Many citizens of Uzbekistan arrive in Russia with their national driver’s licenses. But can they use them to drive their own car?
It is important to distinguish between driving for personal purposes and working as a driver, because the rules are different.
Can You Drive a Personal Car with an Uzbek Driver’s License?
Yes. In certain cases, a foreign citizen may drive a car in Russia using a valid foreign national driver’s license, provided that it complies with the requirements of Russia’s international agreements.
This means that a citizen of Uzbekistan does not always need to exchange their license for a Russian one immediately after arriving in Russia. For personal driving, a valid Uzbek driver’s license may be used as long as the legal requirements are met.
However, there is an important exception. If a foreign citizen obtains a Russian residence permit (VNZh) or Russian citizenship, their foreign driver’s license remains valid in Russia for only one year from the date the residence permit or citizenship is obtained. After that, a Russian driver’s license is required to drive a vehicle.
Can You Work as a Driver?
Russian law prohibits the use of foreign driver’s licenses for work directly related to driving a vehicle. Exceptions apply to citizens of certain countries, but this exception does not apply to citizens of Uzbekistan.
Therefore, a citizen of Uzbekistan needs a Russian driver’s license to work officially as a taxi driver. The same rule applies to other jobs directly involving driving a vehicle.
For delivery work, it depends on the type of job. If a courier delivers orders on foot or, for example, by bicycle, a driver’s license is not required. But if the work directly involves driving a car, the applicable driver’s license requirements must be taken into account.
How Can You Get a Russian Driver’s License?
If you already have a valid Uzbek Category B driver’s license, you can exchange it for a Russian one. In most cases, you do not need to complete a full driving school course again.
To obtain a Russian Category B driver’s license, you must first pass a medical examination. You then need to pass a theoretical exam at the State Traffic Inspectorate. A practical driving test is not required when exchanging a Category B license.
For trucks and buses — Categories C, D, and several related categories — the procedure is different. You will need to complete professional training at a Russian educational institution and then pass both theoretical and practical exams.
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