Received Russian citizenship, how to change your driver's license

Replacement of a driver's license when obtaining Russian citizenship

Moving to another country always comes with a lot of problems. Various legislation, other government documents and procedures - all this raises many questions. Replacing a driver's license when obtaining Russian citizenship is a mandatory step in the legalization of foreigners in our country. Without this step, you will not be able to drive a vehicle (vehicle) freely with someone else’s license. In addition, you can fall under administrative liability.

Is it necessary to replace the driver's license when changing citizenship?

As you know, a motorist’s right to drive a vehicle is confirmed only by a driver’s license (DL). This is stated in paragraph 4 of Art. 25 of Federal Law No. 196-FZ “On Road Safety” dated December 10, 1995. VU are different in each country, although they may comply with international requirements. The answer to the question of whether rights need to be changed is simple.

Previously, when obtaining Russian citizenship, you had to change your license to a Russian one within 60 calendar days. This was in Resolution No. 1396 “On approval of the Rules for passing qualifying exams and issuing driver’s licenses.” But now it has lost force and there is no such requirement.

But upon obtaining Russian citizenship, you can voluntarily exchange your national driver’s license for a Russian one.

The procedure for replacing a computer

The procedure for admission to driving a vehicle, issuance and replacement of a driving license is regulated by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1097 of October 24, 2014. The fourth section of this document describes the rules for exchanging national driving licenses for Russian ones when changing citizenship.

To exchange a foreign driving license, you must provide the following documents:

statement;
passport or other identity document;

Then follows:

Pay the state fee.
Pass the qualification exam at the State Traffic Inspectorate.
Sign up for a waiting list to receive a driver's license.
On the appointed day and time, arrive at the traffic police with all the papers and receive a Russian driving license.

The rules for replacing a driver's license determine the maximum period for its registration and issuance. The procedure will take 7 days after passing the exam at the State Traffic Inspectorate. It will take an hour at the traffic police department, and several days at the MFC.

Are exams required?

Paragraph 38 of the rules for issuing a driving license (Resolution No. 1097) states that the document is exchanged based on the results of tests taken for Russian motorists. In other words, you will have to pass a theoretical and practical exam at the State Traffic Inspectorate for the highest category indicated on the certificate. If the driver's license was issued by a country that has not signed the Vienna Convention, among other things, you will need to undergo initial training.

Payment of duty

Having received Russian citizenship, the now former foreigner is obliged to act in accordance with Russian law. In the Russian Federation, it is customary to pay for the replacement and issuance of a driver's license. This can be done in cash or electronic money (card) at any bank, post office, terminal, using Internet banking services or the State Services portal. The payment can also be made at the State Traffic Inspectorate. The state fee must be paid before submitting the relevant application.

Recently, the amount of state duty increased almost 1.5 times. Federal Law No. 180-FZ dated 07/03/18 amended paragraph 43 of Art. 333.33 of the Tax Code (TC), which indicates the amounts of these payments to the budget. It is worth considering the commission that is charged in some cases.

Documents for replacing the driver's license

The exchange of a driver's license on the basis of foreign national rights involves the provision of the following documents:

A photo is not required, it is now taken at the traffic police.

In connection with obtaining citizenship, a document issued by a foreign state cannot be confiscated by our government agencies without compelling reasons. The old driver's license will remain in your possession, and the State Traffic Inspectorate or MFC will have copies of it.

How to submit an application

The application may be written by hand or prepared electronically. The form in 2019 can be obtained from the State Traffic Inspectorate, downloaded from the official website of the traffic police or obtained from the MFC. A standard form is used to replace the VU.

The header indicates the name of the MREO unit and personal (from the new passport) data of the citizen. The application must indicate the reason for the application - “in connection with the replacement of a foreign identity card.” It is important to pay attention to the accuracy of entering the data of the previous national VU and the list of attached documents. In principle, nothing complicated.

Responsibility for the absence or untimely replacement of a license

The Russian Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO) provides for liability for driving a vehicle without a driver's license. The driver will be fined under Article 12.7 (clause 1) for 5,000-15,000 rubles, and the vehicle may be confiscated and sent to a specialized parking lot.

