To become a taxi driver in Norway you need more than a regular driver's license. You must go through three steps: pass the taxi driver exam with Statens vegvesen, apply for a cab license from the police, and get a taxi permit if you want to operate your own taxi.
Is a regular driver's license enough to drive a taxi?
No, a regular driver's license is not enough to become a taxi driver in Norway. You need three things in place before you can drive passengers for payment.
First you need a valid driver's license in category B. You must have held the driver's license continuously for at least two years. If you have a driver's license from a country outside the EEA, you typically need to exchange it for a Norwegian driver's license first. Read more in our guide about driver's licenses from outside the EEA.
After that come two official approvals. You must pass an exam with Statens vegvesen (the state authority for roads and driving licenses). Then you must get a cab license from the police. If you want to own your own taxi, you need a taxi permit in addition.
The three steps to drive a taxi in Norway
To drive a taxi in Norway you follow three clear steps. The table shows what each step requires and who approves you.
| Step | What you do | Who approves | Most important requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taxi driver exam | Statens vegvesen | Pass the theory test, or have valid YSK personal transport |
| 2 | Cab license | The police | At least 20 years old, driver's license for 2 years, good conduct, health certificate |
| 3 | Taxi permit | The county council | Only if you want to operate your own taxi as a business |
Steps 1 and 2 are enough if you will work as a driver for a taxi company. Step 3 applies if you want to start your own business. Many newcomers to Norway use SamfunnPrep to practice Norwegian rules alongside their job.
Step 1: Pass the taxi driver exam
The first step to become a taxi driver in Norway is to pass the taxi driver exam. This is a theory test you take at a traffic station with Statens vegvesen. You should book a time for the exam in advance on their website.
The exam was reinstated after the rules became more lenient in 2020. From November 1, 2020 the old requirements fell away. But a professional competence requirement came back in 2023, and new drivers must therefore document knowledge again.
You can skip the exam if you already have a valid YSK personal transport. YSK means professional driver competence, which is approval to drive passengers in a bus or similar. You also skip the exam if you received a cab license before November 1, 2020, or have taxi experience from another EEA country or Switzerland.
The exam costs 460 kroner according to the rates that apply from February 1, 2026. Once you have passed, you get a decision that proves you have enough competence. You bring this with you when you apply for a cab license.
Step 2: Apply for a cab license from the police
The second step is to apply for a cab license from the police. The cab license is a separate proof that you are allowed to drive passengers for payment.
To get a cab license you must meet these requirements:
- You must be at least 20 years old.
- You must have held a driver's license continuously for at least two years.
- You must have good conduct. The police check whether you are fit to drive a taxi.
- You must provide a health certificate from a Norwegian doctor. The certificate cannot be older than three months.
If you are a foreign national, you generally must have lived in Norway for four years. If you come from another EU or EEA country, a valid police certificate from your home country often suffices.
The cab license is usually valid for ten years and applies throughout the country. When the cab license expires, you have one year to renew it. If you wait longer, you must take the taxi driver exam again before you can apply.
Do I need a permit to drive a taxi?
No, you do not need a permit to work as a driver. You need a taxi permit only if you want to own your own taxi and operate it as a business.
A taxi permit is a permission to operate a taxi business. The permit is given by the county council, which is the regional elected body, and you apply through Altinn. To get a permit you must:
- have a fixed and genuine business in Norway,
- have good conduct,
- have sufficient financial resources, including a bank guarantee,
- have passed the permit exam with Statens vegvesen.
Both a sole proprietorship (ENK) and a limited company (AS) can apply for a permit. If you want to start alone and simply, ENK is often the easiest. See how to proceed in our guide about registering a sole proprietorship. Since September 1, 2024 most permit holders must also be affiliated with a taxi dispatch center.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The largest costs are the exams and the health certificate. The taxi driver exam costs 460 kroner, and the permit exam for taxi costs 470 kroner. Both rates apply from February 1, 2026, so always check current prices with Statens vegvesen.
The time varies. The theory exam itself takes one day, but you should study well first. In addition comes the processing time with the police for the cab license. Apply therefore in good time before you want to start working.
Taxi is a common first job for many who are new to Norway. If you want to find employers while your papers are being processed, you can read how you find a job in Norway from abroad.
In short
You become a taxi driver in three steps: pass the taxi driver exam, get a cab license from the police, and get a permit if you want to operate your own taxi. A regular driver's license alone is not enough, and you must have held it for at least two years.
If you want to understand more Norwegian rules for work and public services, you will find free practice tools at SamfunnPrep. Rules for working life and public services are part of the citizenship test — practice for free on SamfunnPrep.
