Can a Brazilian Drive in Finland? — IDP Recommended, Winter Roads the Real Test

For a Brazilian driver, the licence side of Finland is quick to settle. The learning curve is the climate: months of packed snow and ice, very short winter days and, in the north, reindeer on the road.

The licence

Finland’s Driving Licence Act, section 60, accepts a licence issued in a state that is party to the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna road traffic convention, provided the licence follows the convention model or shows the same details in Latin letters. Brazil is a party to the Vienna convention and the CNH is printed in Latin script, so it qualifies. Hire companies may still ask for an international permit, so bring the PID issued by your DETRAN and keep it with the CNH and passport.

Same side of the road

Finland drives on the right, as Brazil does. Junctions and roundabouts work the way you expect; the unfamiliar part is the surface under the tyres.

Winter is the real test

The Road Traffic Act requires cars to use winter tyres with at least 3.0 mm of tread from November to March whenever the weather or road conditions call for them. A car hired in that season will have them, but technique matters as much as rubber: gentle braking, long following distances and smooth steering. Daylight in December lasts only a few hours in the south and less in Lapland, so plan shorter drives.

In the north, reindeer graze beside unfenced roads and often cross in groups. Where warning signs appear, slow down and expect more than one animal.

Speeds, alcohol and fines

Built-up areas are 50 km/h and other roads 80 km/h unless signs say otherwise; motorways are signed up to 120 km/h. Small speeding offences carry a fixed traffic infringement fee: on roads with a limit of 60 km/h or less, EUR 100 up to 10 km/h over, EUR 170 for 11-15 and EUR 200 for 16-20; on faster roads EUR 70, EUR 140 and EUR 170. Beyond 20 km/h over, the case becomes a fine based on income. The alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, looser than Brazil’s Lei Seca, but the safe habit is the same. Emergencies: 112.

Read the full rules on our Finland driving guide, confirm your documents with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate a ticket with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

Sources

• Finland, Driving Licence Act (Ajokorttilaki 386/2011), s. 60 (licences from Geneva and Vienna convention states; Latin letters, IDP or official translation): finlex.fi
• Finland, Road Traffic Act (Tieliikennelaki 729/2018), winter tyres (November to March when conditions require; 3.0 mm) and traffic infringement fees for speeding: finlex.fi
• UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (Brazil and Finland parties): treaties.un.org
• WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Finland profile (50/80/120 km/h; 0.05 g/dl): who.int
• WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Brazil profile (BAC 0): who.int
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Finland (hire companies may require an international driving permit): gov.uk