Conclusion

When obtaining Russian citizenship (like any other country), you will have to change many documents. But at present, it is not at all necessary to change a foreign driver’s license. Although you can do this at your own discretion. The exchange of a driver's license for a Russian one is carried out on the basis of national rights. You won't have to study again, but exams are inevitable. You will also need to pay a fee.

Practicing lawyer with 10 years of experience. Specializations: criminal law, insurance law, administrative offenses.

Replacement of foreign rights with Russian ones within 180 days

Good afternoon, dear reader.

The third article in the series “Draft Road Safety Law 2019” will discuss possible innovations related to the use of foreign rights on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Let me remind you that in previous articles we talked about new categories of rights, as well as a new hierarchy of categories.

Today the following questions will be discussed:

Information about the bill

04.10.2019 The bill “On Amendments to the Federal Law on Road Safety on Issues of Access to Driving Vehicles” is undergoing an independent anti-corruption examination on the federal portal of draft regulatory legal acts.

Restrictions on the use of foreign rights by citizens of the Russian Federation

Let's consider the new paragraph 12 1 of Article 25 of the Law “On Road Traffic Safety”:

12 1. Foreign national and international driver's licenses are recognized as invalid for driving vehicles on the territory of the Russian Federation after six months from the date their owner receives a residence permit or passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.

Citizens of member states of the Eurasian Economic Union who have a residence permit in the Russian Federation, as well as former citizens of member states of the Eurasian Economic Union who have acquired citizenship of the Russian Federation, can drive vehicles on the territory of the Russian Federation on the basis of their national driver’s licenses, issued by the competent authorities of the specified states, before the expiration of their validity period, if the validity period is not specified - until the expiration of ten years from the date of their issue.

This paragraph regulates the specifics of the use of foreign driving licenses by citizens of the Russian Federation. Let me remind you that in 2019 the legislation allows a citizen of the Russian Federation to use a foreign ID for as long as desired. This issue is discussed in more detail in a separate article:

However, the new paragraph 12 1 can seriously change the current state of affairs:

1. In general, a person who has received Russian citizenship or a residence permit will be able to use foreign rights only for 6 months . After this, the ID must be replaced with a Russian one.

2. Exceptions are made only for those who, before receiving citizenship or a residence permit, were a citizen of one of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. Such drivers will be able to use the license until its expiration date, and if the period is not specified, then within 10 years from the date of issue.

Note. The updated law does not say that after the expiration of foreign rights, they must be replaced with Russian ones. You can get a foreign license again and it won’t be a violation.

I also want to draw attention to the fact that foreign rights must be issued by one of the states of the Eurasian Economic Union . If the certificate was issued by another country, it must be replaced after 6 months:

Let's look at an example. A citizen of Belarus received a driver's license in Germany. After this, he receives a residence permit in Russia. From the moment of receiving a residence permit, he can only use his rights for 6 months.

However, if he had rights issued in Belarus, then such rights could be used before the end of the term.

Translation of rights written in another language

The following innovation affects paragraph 15 of Article 25:

15. A national driver's license issued in a foreign state that is not, together with the Russian Federation, a party to international treaties in the field of road safety, is recognized as valid for driving vehicles on the territory of the Russian Federation on the basis of reciprocity, provided that it is presented together with a duly certified one translation into Russian, except in cases where all entries in this driver’s license are made or duplicated in letters that coincide in spelling with the letters of the Russian or Latin alphabet.

15. A national driver’s license that does not comply with the requirements of international treaties of the Russian Federation , as well as issued in a foreign state that is not, together with the Russian Federation, a party to international treaties in the field of road safety, is recognized as valid for driving vehicles on the territory of the Russian Federation on the basis of reciprocity provided that it is presented together with a duly certified translation into Russian, except for cases where all entries in this driver’s license are made in Russian .

Two important changes have been made to this paragraph:

1. Previously, it dealt only with certificates that were issued in states that do not have joint agreements with Russia regarding the use of rights. In the new edition, this paragraph also includes rights issued in countries that have signed joint agreements with the Russian Federation, but for some reason they issue rights that do not comply with these agreements .

For example, Spain and Russia have signed the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. All countries that have signed this convention are listed in a separate article.

Let us assume that Spain issues rights that do not comply with the requirements of the Vienna Convention. The innovation suggests that such rights can still be used in the Russian Federation if a certified translation is available.

While current legislation does not allow the use of such a certificate even with a translation.

