How to Exchange a Foreign Driving Licence for a Ukrainian Licence
Exchange a foreign driving licence for a Ukrainian licence at an MVS Service Center. Check residence rules, documents, exams, 2026 costs and treaty exceptions.
UA Ukraine
Driving & Vehicles ~ 11 min read
12 FAQ
Updated 2026-09-02
Helpydo structures practical guidance around official or public sources. For individual cases, confirm requirements with the responsible institution.
A foreign driving licence is exchanged for a Ukrainian national licence in person at a territorial MVS Service Center; this particular exchange is not available online. The rules depend on who holds the licence, where it was issued and whether it meets the 1968 Vienna Convention or is covered by a bilateral exchange agreement. A Ukrainian citizen permanently residing in Ukraine can exchange a Vienna Convention-compliant foreign licence without theory or practical exams; the same exam-free rule applies when the foreign licence was obtained by exchanging a Ukrainian licence. A foreign national who moves to permanent residence in Ukraine may use the foreign licence for 60 days from issuance of the Ukrainian permanent-residence documents and normally must then exchange it with theory and practical exams unless an applicable international agreement provides an exam-free route. The current approximate MVS charge is UAH 650 for an exchange without exams; examination cases cost more, and certified translation, medical examination and bank fees can be additional. As of 2 September 2026, Ukraine has bilateral mutual-recognition and exchange agreements with Italy, Türkiye, Spain, Lithuania, the United Arab Emirates and Latvia, whose agreement entered into force on 2 September 2026.
What you need
- An accepted identity document: for example, a Ukrainian passport, Ukrainian foreign-travel passport, temporary Ukrainian citizen certificate or permanent residence permit, as applicable.
- RNOKPP taxpayer identification number, subject to the statutory exception for a person who lawfully refused an RNOKPP for religious reasons and has the required passport record.
- The original foreign driving licence and a Ukrainian translation certified in accordance with Ukrainian law, unless an applicable international agreement provides otherwise.
- A document issued by the competent authority of the foreign state, its diplomatic mission or consular institution confirming that the foreign licence was issued and that there is no information about deprivation or temporary restriction of the person's right to drive, together with a certified Ukrainian translation if the document is in a foreign language.
- The foreign-authority confirmation may not have to be submitted personally when an applicable bilateral mutual-recognition and exchange agreement provides for verification directly between the competent authorities.
- A valid medical certificate of fitness to drive when theory or practical examinations are required. Current MVS wartime guidance allows the certificate to be omitted in certain exam-free exchanges, but an applicable international agreement can expressly require it.
- If examinations are required, successful completion of the theory and practical examinations at the MVS Service Center.
Eligibility
The standard exchange procedure is available to a person who permanently resides in Ukraine and holds a qualifying foreign driving licence. A person who is only temporarily staying in Ukraine does not normally exchange the foreign licence for a Ukrainian national licence under this procedure. For Ukrainian citizens returning to permanent residence, whether examinations are required depends primarily on the origin and international status of the foreign licence. For foreign nationals who have moved to permanent residence in Ukraine, the foreign licence is valid in Ukraine for 60 days from the date the State Migration Service issues permanent-residence documents and must then be exchanged; theory and practical examinations normally apply unless a bilateral international agreement provides otherwise.
How to do it
- Confirm that you are eligible to exchange the foreign licence rather than simply use it temporarily in Ukraine.
- Check whether the issuing country and the licence fall under the 1968 Vienna Convention rules applicable to Ukrainian citizens or a bilateral mutual-recognition and exchange agreement.
- Obtain a properly certified Ukrainian translation of the foreign driving licence and, where required, the foreign competent authority's confirmation that the licence was issued and that your driving right has not been withdrawn or temporarily restricted.
- Prepare your identity document and RNOKPP. If you need an RNOKPP first, follow the separate Helpydo guide on getting a Ukrainian taxpayer identification number.
- If your case requires examinations, obtain the required medical fitness certificate and prepare for the theory and practical tests.
