On 10 July, the German Bundesrat passed a resolution allowing Ukrainian drivers to exchange their national driving licences for German ones without having to take any tests. The new rules cover a wide range of vehicle categories and provide further simplifications for Ukrainians residing in Germany.
Briefly about the main points
- The Bundesrat has abolished the tests required for the exchange of Ukrainian driving licences.
- Ukraine is included on the list of countries with a simplified procedure.
- The simplification applies to cars, motorbikes, lorries and buses.
- Ukrainian has been added as a language option for the theory test.
- Ophthalmologists can carry out eye tests on lorry and bus drivers.
What changes has the Bundesrat adopted?
At its 1067th meeting on 10 July, the Bundesrat approved a decision allowing Ukrainian drivers to exchange their certificate into a German driving licence without having to sit a theory or practical test. Ukraine is officially included in the list of countries whose citizens are entitled to this simplified procedure in accordance with Annex 11 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung.
This means that Ukrainians who hold a valid national driving licence will be able to obtain a German one without having to take any additional tests, provided their licence category meets the requirements.
Which categories are covered by the simplification?
The simplified exchange procedure applies to a wide range of driving licence categories. These include passenger cars (B, BE), motorbikes (A, A1), lorries (C, C1, CE, C1E) and buses (D, D1, DE, D1E).
Consequently, most Ukrainian drivers will be able to make use of the new licences, regardless of the type of vehicle they are authorised to drive.
Additional benefits for Ukrainian drivers
Ukrainian has been added to the list of languages in which the theory test can be taken in Germany. This will be useful in cases where the test is still required, for example, if the necessary documents are missing.
Germany will also recognise Ukrainian driving licences that have been exchanged in other EU countries. In addition, ophthalmologists have been authorised to carry out eye tests for lorry and bus drivers, which simplifies the process of preparing the necessary documents.
Why it matters
The Bundesrat’s decision reduces bureaucratic hurdles for Ukrainians in Germany and facilitates their faster integration. At the same time, the new rules cover a wide range of categories and provide for further simplifications in obtaining the necessary documents. This makes it easier for Ukrainian drivers to adapt to life in Germany.