2. The second innovation is that without a certified translation, only rights in which all entries are made in Russian .

Current legislation imposes more lenient requirements - it is enough that all records are duplicated in letters of the Russian or Latin alphabet. If the new edition is ultimately adopted, then all rights that contain at least one character not in Russian (even duplicated in Russian) can only be used if there is a certified translation.

Prohibition on substitution of foreign international rights

Clause 18 of Article 25 of the Federal Law “On Road Safety”:

18. The procedure for exchanging foreign national and international driver's licenses for Russian national and international driver's licenses is established by the Government of the Russian Federation.

18. The procedure for exchanging foreign national driver's licenses for Russian national driver's licenses is established by the Government of the Russian Federation.

The law excludes the possibility of replacing international foreign rights with Russian ones. In the new edition, only a national ID can be exchanged.

Prohibition on the replacement of rights from countries that have not signed the Vienna Convention

Foreign national and international driver's licenses that do not comply with the requirements of international treaties of the Russian Federation cannot be exchanged for Russian national and international driver's licenses.

National driver's licenses issued in a foreign state that is not, together with the Russian Federation, a party to international treaties in the field of road safety, cannot be exchanged for Russian national driver's licenses.

The current version of the law allows any licenses that comply with the Vienna Convention to be exchanged for Russian licenses.

For example, Canada has not signed the Vienna Convention. However, if the driver received a license in Canada that actually complies with the requirements of the Vienna Convention, then they can be replaced with Russian ones.

The new edition says that if a country has not signed an international treaty , then the rights of this country cannot be exchanged for Russian ones. Even if they comply with the Vienna Convention.

Replacement of foreign licenses only after completing training

The exchange of foreign national driver's licenses of categories "C", "D", "CE" and "DE" and subcategories "C1", "D1", "C1E" and "D1E" is carried out after the holders of foreign national driver's licenses have passed the relevant procedure in accordance with the established procedure vocational training and passing exams , subject to the conditions listed in Article 26 of this Federal Law.

One of the most serious innovations of the bill is that in order to change the license for a truck or bus, you will need to first undergo training at a driving school .

Let me remind you that currently, when replacing a foreign license of any category, you need to pass exams at the traffic police. You can prepare for the exams yourself.

However, if the innovation is adopted, truck and bus drivers will be required to attend a driving school.

I would like to note right away that special training programs that differ from the standard ones:

Programs and procedures for training and retraining of drivers of vehicles of relevant categories and subcategories, sample programs of professional training for drivers of vehicles of categories “A”, “B”, “C”, “M” and subcategories “A1”, “A2”, “B1” , “C1” for persons under 18 years of age, sample vocational training programs for vehicle drivers holding foreign national driver’s licenses are developed by authorized federal executive authorities in the manner determined by the Government of the Russian Federation.

It is not yet known what exactly the difference will be. However, it can be assumed that the volume of materials will be less than when completing training from scratch.

Replacement of rights for diplomats and consuls

Exchange of foreign national driver's licenses for employees of diplomatic missions and consular offices of foreign states in the Russian Federation and their family members, employees of international organizations and their representative offices accredited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and members of their families who have diplomatic, consular, service cards or certificates , issued by the specified Ministry, is carried out without undergoing vocational training, without passing exams and without presenting a medical report .

A simplified scheme for replacing foreign rights with Russian ones is provided for employees of diplomatic missions and consular offices. They do not need to undergo training, pass exams or present a medical certificate.

Is it necessary to change the rights of those who received Russian citizenship earlier?

Well, the last point considered today applies to those drivers who received Russian citizenship or a residence permit before the law on mandatory replacement of licenses came into force 6 months in advance:

3. Foreign national and international driver's licenses of the persons specified in paragraph two of subparagraph "e" of Article 1 of this Federal Law, received by them before the entry into force of this Federal Law, are recognized as invalid for driving vehicles on the territory of the Russian Federation after one hundred and eighty days after the day of official publication of this Federal Law.

These drivers will have to replace their license with a Russian one within 180 days .

Note. For those receiving citizenship the period is 6 months, and for those receiving citizenship 180 days. In general, these deadlines do not differ much, but if you change your rights at the very last moment, be careful when calculating the date.

