Foreign Driving Licence in Ukraine: Can You Drive and When Must You Exchange It

The short answer

It depends on two things: your basis for being in Ukraine (temporary stay or permanent residence) and which country issued your licence. Below are the rules as described by the Main Service Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), plus practical tips for foreign workers.

If you are staying in Ukraine temporarily

According to the MIA Main Service Centre, people staying in Ukraine temporarily may drive if they hold:

• a foreign driving licence that meets the requirements of the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (the Vienna Convention), or
• a foreign licence that does not meet those requirements, together with an International Driving Permit.

So if your country is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, a national licence alone is not enough — you also need an International Driving Permit (IDP). It is issued in the country that issued your licence, so it is easiest to get it before you leave.

Which countries are parties and which are not

In its article of 16 March 2026, the MIA Main Service Centre lists, among parties to the Vienna Convention, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Georgia and several EU countries. Among countries whose licences require exams on exchange, it gives India and Pakistan as examples, along with the USA, Canada and China.

Workers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries not mentioned in these examples should check their status in advance at an MIA service centre or with the competent authority at home. The list of Convention parties changes, so don't rely on someone else's experience.

When a licence must be exchanged

Exchange is mandatory for people who have moved to Ukraine for permanent residence. Such a person's foreign licence is valid in Ukraine for 60 days from the date the State Migration Service issues their permanent-residence documents, after which it must be exchanged for a Ukrainian one.

The exchange takes place after a medical check and theory and practical exams at an MIA service centre. No exams are needed if Ukraine has an international agreement on mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences with the issuing country. According to the MIA Main Service Centre, such agreements are in force with Spain, Italy, Lithuania, Türkiye and the UAE.

Most foreign workers hold a temporary residence permit, not a permanent one. The exchange procedure described by the MIA Main Service Centre applies to people who have moved for permanent residence. If you live in Ukraine on a temporary permit and want a Ukrainian licence, ask an MIA service centre directly whether and how this is possible.

Documents for an exchange

Per the MIA Main Service Centre list, exchanging a foreign licence for a Ukrainian one requires:

• a permanent residence permit (for foreigners);
• a taxpayer registration number — see our article on getting a tax number (IPN) as a foreigner;
• a medical certificate of fitness to drive;
• the foreign licence and its translation certified by a notary or a consular office;
• a document from the competent authority of the foreign country, or its embassy or consulate in Ukraine, confirming that the licence was issued and that the right to drive has not been revoked or restricted, with a certified translation. If the exchange is under an international agreement, this document may be omitted — the service centre will request it itself.

You must apply in person at any MIA service centre; there is no online service for this exchange.

Practical tips for foreign workers

1. Before you leave home, check whether your country is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention and, if needed, get an International Driving Permit;
2. Bring your original licence and get a certified translation — you'll need it for an exchange and in any dispute;
3. If your job involves driving (driver, forklift operator and so on), ask your employer in advance which documents and categories the position requires;
4. Never drive on an expired or untranslated licence — it puts both you and your status in Ukraine at risk.

For more on drivers' jobs in Ukraine, see our article on the driver shortage.

How ASHA Ukraine helps

ASHA Ukraine helps foreign workers with their temporary residence permit (TRC) and explains how to get a residence permit. We recommend raising the driving licence question before you relocate so the right documents can be obtained in the issuing country.

Sources: MIA Main Service Centre — Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a national one; MIA Main Service Centre — Exchanging a foreign licence for a Ukrainian one: what you need to know (16.03.2026). Checked as of 17.10.2026; confirm current requirements with an MIA service centre before applying.