Are Ukrainian driving licenses valid in Russia?

Is it possible to drive with a Ukrainian license in Russia in 2019?

Auto tourism is a convenient way to see the world when it comes to traveling to neighboring countries. Trips to relatives are no exception. Many Ukrainians travel to Russia in their own cars and are worried whether Ukrainian driving licenses are valid in Russia in the current 2019?

On the legality of using a driver's license

Russia and Ukraine are among the countries that have acceded to the Vienna International Convention for Road Safety: according to the treaty act, citizens of other states staying on the territory of the Russian Federation with national or international certificates, the entries in which are made (duplicated) in Latin script, have the right to drive a vehicle means.

This means that a driver’s license issued in Ukraine is considered valid in principle in the Russian Federation. The old Soviet-style rights apply a priori - everything was written there in Russian (and French).

The question of whether a Ukrainian driver's license is valid in Russia in 2019 is raised by the fact that Ukraine has changed driver's licenses many times. This gives rise to misunderstandings with Russian police, who not only cannot detect counterfeit or inconsistency, but are vigilant. Questions are raised by the “indefiniteness” of some examples of Ukrainian military equipment.

It is impossible to check licenses issued in Ukraine using the traffic police database. Hence the reluctance of the police to recognize Ukrainian “crusts”.

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What determines the validity period?

The validity period of a national driver's license in Russia is limited to the maximum permitted period of stay of a foreigner in the Russian Federation. Ukrainians can move freely on Russian roads for as long as allowed by the migration laws of the Russian Federation: 90 days (counting the day of entry). Thus, a Ukrainian driver’s license without an expiration date on the territory of the Russian Federation in 2019 is not considered valid indefinitely.

Previously, in accordance with Resolution No. 1396 “On approval of the Rules for passing qualifying exams and issuing driver’s licenses,” for those who left for permanent residence 60 days after receiving the desired temporary residence permit (or date of entry, if the temporary residence permit was received at a foreign consulate of the Russian Federation), their driving license ceased act. They had to be changed to Russian ones.

But at present (by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 24, 2014 N 1097) this resolution (No. 1396) has lost force and now there should be no such requirement. But the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation apparently thinks differently and judging by its resolution of December 27, 2019 No. 38-AD18-8, it is still necessary to change the rights. Therefore, after obtaining Russian citizenship, in order to avoid future problems with the traffic police, it is better to immediately take care of replacing your foreign rights with Russian ones.

Replacement takes place according to a simplified scheme - without exams. The previous document is returned to the owner.

Is it necessary to translate Ukrainian driving licenses in Russia?

The variety of forms and types of driving documents gives rise to a lot of questions about in what cases and is it necessary to translate a Ukrainian driver’s license in Russia? Not always and not in all situations. When a certificate does not comply with international standards, it must be supported by a notarized translation.

In other words, if all the inscriptions in a document are only in Ukrainian, you need to go to a notary. If they are duplicated in Russian or Latin, translation is not needed.

Is it possible to work in Russia

Before traveling to Russia, many Ukrainians find out whether it is possible to work as a driver in Russia with a Ukrainian license. Only illegal. Recent changes to the traffic safety law prohibit professional drivers with national licenses from other countries from working in the Russian Federation.

To make it clearer: the answer to the question whether it is possible to work in the Russian Federation as a driver with a Ukrainian driver’s license is no. You can drive a personal car, but unfortunately, work.

It is worth noting that there are differences in the traffic rules of the two countries. Therefore, in order not to earn fines, you need to familiarize yourself with the Russian Rules. It is also necessary to take into account that for Ukrainian citizens in the Russian Federation, replacement of certificates with Russian ones or the issuance of documents to replace lost national ones is not provided.

International certificate

It’s another matter to enter Russian territory with an international driving license. Not all Russian traffic cops know what a Ukrainian driver’s license in 2019 looks like, but they are very familiar with the international driving document form.

Having a validity period of three years, an international driving license will help out in case of a serious violation committed on the territory of the Russian Federation. Even if the IDP is confiscated as a result of a violation, the driver will still have a Ukrainian license with which he will be able to drive home.

International Driving Permit: Video

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Does a Ukrainian driver's license allow you to drive a car in Russia?