To summarize this article, we need to say the following. Planned legislative changes clearly indicate that in the future more to use foreign rights in Russia . Especially for citizens of the Russian Federation and people with a residence permit.

In this regard, if you live in Russia and drive a car here, I recommend that you replace your foreign license with a Russian one in the near future. For now, this can be done without going to a driving school.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you once again that this article discusses the draft law. Therefore, it is unknown when it will begin to act and whether it will begin to act at all. However, if additional information regarding this document becomes available, this article will be updated.

How to change your driver's license after receiving Russian citizenship in 2019

Former citizens of foreign countries who have become holders of a Russian passport are very often interested in how a driver’s license is replaced when obtaining Russian citizenship in 2019. There are a number of bureaucratic difficulties and pitfalls in this issue that new citizens often encounter. So that you do not incur administrative liability and continue driving without problems, we will tell you what you need to do to exchange a foreign driver’s license for a Russian one.

Do I need to change my driver's license?

There is one important feature: only those foreign and international driving documents that meet the requirements of international treaties in Russia - for example, the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, adopted on November 8, 1968 - can be exchanged for a Russian driver's license.

There are certain rules for replacing a driver's license when changing citizenship. To exchange a foreign license for a Russian one, a citizen will need to confirm his knowledge of the rules through theoretical testing and practical exams at the State Traffic Inspectorate, without attending a driving course. If a citizen received a license in a country with which the Russian Federation does not have international agreements in the field of road safety, the issuance of a driver’s license to such persons is carried out on a general basis - after studying at a driving school and passing all qualifying exams.

The question often arises about whether citizens of the CIS countries need to change their driver’s license when obtaining Russian citizenship, and there are some simplifications here. As a rule, citizens who received a driver's license before January 1, 1992, and subsequently exchanged them, have the SU (USSR) mark on their license: for this category of people, a driver's license is replaced without passing an exam.

Employees of diplomatic institutions, consulates, other international organizations (OBSE, Red Cross), as well as members of their families, can also replace driving documents without exams; To do this, it is necessary to submit documents confirming a certain status issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In recent years, due to the annexation of Crimea and the flow of refugees and internally displaced persons from the territory of Ukraine, many people who have received Russian citizenship have Ukrainian driver's licenses.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with more detailed information about whether Ukrainian rights are valid in Russia.

Replacement procedure

Replacement of a driver's license for Russian citizens and persons with a residence permit in the Russian Federation takes place in any traffic police department. Foreign citizens who are temporarily staying in our country must apply for an exchange to the traffic police department at their place of residence or temporary stay. And now in more detail about how to exchange a driver’s license when obtaining Russian citizenship.

When contacting the traffic police, you must provide a standard package of documents, as well as a driver’s license obtained in another state; if the document does not comply with the international standard, it is necessary to prepare a notarized copy of it, translated into Russian.

Persons who have a residence permit in Russia provide an additional copy of their registration certificate. After checking the documents, the citizen is given a referral to take the exams.

How are exams taken?

Qualification tests include testing for knowledge of traffic rules (theory) and the practical part of the exam (autodrome and city). Traffic rules are the same in most countries, but there are a number of differences. For example, in the UK, traffic is on the left, many Asian countries do not have trams, and in Latin America you are unlikely to see a sign warning the driver that deer may be crossing the road.

Exam tickets in different countries also have significant differences, so you will need to seriously prepare for the theoretical part of the exam, even if you are already an experienced driver.

The practical part of the procedure on how to replace a driver’s license when changing citizenship includes performing exercises on a race track, where you will need to perform several simple maneuvers, after which the candidate heads to the city to travel along a predetermined route. The practical part of the exam is aimed at identifying the candidate’s driving skills, sense of size, as well as driving confidence and ability to maneuver in traffic when driving in the city.

If a citizen has a foreign license in which several categories are open, the exam is taken according to the highest of them. For example, if you have a driver’s license of categories “B” and “C”, then after passing the exam for category “C” you will receive a similar Russian license.

The seniority of categories is established in the following order:

State duty and related expenses

Replacing a driver's license when changing citizenship in 2019 will cost 2,000 rubles, the state fee for an international driving license is 1,600 rubles. It should be noted that in addition to the state fee, when replacing a driver’s license, the candidate will incur additional costs: for example, a medical examination can cost 1200-5000 rubles (depending on the region), and some traffic police departments offer the service of filling out a ready-made application, its cost will be 50-200 rubles.

