving instruction permit

A driving instruction permit for instructing driving a passenger car, moped, light quadricycle or motorcycle can be granted to a person who is at least 25 years old and has held a driving licence corresponding to the instructed driving licence category for at least five years. For further information see point: Conditions for granting a driving instruction permit per driving licence category.

Applicant's criminal history is always checked when granting a driving instruction permit and the obtained information may prevent you getting the permit. Under the Act on Driving Licences, a driving licence permit applicant's personal characteristics are considered unsuitable for the instruction task if the person has:

• within five years prior to applying for permit, been found banned from driving as a result of driving while intoxicated, driving while seriously intoxicated, causing a serious traffic hazard or causing a traffic hazard that shows that the offender is apparently heedless of traffic safety
• within the previous year, been subject to a driving ban due to being found guilty of other traffic offences (such as recurrent traffic violations, driving without a licence)
• based on criminal records or information in the register of fines, otherwise indicated with his or her actions that he or she is apparently unsuitable for the instruction task.

The permit is personal and only valid for the persons registered on the permit. If you want to instruct another person or other persons who are not registered on the permit, you must apply for a new, separate driving instruction permit. The number of permits per learner is not restricted.

Up to three driving instruction permits for the purpose of instructing a person that is not a close relative can be issued in the space of three (3) years. The number of permits is not, however, restricted if the instructor is the parent, legal guardian, grandparent, sibling, child or grandchild of the learner. Traficom will verify family connections in the Population Information System.

You want to apply for a driving instruction permit for one learner in one category at a time

Submit your application online via Traficom’s My e-Services. Please answer the question in the application carefully. If necessary, you can save the application as incomplete and continue filling it in later.

The application fee of EUR 25 is paid online. The payment will not be returned if the permit is denied.

You can find the application at My e-Services front page. Unfortunately all services aren't available in English language. Please switch to Finnish or Swedish. (Finnish: Oma asiointi -etusivu > Omat tiedot > Ajokortti or Swedish: Ingånsidan till Mina ärenden > Mina uppgifter > Körkort.)

If you would like to have another instructor or two learners on the same permit

Submit your application at an Ajovarma service point (see Alternatice service channels). Ajovarma is a service provider for Traficom.

If you would like to apply driving instruction permit for lorries, buses and caches

Applications for driving instruction permits for lorries, buses and coaches must be submitted at an Ajovarma service point (see Alternatice service channels). Ajovarma is a service provider for Traficom.

Once you have filled out and paid for the application it proceeds to Traficom for handling. You can then print or save the confirmation and receipt. You will also receive a confirmation to your Suomi.fi account if you have one. We will get in touch with you if further information is needed or the permit cannot be granted.

If the applicant meets the criteria for granting the permit, the driving instruction permit will be sent to his or her home address within 1 to 4 weeks from submitting the application, depending on the service queue and processing time. The granted permit will be included in your data in Traficom’s e-services (External link) after you have logged in to use the services. Logging in requires online banking details, a mobile certificate or a certificate card.

You must carry your driving instruction permit when giving driving lessons. If the driving instruction permit has been granted to two teachers, both will receive their own permit. If your driving instruction permit goes missing, contact Traficom's customer service (External link) for a replacement. The replacement card is free of charge for the customer.

Please remember that the learner must apply for a driving licence permit before taking the driving examination. The permit must be valid when booking a time for the tests. However, driving lessons may already be started before applying for a driving licence permit.  Read more about applying for a driving licence permit and the criteria for issuing the permit here. (External link)

When providing driving instruction, a dual brake pedal for the driving instructor is mandatory in all category B, C1 and C vehicles, light quadricycles and tractors with seats side by side.

A dual brake pedal is also mandatory on motorcycles as well as light quadricycles and tractors where the passenger seat is behind the driver’s seat if the instructor or the person supervising the training accompanies the learner in the vehicle.

No modification inspection is required for the vehicle after installing a dual brake pedal. The dual brake pedal must be firmly fixed to the vehicle. The driving test examiner will test the functioning of the dual brake pedal before the test. An appropriately installed and well-functioning dual brake pedal is a precondition for taking the test.