Drivers who have obtained their licence abroad but have now returned or moved to Ukraine need to exchange their foreign driving licence for a state one. Find out more about how to exchange a document, where to apply and whether you need to take exams

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If you return or move to Ukraine for permanent residence with a driver's licence obtained abroad, you must contact a service centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to exchange the document. However, in some cases, you may need to take the driving test again. What is required to obtain a state-issued driving licence, what documents to submit and who will have to take the exams again - we will tell you further in the article.

How to exchange a foreign country's licence for a Ukrainian one?

According to the Cabinet of Ministers' Resolution No. 340, Ukrainians who were forced to exchange their national driving licences abroad can now easily restore their full driving licence in Ukraine. The new Ukrainian driving licence will reflect all the categories specified in the previous document.

The rules for exchanging a licence obtained abroad vary from country to country. Thus:

● obtaining a licence in a country that has ratified the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic requires retaking the theory and practical exams. You do not need to attend a driving school if you have a document confirming that you obtained your licence abroad;

● obtaining a driving licence in a country that has ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, 1968, does not require retaking the exams. To exchange your licence, you need to contact a service centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and provide the relevant documents;

● when obtaining a driving licence in countries with which Ukraine has concluded an international agreement on the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences, no retake of the exams is required. Currently, these countries are Lithuania, Italy, Spain, the UAE and Turkey.

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Documents to exchange a foreign driving licence for a Ukrainian one

To exchange a foreign driving licence for a national one, you need to apply to a service centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the following package of documents:

● passport of a citizen of Ukraine, foreign passport, temporary certificate of a citizen of Ukraine or permanent residence permit (one of the documents of your choice);

● TIN (taxpayer registration number);

● a medical certificate confirming your fitness to drive;

● a valid driver's licence and its notarised translation;

● a foreign document issued by a competent foreign authority confirming the receipt of a foreign driving licence and the absence of any restrictions on the right to drive vehicles and its notarised translation.

Important information for foreigners! When a foreign national moves to Ukraine for permanent residence, he or she must exchange foreign driving licences for Ukrainian ones within 60 days of obtaining a permanent residence permit. To do this, you need to successfully pass the theoretical and practical exams at a service centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, retaking the exams is not necessary if you have a driving licence from a country with which Ukraine has concluded an international agreement on the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences.

Compulsory car insurance

Keep in mind. In order to drive your own car to Ukraine from abroad, you need to obtain a Green Card, as it is prohibited to drive on the roads of the EU countries without it. On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can apply for a Green Card from a licensed insurer. Packages are available for different periods from 15 days to 1 year for cars and trucks, trailers and semi-trailers for trucks, as well as motorcycles and scooters.

Ukraine also has compulsory motor insurance. Motor third party liability insurance (MTPL) is a Ukrainian insurance policy that compensates victims of road accidents. Therefore, you should take out insurance immediately upon arrival in Ukraine. On Visit Ukraine, you can buy a CTP policy from a licensed insurer. Packages with a deductible of UAH 3200, UAH 1600 and UAH 0 are available.

We also recommend that you additionally take out voluntary Mini Hull insurance, which compensates for damage caused to a car due to the risks of war. On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can buy Mini Hull insurance from a reliable insurer for guaranteed protection on the country's roads online. There are three package options available for periods ranging from a month to a year for cars, motorcycles, scooters, trucks, as well as trailers and semi-trailers.

Just a reminder. When moving to Ukraine by a car with foreign number plates, it must be registered. What documents are required to register a foreign car in Ukraine, how much it costs and where to go - read here.

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