However, there is an opportunity to save money: when replacing a driver’s license through the State Services e-government website, a citizen can pay the state fee with a 30% discount from January 1, 2017.

List of required documents

Replacing a driver's license in connection with obtaining Russian citizenship in 2019 will require submitting the following documents to the traffic police:

Russian Federation passport, as well as its photocopies (main page and registration);
applications of the established form to replace the certificate;
medical certificate for permission to operate a vehicle of the required category (driver’s medical examination).
a driver's license issued in another state; and if it does not correspond to the international standard, a copy of it with a notarized translation into Russian.
receipts for payment of state fees.

Remember that according to clause 43 of the Russian Government Decree No. 1097 dated October 24, 2014, your foreign driver’s license must be returned to you.

You may be denied a certificate if one or more precedents arise:

you provided an incomplete package of documents;
the validity of the submitted papers has expired, or they have marks, as well as in the absence of the necessary signatures and seals;
you have not reached the legal age or there is information about your driver’s license being revoked;
providing false or stolen documents to the traffic police, reporting false information about oneself;
presence of medical contraindications.

Drawing up an application

In order not to waste time in line and save money, you can fill out an application for a driver’s license yourself: the prescribed application form can be obtained from the traffic police, downloaded from the official website of the traffic police, or downloaded from our website.

At the top (header) of the application, the name of the MREO traffic police unit to which it will then be submitted, as well as the applicant’s data, is indicated. The application itself indicates the request (“I ask to replace the ID”), the reason (“in connection with the replacement of a foreign ID”), details of the existing national ID, as well as a list of attached documents. At the end of the application there is a date and signature.

Deadline for replacing the ID

You can drive a car or other vehicle with a foreign driver's license for 60 days. This period is counted from the moment either the GUVM provides permission to reside in Russia, or crosses the border if this permission was obtained at a consular office.

As a rule, two months is enough to replace a driver’s license, but remember that from June 1, 2017, even before the expiration of the specified 60 days, a citizen with a foreign license does not have the right to work or entrepreneurial activities related to driving vehicles. In other words, until you exchange a foreign document for a Russian one, you will not be able to work as a driver of a car or tractor, even if you are a Russian citizen. Violation of this norm will entail a large fine and administrative liability.

YES. Druzhinin

April 2017 – . Lawyer at the migration portal 100migrantov.ru.
In 2017, by the decision of the state examination commission, the qualification “master” was awarded.
Since 2013, work in the field of protecting the rights of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the courts and the Federal Migration Service of Russia.

5 comments on “How to change your driver’s license after receiving Russian citizenship in 2019”

Hello!
I have a question. I am 52 years old. I received my first license in 1990 on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR. In 1998, I replaced the rights with the then current rights in Ukraine. Two and a half years ago I received Russian citizenship. Half a year later, I received a driving license of the Russian Federation, having graduated from a driving school and passing an exam at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, when I asked to enter clause 14 of the information in the VU of the Russian Federation that I have been driving a car since 1990, they refuse me, despite the fact that I have in my hands both a certificate of completion of a driving school in 1990, and an examination card of the same year from the MREO. They answer that these documents are not valid and my driving experience is now counted from the moment I received my license in the Russian Federation. Is this really true?
To me, this looks like nonsense. Really, having become a citizen of the Russian Federation, I immediately forgot how to drive a car? Why then is my birth certificate considered valid? After all, I was born in a country that no longer exists, I received a document in a country that no longer exists. So, according to the logic of the officials, I’m not there either! Or am I two years old? What nonsense is happening!

How much will it cost me to replace a driver’s license when changing citizenship with your help?

Replacement of a driver's license after obtaining Russian citizenship

Despite the opportunity to drive a car in Russia with a national license, many foreign drivers who have received Russian citizenship reissue their documents with internal ones. This is due to a number of legislative restrictions, in particular, the ban on becoming a driver with a foreign license. Therefore, foreigners should know how to change their driver’s license if they have received Russian citizenship.

Legal standards

Legal regulation of the re-registration of a temporary residence permit is carried out on the basis of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1097, which came into force on October 24, 2014. It is the mentioned document that explains the procedure for allowing a citizen to drive a vehicle.