- Visit any territorial MVS Service Center in person. The foreign-licence exchange itself cannot be completed through Diia or the Driver's Cabinet.
- The administrator verifies your identity, foreign licence, driving entitlement and applicable international rules and determines whether examinations are required.
- If examinations are required, pass the theory and practical examinations at an MVS Service Center that provides examination services.
- Pay the applicable MVS service and licence-blank charges. Additional costs can apply for examinations, translations, medical documents and bank commission.
- After successful verification and any required examinations, receive the Ukrainian national driving licence. The exchanged foreign licence is sent back to the competent authority of the issuing country under the official exchange procedure.
Who can exchange a foreign licence for a Ukrainian one?
The foreign-licence exchange procedure is primarily for people who permanently reside in Ukraine. Ukrainian citizens who obtained a licence abroad and returned to permanent residence in Ukraine can exchange it, as can foreign nationals who have obtained permanent residence in Ukraine under the rules applicable to them.
A person who is only temporarily staying in Ukraine does not normally exchange a foreign licence under this procedure. Temporary visitors can instead drive using a qualifying foreign national licence that complies with the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic, or, where the national licence does not comply with the Convention, together with the international driving permit required by the applicable rules.
What is the 60-day rule for permanent residents?
A foreign driving licence belonging to a person who has moved to permanent residence in Ukraine remains valid in Ukraine for 60 days from the date the State Migration Service issues the documents for permanent residence. After that period, it must be exchanged for a Ukrainian national driving licence.
For this category of applicant, Ukrainian rules normally require a medical examination and successful theory and practical examinations unless an applicable international agreement provides a different, simplified exchange procedure.
When can a Ukrainian citizen exchange a foreign licence without exams?
A Ukrainian citizen permanently residing in Ukraine can exchange a foreign licence without theory and practical examinations when the foreign licence complies with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
Current MVS guidance gives countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Czechia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as examples of countries whose qualifying documents use the relevant international format. The list is illustrative rather than a substitute for checking the particular document.
The MVS administrator checks the actual foreign licence and its issuing jurisdiction before deciding whether the exam exemption applies.
What if you exchanged your Ukrainian licence abroad?
A Ukrainian citizen who exchanged an existing Ukrainian driving licence for a foreign licence while abroad can exchange that foreign document back for a Ukrainian licence without theory or practical examinations.
In this situation, the Ukrainian licence is issued with the categories that were open on the Ukrainian licence before it was exchanged abroad. A category added only by the foreign licensing authority is not automatically treated as a previously held Ukrainian category.
When do you have to take the exams?
For a Ukrainian citizen, theory and practical examinations are required when the foreign licence was issued by a country that is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention or when the licence itself does not satisfy the required Convention standards, unless another international agreement creates an exception.
Current MVS guidance identifies the United States, Canada, China, India and Pakistan as examples where the foreign-licence exchange requires examinations under the general rules.
Examinations may also become necessary when the validity or authenticity of the foreign licence cannot be properly confirmed.
Which countries have an exam-free bilateral exchange agreement with Ukraine?
A separate route applies when Ukraine has a bilateral agreement with the country that issued the licence. The exact categories, residence requirements and verification process are governed by the individual agreement rather than by a single universal rule.
As verified on 2 September 2026, the Main Service Center of the MIA confirms mutual-recognition and exchange agreements with:
- Italy;
- Türkiye;
- Spain;
- Lithuania;
- the United Arab Emirates;
- Latvia, whose agreement entered into force on 2 September 2026.
Do not assume that every agreement has identical conditions. For example, the Latvia agreement applies to qualifying licences issued before the holder obtained the right of residence in the other country and requires the documents specified by that agreement.
What documents do you need?
The standard foreign-licence exchange package includes:
- an accepted passport, identity document or permanent residence permit, depending on your status;
- RNOKPP taxpayer number;
- the original foreign driving licence;
- a Ukrainian translation of the foreign licence certified according to Ukrainian law;
- a confirmation from the competent foreign authority, diplomatic mission or consular institution that the licence was issued and that there is no record of deprivation or temporary restriction of your right to drive;
- a certified Ukrainian translation of that confirmation where it is issued in a foreign language;
- a medical fitness certificate when examinations are required or when an applicable treaty specifically requires one.