The Russian Federation primarily attracts tourists and migrants from the CIS countries, including Ukraine. To stay on the territory of the state, a foreigner must be legalized. In addition to migration papers, you will also need others, for example, a driving license. Let's talk about the status of a Ukrainian driver's license in Russia.

Appearance of the Ukrainian university

Samples of driver's licenses (DLs) in Ukraine have changed several times, and currently several types are in effect in parallel.
Below you can see what documents issued in different years look like. The old-style ID is a laminated form, on the front side of which there is a photograph, information about the owner and the government agency that issued the document.
The reverse side lists open categories and notes the categories of vehicles that the owner can drive.

At the same time, the Soviet license in the form of a booklet and a new type of driver's license in the form of a plastic card are valid. The latter are almost identical to the new certificate in the Russian Federation.

Is it possible to drive a car in the Russian Federation on the basis of a Ukrainian driving license?

To correctly answer the question of whether Ukrainian driver’s licenses are valid in Russia, we will find out what is accepted in international treaties on road traffic.

There are two international conventions on road traffic - Geneva 1949 and Vienna 1968. A country party recognizes certificates issued by other members of the convention, provided that certain requirements are met.

The Geneva Convention requires not only a driver's license issued in the country of citizenship, but also an annex to it - an international driver's license (IDP). This document, in fact, is a translation of internal rights into international languages.

The Vienna Convention obliges participating countries to recognize national documents, provided that they have the form established by the convention - a plastic card of a certain type.

Countries that are not parties to any of the conventions recognize only their own VU.

Russia is a party to both conventions, and Ukraine – only to the Vienna one.

Thus, the Russian Federation recognizes Ukrainian rights on its territory. However, the presence of different types, unlimited validity, and the inability to check Ukrainian licenses using the traffic police database lead to restrictions in their use.

Is an IDP required in Russia as an annex to the Ukrainian one?

International driving licenses for Ukrainians in the Russian Federation were not needed for two reasons:

Both countries are members of the Vienna Convention and recognize each other's national identity cards.
Ukraine does not participate in the Geneva Convention, therefore its government authorities do not issue such a document.

However, since mid-February 2017, the Ukrainian traffic police began issuing international driving licenses.

The document is issued on the basis of an internal driver's license. Validity period: 3 years. Taking into account the fact that some license samples made in Ukraine do not comply with the latest requirements of the Vienna Convention and are not translated into other languages (this is the document shown in the first section), it makes sense to obtain an international driver’s license.

This will save you from unnecessary questions from traffic inspectors. The “old” rights of Ukraine comply with the previous requirements of the Vienna Convention and are recognized by the participating countries until their expiration date.

Validity of Ukrainian driving license in the Russian Federation

A Ukrainian driver's license without a validity period on the territory of the Russian Federation is not unlimited in the full sense. The validity period of these rights within Russia is equal to the period of stay of their owner on the territory of Russia.

Ukrainians have the right to stay in the Russian Federation for 90 days in a row. Once this time expires, the validity of the certificate will also expire. True, those guilty of violating immigration laws may face deportation, in comparison with which troubles with the traffic police will not be significant.

Thus, the validity period of a Ukrainian driver’s license in Russia depends on the purpose of visiting the country. If a citizen of Ukraine arrived for permanent residence, then previously, from the moment of receiving a temporary residence permit or temporary residence permit, he had 60 days to obtain Russian rights. Currently, there is no such restriction, provided that he drives only a personal car. But if you want, you can exchange your Ukrainian rights for Russian ones. To do this, you will need to undergo a medical examination, pass exams and pay a state fee. The national license remains with the owner.

Is it necessary to translate the document into Russian?

Many people think about whether a translation of Ukrainian driving license is necessary. It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. There is no need to translate your license if you have an international driver's license - the translation is already there.

Russian traffic police officers must accept rights that comply with the Vienna Convention, but sometimes they may not understand the Ukrainian text.

Then a translation of the document certified by a notary will not be superfluous. However, a notarized translation of a document is quite expensive - it is much cheaper to obtain an IDP.

Is it possible to work as a driver in Russia with a Ukrainian driving license?

It is no secret that many Ukrainians come to Russian territory in order to earn money, and the question of whether it is possible to work in the Russian Federation as a driver with a Ukrainian driver’s license is very relevant for them. We have to disappoint them: with a Ukrainian license you cannot not only get a job, but also engage in business activities related to transportation. You must obtain a Russian driver's license. This law came into force on June 1, 2017.

