At the end of July, the Regulation on the use of Ukrainian national driver’s licenses in EU countries entered into force. The changes affect only persons who enjoy temporary or adequate protection in EU countries.
This document establishes special rules regarding expired, lost or stolen Ukrainian driver’s licenses.
So, from the end of July in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia , Hungary, Finland, France, Croatia, Sweden, Czech Republic — you can:
to use a Ukrainian driver’s license without the need to exchange it during the entire period of being under protection, and not only during 6 months;
to use an old-style Ukrainian driver’s license, which is issued only in Cyrillic and does not have an expiration date, without the need to have an additional certified translation or an international driver’s license;
to use a Ukrainian driver’s license even if it expires in 2022 (this is relevant for licenses issued for the first time with a validity period of 2 years);
to obtain a temporary (for the period of stay under protection) EU model driver’s license in case of loss or theft of a Ukrainian driver’s license without passing exams — it is sufficient for the EU country to verify the validity of the right to drive obtained in Ukraine, as well as to verify compliance with the standards of physical and mental fitness to drive.
Let’s consider several life situations.
For example, a person went to Poland during the war and received temporary protection. Currently, her driver’s license, which was issued for the first time, has expired. Such a certificate is valid for 2 years and is then subject to exchange. In Ukraine, during martial law, such expired driver’s licenses are considered valid. From now on, such driver’s licenses are also considered valid on the territory of EU member states. You don’t need to waste your time getting a Polish driver’s license or go to Ukraine to exchange it.
Importantly, if the driver’s license issued in Ukraine has expired before the beginning of 2022, it must still be exchanged.
Another example. The person left by train for Hungary, and she had with her an old-style Ukrainian driver’s license – written only in Cyrillic and without an indication of the validity period. The person has received temporary protection and wishes to drive a vehicle in Hungary. Since July, in accordance with the new Regulation, she can use in the EU an ID issued only in Cyrillic. There is no longer a requirement to carry a certified translation or an appendix in the form of a booklet – an international driver’s license. It is enough to have an identity document.
