How can Italians obtain Russian driving licences?

As of April 1, 2025, foreign driving licenses for operating vehicles ceased to be valid in Russia. After this date, the simplified procedure for exchanging a foreign licence for a Russian licence is no longer available.

What should foreigners—in this case, Italian citizens—do if they did not have time to exchange their licence before the deadline?

The Step-by-Step Action Plan

To obtain a Russian driving licence under the current regulations, the action plan should be as follows:

• Pass a medical examination to obtain a medical certificate using Form 003-V/u.
• Prepare a notarized translation of the foreign driving licence into Russian. Professionals at "Pravo i Slovo" can assist with high-quality written translations of all necessary documents.
• Prepare a notarized translation of the foreign passport into Russian (if the applicant does not hold Russian citizenship). Even if the applicant has a residence permit in Russia, a translation of the national passport is required, as it remains the primary document confirming the identity of a foreigner in Russia.
• Pass the theory part of the test at any GIBDD (traffic police) office. To prepare for the exam, you may enroll in a driving school. However, formal training is optional; you are permitted to study the Russian road rules and prepare for the test independently.

NOTE: You can transfer all or some of the categories that were previously available in your home country to your Russian driving licence. For instance, if the applicant holds a valid Italian licence with categories A and B, they can obtain a Russian licence with the same categories. However, if they wish to obtain a new category (e.g., category D), they will be required to study at a driving school and pass both the theory and practical sections of the test for that specific category.

In practice, not all GIBDD offices are accustomed to dealing with foreigners and may not always be certain of the exact procedure, especially since the rules for obtaining a Russian driving licence may differ based on the applicant's country of origin.

If you encounter any difficulties during this process, please do not hesitate to write to us!

For expert assistance with document preparation, visit our section on written translations.