Under some bilateral agreements, you do not personally obtain the foreign-authority confirmation because the Ukrainian MVS Service Center sends the verification request directly to the competent authority abroad.
Do you need a medical certificate during martial law?
Current MVS guidance distinguishes exam and non-exam cases. A medical certificate remains required when you must take the driving examinations. For an exam-free foreign-licence exchange, MVS wartime guidance allows the certificate to be omitted in cases covered by the general Ukrainian procedure.
However, a bilateral agreement can impose its own requirement. The Ukraine-Latvia exchange rules effective from 2 September 2026, for example, list a valid medical certificate among the documents required for that treaty-based exchange.
Where do you apply?
You must apply personally at a territorial MVS Service Center. The exchange can be handled regardless of your registered place of residence within Ukraine.
You can use the MVS e-appointment system to reserve a service time, but that does not make the foreign-licence exchange an online procedure.
Can you exchange a foreign licence through Diia?
No. The Main Service Center expressly states that a foreign driving licence must be presented personally and that this particular exchange cannot be completed through the standard online Driver's Cabinet or Diia licence-exchange service.
Online licence exchange available for certain Ukrainian licences should therefore not be confused with the procedure for converting a foreign driving licence into a Ukrainian national licence.
How much does the exchange cost in 2026?
The current MVS price structure gives an approximate charge of UAH 650 for a standard licence exchange without examinations, consisting of approximately UAH 230 for the administrative service and UAH 420 for the licence blank. A bank commission can be added.
Where theory and practical examinations are required, the current MVS indicative total for issuing the licence after the examinations is approximately UAH 1,320.
These MVS amounts do not include third-party costs such as certified translations, medical examination or documents obtained from foreign authorities.
How long does the exchange take?
MVS licence-exchange services are generally completed on the day of the in-person visit once all required checks and examinations have been completed successfully.
A foreign-licence case can take longer where the Service Center must wait for confirmation from the issuing country or another competent foreign authority. Treaty-based procedures can also require authority-to-authority verification before the licence is issued.
When will a foreign driving licence not be exchanged?
Current 2026 MVS guidance states that the exchange is not carried out where:
- the person is wanted by the authorities;
- more than one year has passed since the foreign licence expired;
- official information shows that the person has been deprived of the right to drive;
- official information shows a temporary restriction of the person's right to drive.
The administrator also checks relevant state registers and information systems. Doubts about authenticity or an inability to confirm the foreign licence can lead to additional verification and, depending on the case, examinations.
Do you keep the foreign licence?
No. The official MVS procedure provides that after the exchange, the foreign driving licence is sent through the Ukrainian service-center system to the competent authority of the country that issued it.
For bilateral exchanges, the applicable international agreement can specify the exact return and verification mechanism. The current Latvia agreement likewise provides for exchanged licences to be returned to the issuing country.
Which driving categories will appear on the Ukrainian licence?
For a Ukrainian citizen exchanging a Convention-compliant foreign licence obtained abroad, the Ukrainian licence can reflect the categories confirmed by the qualifying foreign document under the applicable exchange rules.
If the foreign licence resulted from exchanging an earlier Ukrainian licence, the Ukrainian categories held before that foreign exchange are restored. This prevents the foreign exchange itself from automatically creating Ukrainian entitlement to categories that were not previously held under the Ukrainian licence.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming that every foreign licence can be exchanged without examinations.
- Applying online through Diia instead of attending an MVS Service Center personally.
- Using an uncertified translation of the foreign licence or foreign confirmation document.
- Failing to obtain confirmation from the foreign competent authority when the general procedure requires it.
- Assuming the Vienna Convention exam exemption for Ukrainian citizens automatically applies in exactly the same way to a foreign national who moves to permanent residence in Ukraine.
- Ignoring the 60-day validity period after permanent-residence documents are issued.