The jurisdiction of a foreign ownership or rights of an international standard is explained by the protocols of the Vienna and Geneva Conventions. However, international law only applies to foreign drivers. Those who are citizens of the Russian Federation are required to use an internal driver's license, and even the international driver's license issued in Russia by the traffic police inspectors is not taken into account. The question of whether it is necessary to change rights when obtaining Russian citizenship is resolved differently depending on the circumstances of the document replacement:

during a short-term stay of a foreign driver in the country;
during a long trip;
if a person wishes to get a job as a driver.

In the latter case, the presence of Russian documents is, of course, mandatory.

How is replacement carried out?

Replacement of a driver's license in connection with obtaining Russian citizenship is carried out according to the established scheme by contacting the driver to one of three authorities:

directly to the traffic police;
through the portal “State Services”;
through the mediation of the MFC.

A driver who exchanges a foreign driving license for a Russian document must pass exams. At the same time, a person who becomes a Russian does not lose his previous rights. However, if you want to keep foreign documents, you should be aware that their replacement, in particular after the expiration of the validity period, is possible only in the country where they were issued. And provided that the person has not renounced his previous citizenship. Let's look at how to exchange foreign rights for Russian ones. In general, the driver will be required to:

collect documents;
pay fees and exam fees;
prepare a medical certificate;
pass tests;
fill out an application and submit it along with a package of documents either directly to the traffic police or through intermediaries;
receive ready documents.

If the driver does not encounter additional problems at each stage, the procedure will take a maximum of ten days, depending on the queues and the chosen method of submitting an application with documents attached. It will be fastest if you declare your intention directly to the traffic police, but in this case it is possible that on the day of application the driver will have to stand in a long line to submit documents. In addition, when registering with MREO, sometimes coupons can only remain for free dates after 20-30 days.

Collection of necessary documentation

In any option, how to change your license when obtaining Russian citizenship, the driver will be required to submit a package of certificates and certificates. The standard list of documents includes:

a recently received Russian passport, as well as a copy of the main pages and the registration spread;
if you don’t have a passport yet, you can submit a document with a residence permit;
a certificate confirming the driver’s health: medical examinations are carried out differently depending on the required category of rights, while similar certificates of examination of the driver by doctors issued abroad are not accepted in Russia;
previous foreign rights and their translated copy into Russian, if the document does not meet the standards of the Vienna Convention (after consideration of the application, they will be returned along with the issued Russian rights);
receipt of payment of the state-imposed duty;
a completed application form indicating the attached documents.

The driver is photographed directly while receiving documents. No one prohibits the applicant from providing ready-made photographs, but an extensive list of requirements often leads to errors, which is why rights are not issued until the correct photographs are taken and submitted.

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It is important for a driver applying for a Russian driving license to know not only what documents are needed to replace a license, but also to prepare for the exams. Tests at the traffic police are a mandatory part of the procedure, and driving experience abroad does not play any role in testing the driver’s abilities and theoretical knowledge of traffic rules.

Application Form

When submitting a request, the driver draws up an application for a new driver's license. The official document form can be downloaded from our website, and you can view it at the traffic police department itself or at the MFC. The main thing is not to confuse the sample that was adopted specifically for this reason to replace the VU. The driver fills out only the first few columns before personally signing and indicating the date on the document.

First, enter the name of the traffic police department where the documents will be submitted.
Next, fill in the corresponding lines with the address, full name of the driver and information from his passport. The date and place of birth of the applicant according to his documents are also indicated.
Below in the document there are several lines in which the reason for replacing the VU is entered. In this case, the driver should indicate the replacement of a foreign license with a Russian-style license.
Below there are fields where you need to enter the details of all documents submitted to the traffic police. Information should be written down briefly, indicating only the name and numbers of various certificates and certificates.
Only the details of the previous driver's license are described in more detail.

All subsequent columns that come after the applicant’s signature are filled out by traffic police officers. The driver should not pay attention to them.

Payment of state duty

When re-registering a license, a state fee is charged for traffic police services. Replacing a driver's license when changing citizenship costs 2,000 rubles. The amounts may vary depending on the payment method. Payments without commission are accepted at the Sberbank cash desk. Other credit institutions may set a commission fee of 3-8% of the transaction amount.