Is it possible to travel in a Ukrainian state after acquiring Russian citizenship?

Before applying for citizenship, you needed to obtain a temporary residence permit and residence permit. Since previously there was a requirement to exchange rights within 60 days, it is possible that at the time of obtaining Russian citizenship you already have Russian documents for driving transport. But at present, this requirement is no longer relevant, and if you have become a citizen of the Russian Federation, and your license is Ukrainian, then you can use it when traveling by personal vehicle without restrictions. A new law is being discussed in the State Duma, which proposes to reintroduce a time limit for replacing a military device, this time for 180 days, but it has not yet been adopted.

Is it possible for a Ukrainian to obtain a Russian driver's license?

If your stay in the Russian Federation is legal, you have almost all the same rights as citizens of the country: you can undergo training for the categories of vehicles you choose, pass a medical examination, pass an exam at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and receive a Russian driver’s license.

If you have been deprived of your license in your home country, there is a possibility that the Russian traffic police will become aware of this, which means that your license will not be issued.

Registration of Russian VU by Ukrainian refugees

Refugee is an official status that allows a person to stay in Russia for a long time. Accordingly, having this status, you can apply for a Russian driver's license on a general basis or exchange your national rights for Russian ones.

The procedure for exchanging Ukrainian rights for Russian ones

Foreign citizens legally residing in the Russian Federation change their residence permit on a general basis. To do this, you need to pass a medical commission, pass exams, pay a state fee and contact the traffic police with an application.

Conclusion

With a Ukrainian license in the Russian Federation, you can drive a car only for personal purposes. You cannot work as a driver for hire. The maximum period of validity of the national Ukrainian VU in Russia for citizens who do not have a temporary residence permit or residence permit is 90 days - equal to the maximum period of stay of its owner. If you are living in the Russian Federation legally for a long time, it is advisable, and if you plan to work as a driver, then it is definitely required, to obtain a Russian driver’s license.

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Ukrainian rights in Russia: valid or not?

When planning to cross Russian borders by car, a motorist must take care in advance to prepare a package of documentation both for himself and for his own vehicle. Otherwise, customs may have problems entering the country. An important requirement remains the length of stay: when staying on Russian territory for a long time, a citizen should legalize his status and the ability to travel in his own car . After reading this article, you will find out: is a Ukrainian driver’s license (VD) valid in Russia in 2018 and is it necessary to replace it when using a vehicle for commercial purposes?

Is it possible to drive in Russia with a Ukrainian license?

Russia and Ukraine, along with other countries, are parties to the Vienna International Traffic Regulations Convention of 08.11.1968. This document states that the driver, when entering the territory of another state (in our situation, Ukrainian citizens on Russian territory), is required to have a valid national and international driver's license with him .

ATTENTION! In an international university, all information must be duplicated in Latin alphabet. Only then is free movement throughout Russia allowed in your own/rented car.

Unlike its Russian counterpart, Ukrainian driver's licenses have no validity restrictions. They are characterized by an indefinite life, therefore there is no need to replace them after a specific time period. At the same time, the previous Soviet-style certificate is still valid today, because all data about the car owner is reflected in Russian. However, over the past decades, the appearance of the Ukrainian document has changed significantly. Now modern Ukrainian educational institutions look like this:

This is a small card made of light pink plastic;
the front side contains information about the owner of the document, the date of receipt and the department that issued the driver’s license;
The reverse side displays information about currently open categories.

Despite the fact that Ukrainian VU are developed taking into account international standards and fully comply with them, this document periodically causes misunderstandings between Russian law enforcement officers and motorists.

For example, such driving licenses cannot be checked using a single traffic police database.
In addition, not all information is written in Latin letters (place of issue of the document, last name of the citizen), so it is not always possible to detect any inconsistency or forgery.

In accordance with migration rules, the validity of Ukrainian rights in Russia is 90 days . The countdown starts from the day you enter the country. When registering for a temporary residence permit, the national driving document loses its validity 60 days after the date of receipt of temporary status. You can obtain Russian VU without having to pass any exams.

If you already have a Russian passport, you plan to live in Russia for a long time and work as a taxi, truck or bus driver, then obtaining a Russian driving license is strictly necessary (Federal Law No. 92 “On Road Traffic Safety” dated 05/07/2013, which came into force on 07/01/2017). Otherwise, the employer faces a fine of 50 thousand rubles , and you - an administrative penalty in the amount of 5-15 thousand rubles, since this act is considered as driving a car without a license (Article 12.32-1 of the Federal Law No. 92 dated 07.05. 2013).

