Ukraine is Europe. Only four European countries do not recognize Ukrainian driver’s licenses
7 March 2025 10:56
89 countries recognize the Ukrainian national driver’s license in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. 44 countries require drivers to have an international driver’s license. This is reported on the Ministry of Internal Affairs Portal, "Komersant Ukrainian" informs.
The list of countries in which the Ukrainian national driver’s license is valid and not valid is published as part of the joint project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Radio Avtoradio “From Respect to Safety.”
In which countries it is enough to have a Ukrainian driver’s license
The list of countries where the Ukrainian national driver’s license is valid includes all but four European countries. These are Ireland, Iceland, Cyprus and Malta. In total, this list is friendly to Ukrainian drivers and includes 89 countries. The list is available here.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reminds that in order to travel abroad, a national driver’s license must contain the following information:
1. Surname.
2. First name and patronymic.
3. Date and place of birth.
4. The authority that issued the certificate.
5. Date and place of issuance of the certificate.
6. The date of expiration of the license.
7. The number of the license.
8. Signature and/or stamp or seal of the issuing authority.
9. Signature of the holder.
10. A photograph of the holder.
11. The category/categories or subcategories of vehicles to which this license applies, indicating the date of issue of the license and the expiration dates for each of these categories.
National legislation determines additional information to be included in the driver’s license, as well as its size and type of binding.
If the driver’s license does not meet the applicable international requirements, it must be exchanged at the service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Which countries you need to drive to with an international driver’s license
Countries that require an international driving license (in alphabetical order): Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Ireland, Iceland, Jordan, Cambodia, Cyprus, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Republic of Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Singapore, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United States of America, Fiji, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America.
How to get or exchange an international driving license
An international driving license is issued on the basis of a national driving license at the territorial service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a period of 3 years (the validity of the international license must not exceed the validity of the national driving license). An international driver’s license is issued (exchanged) without passing any exams. An international driver’s license without a national driver’s license is not valid.
To obtain or exchange an international driver’s license, you must contact the territorial service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and have the following documents
– original and copy of the national driver’s license;
– passport of a citizen of Ukraine (in case of submission of an ID-card without information on the registration of the place of residence, a certificate of registration of the place of residence shall be attached);
– passport of a citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad;
– a 3.5×4.5 cm photo on matte paper;
– payment document (receipt) certifying payment for the administrative service.
After checking the submitted documents, an employee of the MIA service center immediately returns the applicant’s national driver’s license, passport of a citizen of Ukraine and passport of a citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad.
The service is provided within 5 business days from the date of submission of the required documents.
What documents are required for traveling abroad by car
Anyone traveling by car must have:
– Driver’s license;
– Certificate of car registration;
– Green Card insurance;
– Medical insurance for each traveler;
– Identification mark of Ukraine on the vehicle;
– State license plate.
A driver who is not the owner of the car must have the same list of documents as the owners. In this case, the vehicle registration certificate for traveling abroad is issued in the name of the driver or passenger.
A power of attorney for the right to drive someone else’s car abroad will be valid under several conditions:
– the document must be translated into the language of the country in which you will be staying;
– legalize the document in the prescribed manner (perform the procedures necessary to recognize a document issued in another country – apostille or consular legalization).