Payment can be made through the terminal, using an electronic wallet, or by making an online payment from a smartphone or computer. In each of these cases, the driver is charged a commission, which, however, does not exceed an additional 50 rubles.

If payment is not made through a bank cash desk, the driver will not receive a paper receipt. It is not necessary to submit it to the traffic police, since information about the funds received is stored in the department’s database. However, to avoid refusal to accept documents due to frequent failures, drivers are recommended to submit a paper receipt. The confirmation received after online payment can be printed on your home printer. Such a document is accepted by the traffic police.

The state duty does not have a validity period, however, it is better to use the payment during the financial year to avoid loss of information due to various failures. If the State Traffic Inspectorate refuses to accept the driver’s documents on the basis that a long period of time has passed after payment of the state duty, this illegal decision should be appealed to the authorities of the traffic police or in court.

Exam

For a citizen changing a foreign license to a Russian one, an exam is a mandatory measure. The test consists of the following stages.

First, in the traffic police computer room, the driver is tested for knowledge of the traffic rules adopted in Russia. During the test, you must answer 20 questions with no more than 2 mistakes. If an incorrect answer is given, additional questions are asked without any room for error.
At the next stage, the driver must demonstrate practical driving skills. Those who fail the theoretical part are not allowed to take the second exam. The driver must drive with a traffic police officer along the established route for at least 20 minutes (in practice, the exam is passed faster), without making mistakes. A pass with 5 penalty points, no more, is considered successful.

Applicants for Russian licenses who re-issue foreign documents do not pass their driving test at the race track. Retaking the exam for a Russian university is allowed only a week after the previous attempt. At the same time, it is not necessary to retake the successfully completed theoretical stage, nor is it necessary to resubmit documents.

Admission to exams and subsequent retakes is paid by the driver in the prescribed amount. In the future, the procedure for obtaining a license from the traffic police after passing the exam does not differ from re-registration of a driving license for other possible reasons. Let's consider whether it is necessary to change rights when obtaining a residence permit in the Russian Federation, and in what time frame this must be done.

Established deadline for re-registration

Domestic legislation allows the use of foreign driving licenses that comply with international standards only for 60 days after entry into Russia. After the specified period, the VU should be changed:

if the driver acquired Russian citizenship;
the foreigner has a residence permit;
the driver, without changing citizenship, stays in the Russian Federation for a long time.

In this case, the countdown of the period begins only if the foreign driver receives a residence permit in Russia. Such a document is provided to the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. If a residence permit is obtained before entering the country, the countdown of the 60-day period will begin from the moment you cross the checkpoint and present your documents at the border control.

Responsibility for untimely replacement

If 60 days pass from the moment of crossing the Russian border, and the driver continues to use a foreign license, traffic police officers will regard this as driving a vehicle without a license. What fine an inspector will impose for driving with an expired license depends on the individual circumstances. The law allows you to set the amount at the discretion of the traffic police inspector within the range of 5-15 thousand rubles (Article 12.7 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

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Additionally, the violator’s car may be towed to the impound lot. “Buying out” vehicles from a special site will require additional expenses, especially since before this you will have to re-issue a driver’s license, collecting a full list of documents required from the driver.

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Is it necessary to replace a driver's license after obtaining Russian citizenship?

A driver's license is the main document confirming a citizen's right to drive vehicles of different categories. Without a license, a car owner simply cannot legally drive a car. There are situations in life when it is necessary to reissue this document. As a rule, such a need is caused by the termination of the rights or a change of surname. In recent years, replacing a driver's license when obtaining Russian citizenship has also become common. Let's look at the main points of this procedure.

Do I need to change permissions?

First, let's decide whether you should apply for a new license if you changed your citizenship to Russian. Perhaps, to drive a car outside the territory of the Russian Federation, the national license of another state that meets certain requirements is suitable? Previously, when Resolution No. 1396 “On the approval of the Rules for passing qualifying exams and issuing driver’s licenses” was in force, the answer was unequivocal - they had to be changed within 60 days after receiving Russian citizenship. But this resolution has lost force and now there should be no such requirement. But the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation thinks otherwise and judging by its resolution of December 27, 2019 N 38-AD18-8, it is still necessary to change the rights.