Is this restriction valid for other foreign motorists? The exception applies to drivers who:

are moving in transit through Russian territory;
use the vehicle for personal purposes without conducting commercial activities;
are citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus (clause 13 of article 25 of Federal Law No. 196 “On Road Traffic Safety” dated December 10, 1995).

On 05/17/2017, the State Duma of the Russian Federation submitted for consideration a bill regarding the extension of the validity of a foreign certificate for another 1 year (until 06/01/2018). However, the normative act was never adopted.

What should a citizen of the Russian Federation do with a Ukrainian driver’s license?

There are often situations when a citizen of the Russian Federation has a foreign driving document. For example, he completed training and received a driving license while living in Ukraine, or simply has two citizenships at the same time. In other situations, a Ukrainian with a valid vehicle driving license remains in Russia for permanent residence and receives citizenship.

Let us recall that until November 4, 2014, a citizen of the Russian Federation had the right to use a foreign document to drive a vehicle for only 60 days. After this date, this requirement became invalid, since the rules for passing qualifying exams and issuing a driving license became invalid (Government Decree No. 1097 “On admission to driving a vehicle” dated October 24, 2014). Thus, foreign licenses to drive a vehicle can be used until then until the new legislation comes into force.

However, Russian roads are still not without misunderstandings when meeting with law enforcement officials. What should you do if your car has been towed to a parking lot? We adhere to the following steps:

Record the actions of the inspectors on photo/video.
Report your plans to contact the prosecutor's office due to the illegal restriction of your right to drive a car. Such a violation may result in an administrative penalty for a police officer in the amount of 20 thousand rubles. If this has no effect, proceed to further actions.
We call the helpline hotline and explain the situation regarding violation of the law. Perhaps this call will stop the evacuation process.
If the vehicle is nevertheless towed and a fine is imposed on you, you have the right to challenge it. Typically, a judgment is made in favor of the motorist.

Federal Law No. 92, which came into force on June 1, 2017, does not apply to citizens of the Russian Federation, since Russian is the officially recognized state language (Article 68 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation). Therefore, there is no need to replace a foreign ID with a Russian one. It is also allowed to conduct commercial activities using your own vehicle.

Is it legal for a citizen of the Russian Federation to have a Ukrainian driver’s license?

There are a lot of different answers, but there is no certainty about them. I have citizenship of the Russian Federation (since 2015) and unlimited validity. Ukrainian identity card. Here is the court decision - https://legalacts.ru/sud/postanovlenie-verkhovnogo-suda-rf-ot-27122018-n-38-ad18-8/ Do you need to get a Russian driving license or can you travel for now? Thanks Igor.

Is it possible to drive with a Ukrainian license in Russia? How to exchange for Russian ones?

Rights of Ukraine in the Russian Federation

According to the 2019 law, driving a car in the Russian Federation is allowed not only to citizens of the country, but also to foreigners. Ukrainians, despite geopolitical strife, are no exception - they are allowed to drive a vehicle if they have a form of driver’s license recognized by Russia. Are national and international driver's licenses issued in Ukraine accepted as such? Is it possible to drive with a Ukrainian license in Russia and when should it be replaced with a Russian one?

Are Ukrainian military licenses operating in Russia in 2019?

Yes, the law allows citizens of Ukraine to drive in the Russian Federation with a driver’s license.

If Ukrainians living/staying in the Russian Federation do not have Russian licenses, they may be allowed to drive a car or other vehicle on the basis of national or international driver’s licenses issued in Ukraine (Clause 12, Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196 “On Road Safety”) .

But not everything is so simple: the form of the country’s certificates has changed several times, and therefore the law allows you to travel with them (Clause 15, Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196) in 3 cases:

if Ukrainian rights comply with the requirements of the Vienna Convention, that is, all entries are duplicated in documents in Latin transliteration; this is what they look like:
if the rights are compiled or all entries in them are duplicated in Russian, for example, Soviet-style rights;
if the certificate, written only in Ukrainian, is presented together with a notarized translation into Russian.

That is, there should be no problems and replacement of Ukrainian rights with Russian ones in 2019 is not required? But don’t rush to rejoice!

