- Category B belongs to Group 1 in the permit system.
- Typical flow: apply → submit health declaration → submit vision certificate.
- The vision certificate must not have been issued more than two months before the application.
- A driving licence permit is valid for five years and cannot be extended. When it expires, a new application is required.
- In exam questions, look for words like “before you start practising” or “before booking tests”.
0.2 Driving licence permit, eyesight and medical requirements (overview)
Unit 0 / Lesson 0.2 — Driving licence permit, eyesight & medical requirements (Sweden)
In Sweden you must have a valid driving licence permit before you can practise driving. This lesson explains the permit flow, eyesight rules (incl. correction), and how medical requirements are handled in a theory-exam way.
📦 Unit: 0 🧭 Mapping: EX, PF ⚠️ Exam risk: High (permit + vision)
Key facts to remember
Valid for 5 years • Cannot be extended
For Group 1, submit a health declaration and a vision certificate issued no more than two months before the application.
Vision (Group 1 baseline)
≥ 0.5 binocular • Correction allowed
If you meet the requirement with glasses/contacts, you can still be eligible.
What you will be able to do after this lesson
- Explain what a driving licence permit is and why it is required before practice.
- Describe the typical steps: application + health declaration + vision certificate.
- Understand the baseline eyesight logic (including glasses/contacts).
- Identify when a medical certificate can be required and what “conditions” can mean.
- Avoid common exam traps (timing of synintyg, private practice requirements, and honesty rules).
Important 2026 transition for private practice
Before 1 August 2026: valid introductory training is required for both learner and supervisor when practising privately for Category B.
From 1 August 2026: that training requirement is removed. The learner still needs a valid permit and must meet the age and ID requirements, and the supervisor must still be approved by Transportstyrelsen.
From 1 August 2026: that training requirement is removed. The learner still needs a valid permit and must meet the age and ID requirements, and the supervisor must still be approved by Transportstyrelsen.
🪪 Permit vs licence (do not confuse)
- Driving licence permit (körkortstillstånd): approval to start the process and practise driving.
- Driving licence: issued after you pass the theory test and driving test.
- Exam questions often hide this as a “simple wording trap”.
👁️ Vision certificate (synintyg) — exam-critical details
- Part of the permit process for Group 1 (including Category B).
- Must be issued by an authorised professional (optician or doctor).
- It must not have been issued more than two months before the permit application.
Common exam traps
Trap #1: “I can practise first and apply for the permit later.”
You need a valid permit to practise.
Trap #2: “If I wear glasses, eyesight is not a topic.”
Glasses/contacts may be allowed, but the requirement and documentation still matter.
Trap #3: “Medical information is private, so I don’t need to declare it.”
In the exam, the safe/legal answer is: declare honestly and follow authority instructions (extra certificates if required).
Trap #4: “Private practice is the same as driving-school practice.”
Private practice requires an approved supervisor. Until 31 July 2026, both learner and supervisor must also have valid introductory training for Category B. From 1 August 2026, the introductory-training requirement is removed, but the approved-supervisor requirement remains.
You need a valid permit to practise.
Trap #2: “If I wear glasses, eyesight is not a topic.”
Glasses/contacts may be allowed, but the requirement and documentation still matter.
Trap #3: “Medical information is private, so I don’t need to declare it.”
In the exam, the safe/legal answer is: declare honestly and follow authority instructions (extra certificates if required).
Trap #4: “Private practice is the same as driving-school practice.”
Private practice requires an approved supervisor. Until 31 July 2026, both learner and supervisor must also have valid introductory training for Category B. From 1 August 2026, the introductory-training requirement is removed, but the approved-supervisor requirement remains.
Key rules and how they appear in the exam (click to expand)
1) The permit flow (Group 1 / Category B)
2) Vision requirements (Group 1 baseline)
- Baseline: at least 0.5 visual acuity when seeing with both eyes together (binocular).
- Glasses/contacts are allowed if you meet the requirement with correction.
- Vision is tested with a synintyg that is connected to your permit application.
3) Synfält (field of vision): what the exam expects
- Field of vision issues can affect driving safety and eligibility.
- In exam wording: “vision field reduction” often leads to “follow authority requirements / additional assessment”.
- Tip: Do not guess medical details—focus on responsibility, compliance, and safety.
4) Medical conditions and certificates (läkarintyg, villkor)
- Some conditions can require a medical certificate (läkarintyg).
- Sometimes a permit/licence can include conditions (villkor) such as follow-up checks.
- Exam pattern: “What should you do?” → declare it and follow requested documentation steps.
5) Practise driving: driving school vs private practice
- You need a valid driving licence permit and must meet the age requirement for the vehicle.
- For Category B practice with a driving school, a valid permit is normally sufficient.
- For private practice, the supervisor must have applied and been approved by Transportstyrelsen.
- Up to and including 31 July 2026: the learner and supervisor must also have valid introductory training.
- From 1 August 2026: introductory training is no longer required for private Category B practice. A valid permit, the correct age, valid ID and an approved supervisor are still required.
Key concepts (🇬🇧 English + 🇸🇪 Svenska)
These terms appear in real documents and in theory questions. Learn the Swedish words early.
🇬🇧 Driving licence permit
🇸🇪 Körkortstillstånd
🇸🇪 Körkortstillstånd
EX
Mandatory approval before you can practise driving (and a core prerequisite in the process).
🇬🇧 Group 1
🇸🇪 Grupp 1
🇸🇪 Grupp 1
EX
The permit group that includes AM/A/B/BE (Category B belongs here).
🇬🇧 Health declaration
🇸🇪 Hälsodeklaration
🇸🇪 Hälsodeklaration
EX / PF
A declaration about health/medical factors that can affect driving safety and eligibility.
🇬🇧 Vision certificate
🇸🇪 Synintyg
🇸🇪 Synintyg
EX
A certificate for eyesight used in the permit process (issued by an authorised professional).
🇬🇧 Visual acuity
🇸🇪 Synskärpa
🇸🇪 Synskärpa
PF
How clearly you see. Group 1 baseline includes binocular acuity ≥ 0.5.
🇬🇧 Field of vision
🇸🇪 Synfält
🇸🇪 Synfält
PF
The area you can see without turning your head. Important for hazard detection.
🇬🇧 Medical certificate
🇸🇪 Läkarintyg
🇸🇪 Läkarintyg
PF
Extra medical documentation that can be required for eligibility/continued driving.
🇬🇧 Conditions (on eligibility)
🇸🇪 Villkor
🇸🇪 Villkor
PF
Special requirements (e.g., follow-up checks) that may apply in some cases.
🇬🇧 Practise driving
🇸🇪 Övningsköra
🇸🇪 Övningsköra
EX
Training driving before the test. Requires a valid permit; private practice can require extra steps.
🇬🇧 Supervisor
🇸🇪 Handledare
🇸🇪 Handledare
EX
Approved person required for private practice driving in many cases.
🇬🇧 Intro course
🇸🇪 Introduktionsutbildning
🇸🇪 Introduktionsutbildning
EX
Required for private Category B practice only up to and including 31 July 2026. From 1 August 2026, neither the learner nor the supervisor needs this introductory training, but the supervisor must still be approved by Transportstyrelsen.
🇬🇧 E-service
🇸🇪 E-tjänst
🇸🇪 E-tjänst
EX
Online application method used by authorities (often with e-identification).