Therefore, after obtaining Russian citizenship, in order to avoid problems with the traffic police, it is better to immediately take care of replacing your foreign rights with Russian ones. You definitely won’t be able to work as a driver without a Russian license.

How does the replacement take place?

Now let’s turn to the procedure for re-registration of rights and consider, in theory and in practice, how to replace a driver’s license when changing citizenship. Much depends on whether the foreign rights comply with the requirements established by the Vienna Convention:

the ID must be made of paper or plastic;
The text of the document must include the driver’s personal information (first and last name, date, place of birth);
the date of issue and validity period of the rights are indicated;
there is a photo of the owner of the car;
information must be duplicated in Latin letters.

You can read the full list of requirements in the convention. This international document was developed to standardize traffic rules and improve safety on the roads of member states. Since 1968, in addition to Russia, more than 80 countries have joined the Vienna Convention, among them Spain, Germany, Belarus, and Armenia.

The rules for replacing a driver’s license when changing citizenship are established by the provisions of the Law “On Road Safety” and the Rules for Conducting Exams (Appendix to Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated October 24, 2014 No. 1097).

According to clause 41 of these Rules, you can use the exchange procedure if the foreign rights comply with the norms of the Vienna Convention. Otherwise, you will have to obtain a certificate in the general manner.

If the license fully satisfies the requirements of the Convention, the replacement of a driver’s license in connection with obtaining Russian citizenship in 2019 occurs in accordance with the norms of Chapter IV of the Rules. There is no need to undergo training: it is enough to pass theoretical and practical exams, after certification and a standard medical examination, collect a set of documents and submit them to the MREO, where they will issue a Russian license.

Exam

Consulting with specialists and studying legislation on the issue of how to exchange a driver’s license when obtaining Russian citizenship, many car owners often wonder whether it is necessary to pass the practical part of the driving test. At the same time, they refer to the norms of the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which allowed the replacement of foreign rights after passing only a theoretical exam. Such an order dated July 20, 2000 existed, but ceased to be valid on September 1, 2016; moreover, this norm contradicted the provisions of federal laws and therefore was not applied in practice.

According to the current rules, all citizens must take exams when re-registering foreign rights. Exceptions are provided for the exchange of ID cards of diplomatic and consular employees, employees of accredited international companies and persons related to their families. In addition, the listed persons may not undergo a medical examination.

Payment of state duty

To reissue a foreign driving license to a Russian one, you also need to transfer a state fee to the budget. You can pay it in any convenient way:

at a bank branch. All you need to do is simply give the operator the completed receipt form and money, the bank employee will do the rest for you;
through the online banking system. This option is convenient because you can make a payment while at home, in the office or anywhere. To carry out a transaction, you only need Internet access and money in your account;
using electronic terminals in traffic police departments. This payment method will significantly save time if you want to submit documents to replace your ID as quickly as possible.

By following the link to the material “Amount of state duty for replacing a driver’s license,” you can find out how much you will have to pay to replace your license.

Documents for replacement

To reissue a foreign driver’s license, you need to provide a standard set of documents to the MREO traffic police:

passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation or other document that identifies the applicant;
foreign national rights;
a conclusion issued based on the results of a medical examination;
a receipt confirming payment of the state duty;

How to make an application

The application form is very simple, it is standard and approved by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia No. 995 dated October 20, 2015. You just need to carefully fill out all the fields containing information about the citizen’s personal data and driver’s license details.

When should it be changed?

When considering the question of the time frame allotted by the legislator for the re-issuance of foreign driver's licenses, it should be mentioned that today the previous rule of 60 days for such re-registration should not be in effect. It was this period that was established by the old version of the Law “On Road Safety” and the Rules for passing qualifying exams and issuing driver’s licenses, which lost legal force in 2014. Thus, in such situations, there is no transition period for replacing foreign-style rights.

But as we see from the decision of the Supreme Court, the link to which is given at the beginning of the article, it takes the side of the traffic police on the issue of punishment for driving vehicles by citizens of the Russian Federation with foreign drivers. Therefore, it is better for foreigners who have received Russian citizenship not to delay replacing their DP with a Russian one.

Fines for driving a vehicle without a license or late replacement

Driving without a valid driver's license is an administrative offense. Its commission will lead to the imposition of an administrative fine according to the rules of Art. 12.7. Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The violator will have to pay from 5 to 15 thousand rubles.