Firstly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has prepared amendments to the law, and if they are adopted, it will be possible to drive in Russia with a Ukrainian license only for six months after receiving a residence permit or Russian citizenship. After this period, the certificate is considered invalid and you will have to obtain a Russian-style driver's license. This rule will not affect Ukrainians staying in the Russian Federation on a visa-free basis or living with a temporary residence permit.
Secondly, the right to use foreign military equipment in Russia applies only to foreigners. Citizens of the Russian Federation will not be able to use them , and if presented to an inspector, they risk being prosecuted under Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code. This is confirmed by judicial practice, in particular, by Resolution of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. 38-AD18-8 of December 27, 2018.
Thirdly, you can use Ukrainian rights in Russia only for personal purposes. For labor, entrepreneurial and other activities related to generating income - in other words, a certificate issued in Ukraine cannot be used for work. To work as a driver, a Ukrainian will have to exchange a foreign driver’s license for a Russian one.

Note! If an employer engages a Ukrainian without a Russian license to work in transport, the official responsible for this may be subject to a fine of 50 thousand rubles (Article 12.32.1 of the Administrative Code).

How to change Ukrainian license to Russian?

The procedure for replacing foreign rights is regulated by Section VI of the Rules approved by Government Decree No. 1097 of October 24, 2014. Ukrainians, according to paragraph 38 of these Rules, will be able to obtain a Russian driver's license only after passing theoretical and practical exams.

Unfortunately, there is no simplified procedure; it is impossible to obtain an officially Russian military license without passing exams!

To exchange a Ukrainian license for a Russian one, a Ukrainian must pass 3 exams in the specified sequence:

theoretical,
exam on primary management skills,
exam on driving a vehicle in road conditions.

Ukrainians are invited to take exams in any of the categories open in Ukrainian driving licenses. If they are passed in the highest category, all lower categories from the old ones are transferred to the new license. In addition, the traffic police is obliged to transfer driving restrictions to the new license.

Receipt procedure

The procedure for exchanging a foreign license is not fundamentally different from the usual procedure for obtaining a certificate. To exchange a Ukrainian license for a Russian one, a Ukrainian must go through 5 main stages.

Go through a medical examination and receive a conclusion that there are no contraindications or restrictions for driving.
Prepare a set of mandatory documents, which will be discussed below, and pay the state fee.
Register with the traffic police to take the exam. This can be done in person at the traffic police, MFC, or remotely through the State Services portal. Applicants can apply to any department on the territory of the Russian Federation of their choice; the place of migration registration does not matter.
Report to the unit at the appointed/selected time and pass the exams in the required sequence. Do not forget to take with you an electronic ticket and a set of necessary documents if the application was submitted electronically. Please note that if any test is failed, the driver is not allowed to take the next one, and a repeat test is scheduled no earlier than a week later. In practice, it may not take 2-3 months. If you fail the third or any other subsequent attempt, a repeat exam is held no earlier than 30 days later (clause 11 of the Rules).
Get new Russian license. At the same time, the inspector will return the Ukrainian license, which can be used for driving for personal purposes or abroad.

Set of documents

The list of documents required to obtain Russian rights instead of Ukrainian ones is determined in paragraph 39 of the Rules. It is minimal and only includes:

application in free form;
Ukrainian passport, refugee certificate or other identification document;
conclusion from the medical center (medical certificate);
receipt of payment of state duty;
Ukrainian rights, if available.

How much does it cost?

The costs of replacing Ukrainian licenses with Russian ones will include at least two cost items:

payment for medical examination services and obtaining a medical certificate,
payment of state duty for issuing rights.

The cost of obtaining a medical report will depend on the region, the category of rights received and the price list of the medical organization that conducts the examination. For example, in Moscow clinics this service will cost an average of 3.3-4.2 thousand rubles, depending on the category.

State duty is a fixed payment and is paid in the amount determined by subclause 43.1 of clause 1 of Article 333.33 of the Tax Code:

2,000 rubles for standard plastic licenses;
3,000 rubles for new generation rights (as of 2019, they have not yet been technically implemented).

Note! If you pay the state fee remotely through the State Services portal, the applicant receives a 30% discount. Thus, until January 1, 2021, you can pay a state fee in the amount of 1.4 and 2.1 thousand rubles, respectively.