- Trying to exchange a foreign licence more than one year after its expiry.
- Assuming a bilateral treaty covers every licence and every category without checking the treaty-specific conditions.
- Arriving for required examinations without the medical fitness certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I exchange a foreign driving licence for a Ukrainian licence without exams?
It depends on your status and the licence. A Ukrainian citizen permanently residing in Ukraine can exchange a qualifying licence that complies with the 1968 Vienna Convention without theory or practical exams. Bilateral exchange agreements can also provide an exam-free route.
Do US or Canadian driving licences require exams when exchanged in Ukraine?
Under current MVS guidance, the United States and Canada are examples of countries whose licences normally require theory and practical examinations when exchanged under the general Ukrainian procedure.
Can I exchange a foreign driving licence online through Diia?
No. The foreign-licence exchange requires a personal visit to a territorial MVS Service Center. Standard online exchange services for Ukrainian licences do not cover this procedure.
How long can a foreign permanent resident use a foreign licence in Ukraine?
A foreign licence belonging to a person who moves to permanent residence in Ukraine is valid for 60 days from the date Ukrainian permanent-residence documents are issued. It must then be exchanged.
Which countries have bilateral driving licence exchange agreements with Ukraine in 2026?
As of 2 September 2026, the MVS confirms agreements with Italy, Türkiye, Spain, Lithuania, the United Arab Emirates and Latvia. Latvia's agreement entered into force on 2 September 2026.
Does the Ukraine-Latvia driving licence agreement require exams?
No for qualifying licences covered by the agreement. The agreement provides mutual exchange without theory and practical examinations, subject to its conditions, including the rule concerning when the licence was issued relative to obtaining residence rights.
What documents confirm that my foreign licence is valid?
Under the general procedure, you provide a document from the competent foreign authority, its diplomatic mission or consular institution confirming issuance of the licence and the absence of deprivation or temporary restriction of your driving right. Some bilateral agreements use direct authority-to-authority verification instead.
Do I need a Ukrainian translation of my foreign driving licence?
Yes. The foreign licence must be translated into Ukrainian and the translation certified according to Ukrainian law unless an applicable international agreement provides a different rule.
Do I need a medical certificate to exchange a foreign licence?
A medical fitness certificate is required when you must take theory or practical examinations. Current wartime MVS guidance allows it to be omitted in certain exam-free general exchanges, but a bilateral treaty can still require it.
How much does a foreign driving licence exchange cost in Ukraine in 2026?
The current indicative MVS cost for a standard exchange without exams is about UAH 650, excluding bank commission and third-party costs such as translations or medical examination. Cases requiring exams cost more.
Can I exchange a foreign licence that expired more than a year ago?
Current 2026 MVS guidance states that a foreign licence is not exchanged if more than one year has passed since its expiry.
What if my foreign licence was obtained by exchanging my Ukrainian licence abroad?
A Ukrainian citizen can exchange it back without theory or practical examinations. The new Ukrainian licence restores the categories that were held on the Ukrainian licence before it was exchanged abroad.
Official sources
Main Service Center of the MIA - Exchange of a foreign driving licence for a national licenceMain Service Center of the MIA - Returning to permanent residence in Ukraine and exchanging a foreign licence, 8 July 2026Main Service Center of the MIA - Foreign driving licence exchange rules and exam requirements, 16 March 2026Main Service Center of the MIA - Ukraine-Latvia mutual recognition and driving licence exchange agreement effective 2 September 2026Main Service Center of the MIA - Current fees for issuance and exchange of driving licencesVerkhovna Rada of Ukraine - Instruction on examinations and issuance and exchange of driving licencesVerkhovna Rada of Ukraine - Cabinet Resolution No. 340 on issuance of driving licences and admission to drivingVerkhovna Rada of Ukraine - Ukraine-Latvia agreement on mutual recognition and exchange of national driving licencesRelated procedures
Useful next steps and closely related guides for Ukraine.
Others were interested in
Other practical guides people exploring this topic may find useful.