Before you start

A valid residence permit and a РНОКПП tax number — the service centre asks for the tax number by name
Your original foreign licence, still valid
A translation of the licence certified in the manner Ukrainian law requires
Confirmation from the issuing country's competent authority, or its embassy or consulate in Ukraine, that the licence was issued and that there is no record of disqualification or restriction
A Ukrainian medical examination for drivers

Step-by-step

1
Check whether your issuing country is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention
This single question decides whether you spend an afternoon or several weeks on this. Licences from Vienna Convention parties — which covers most of Europe, and a great many other states — are exchanged without theory or practical exams, provided the document itself conforms. Licences from non-parties, or documents that do not conform, are exchanged only after passing both a theory and a practical exam at the service centre. The United States is not a party to the 1968 Convention, which is the case that catches Americans out.
OnlineWho: YouAn hour of checking
2
Get the confirmation from the issuing authority
This is the slow step and the one people underestimate. The service centre wants a document from the competent authority of the issuing state — or from that state's embassy or consulate in Ukraine — confirming the licence was issued to you and that you have not been deprived of or restricted in the right to drive. Start it before anything else; some authorities take weeks and some will only correspond through their consulate in Kyiv.
In personWho: You, via your home authority or its mission in KyivDays to several weeks depending on the country
3
Get the licence translated and certified
A translation certified in the manner Ukrainian legislation requires — in practice a notarised translation by a translator the notary accepts. Kyiv has translation bureaux clustered around the notary offices in the centre; ask for 'нотаріально засвідчений переклад посвідчення водія'.
In personWho: You, with a translator and notary1-3 days
4
Pass the driver's medical examination
A standard medical commission for drivers, done at an authorised clinic. It is required for every exchange regardless of which country issued the licence.
In personWho: You, at an authorised clinicHalf a day at a private clinic; longer through a state polyclinic
5
Attend an МВС service centre in Kyiv
Go in person with the full file. Exchange is available at any territorial service centre regardless of your registered address, so pick the one with the shortest queue rather than the one nearest your flat. If exams apply, the theory and practical are booked and sat at the centre. The Head Service Centre publishes a consultation line on (044) 290-19-88.
In personWho: YouSame day for a straightforward exchange; longer where exams apply

Documents you’ll need

Passport or other identity document, plus your residence permit
РНОКПП tax number
The foreign driving licence, with a certified Ukrainian translation
Confirmation from the issuing state's competent authority or its mission in Ukraine that the licence was issued and no disqualification is recorded
The driver's medical examination certificate

Things most newcomers don’t know

The Vienna Convention question is the whole guide.

Two people with equally good driving records get completely different processes — an afternoon versus a practical exam in Kyiv traffic — purely on which country issued the plastic. Check it before you plan anything else.

Source: Головний сервісний центр МВС

Start the home-authority confirmation first, not last.

Everything else in the file can be done in Kyiv in a week. The letter from your own licensing authority or its consulate is the only item you cannot accelerate from here, and it is routinely what holds the file for a month.

Source: Головний сервісний центр МВС service page

You can use any service centre in the country, not the one for your address.

Kyiv's centres have wildly different queues. The rule that exchange is available at any territorial centre regardless of registration is explicit, so a morning in a quieter oblast centre is a legitimate strategy.

Source: Головний сервісний центр МВС

In January 2026 the service centres publicly denied that new exams were being introduced for exchange and restoration.

A rumour that everyone would have to re-sit was widespread enough that the МВС published a piece titled 'Exams are not being introduced'. If you hear it repeated in a Kyiv expat group, it is that story.

Source: ГСЦ МВС, 2 January 2026

Common mistakes to avoid

Arriving at the service centre without the confirmation from your home authority. It is the one document the counter will not work around.
Assuming an International Driving Permit substitutes for exchange. It does not — an IDP is a translation of a national licence, not a Ukrainian entitlement.
Turning up expecting to do it online. The service centre says explicitly that online is not possible for this service.
Forgetting the tax number. РНОКПП is on the document list, so the licence exchange is gated on having done the tax registration first.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.