Driver's Licenses in Russia
Important information
These are general provisions describing the procedure for recognition of driver's license and options for obtaining a driver’s license in Russia.
Please use it as a reference and make sure to contact the State Inspectorate for Traffic Safety ('ГИБДД') for specific enquiries.
Abbreviations:
PRP means a permanent residence permit ('ВНЖ' in Russian).
TRP means a temporary residence permit ('РВП' in Russian).
RDL means a Russian national driver's license ('РНВУ' in Russian).
FDL means a foreign national driver's license ('ИНВУ' in Russian).
IDL means an international driver's license.
[1] If a given FDL does not meet the requirements of international treaties or has been issued in states that are not parties to international treaties with the Russian Federation.
[2] This clause does not apply to citizens of Kyrgyzstan and other states where Russian is an official language, provided that their FDL and IDL were issued in their country of citizenship.
[3] The requirement to replace an IDL with a RDL by April 1, 2025 does not apply to the following individuals:
- Holders of TRP;
- Russian citizens whose FDL was issued in the Republic of Belarus, and citizens of the Republic of Belarus with a Belarusian driver’s license who have a PRP in Russia;
- Russian citizens who obtained their FDL before April 1, 2024, but have not entered Russia since then.
[4] These requirements do not apply to:
- Holders of TRP;
- Russian citizens whose FDL was issued in the Republic of Belarus, and citizens of the Republic of Belarus with a Belarusian driver’s license who have a PRP in Russia.
Additional materials (in Russian):
- Articles 25 and 26 of Federal Law No. 196-FZ, dated December 10, 1995 "On Road Traffic Security" (with amendments introduced by Federal Law No. 313-FZ, dated July 10, 2023 "On Amendments to Articles 25 and 26 of the Federal Law 'On Road Traffic Security'").
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