How to get a driver's license for foreign citizens in Belarus

Nowadays a car is not a luxury, but rather a necessity. That is why, today, people study for rights the early they can do this and, one might say, upon reaching adulthood. The citizens of our country are more and more inclined towards the idea of having their own vehicle. There are so many advantages in this, and it is super convenient. But what should do foreign citizens who want to get a license in Belarus? On what conditions can they do this and can they do it at all? The answers to these questions depend on many factors.

The validity of a foreign driver's license when moving to Belarus for permanent residence

Foreign citizens who have received a residence permit in Belarus must also obtain a driver's license of the Republic of Belarus within three months, and those who do not speak Russian must also learn the language. This is necessary in order to successfully pass the theoretical qualification exam for the right to drive a power-driven vehicle. The qualification exam is conducted in Russian (which, along with Belarusian, has the status of the state language), the provision of an interpreter for the exam in the examination departments of the traffic police is not provided for by the current legislation. In disputable cases, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs refer to the Constitution and the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Languages”, explaining why examination tests in the traffic police are only in Russian. Translation into English, as the main international language, is not provided. This significantly complicates the life of foreign citizens who have a residence permit in our country, since it is almost impossible to learn the language in such a short time in the amount necessary to pass the theoretical exam. This, of course, does not apply to those foreigners who arrived in Belarus from Russian-speaking regions.

We would like to note that persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Belarus find themselves in such situations quite often, since when receiving a residence permit, no one warns about the existence of this norm. Until recently, when issuing a driver's license, persons who received a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus still had to “say goodbye” to their foreign driver's license, as it was seized by the traffic police.

The way out of this situation can be proposed as follows: provide for the passing of a theoretical qualification exam in English or provide an opportunity to use the services of an interpreter when passing the exam.

Deadlines for obtaining a driver's license when obtaining a residence permit

The certificate is issued within 5 working days from the date of submission of the application. Validity period of the certificate: for foreign citizens and stateless persons who have a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus - for the period of issuance of these documents, but not more than 10 years.

Exams for obtaining a driver's license

In order to obtain a Belarusian driver's license, a foreigner will have to pass an exam at the traffic police in one of the state languages, more often in Russian.

Providing with an interpreter for the exam

Unfortunately, the provision of an interpreter for the exam in the examination departments of the traffic police is not provided for by the current legislation. This fact significantly complicates the task for those who are going to take the exam at the traffic police without knowing the Russian language.

Is a foreign driving license kept by their owners?

Currently, there is a norm according to which, when issuing a driver's license on the basis of a foreign driver's license, to persons who have received a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus, a foreign driver's license is returned.

Foreign driver's license exchange procedure

The procedure for recognizing a driver's license issued by a foreign state as valid on the territory of the Republic of Belarus is determined by Article 5 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Road Traffic”. Thus, persons temporarily staying or temporarily residing in the Republic of Belarus have the right to drive a vehicle on the territory of the Republic of Belarus in the presence of a valid driver's license issued by a foreign state. It must comply with the requirements of the Convention on Road Traffic, signed in Vienna on November 8, 1968. A foreigner can also drive a vehicle if he has a valid driving license issued by a foreign state and drawn up in one of the state languages of the Republic of Belarus; or a valid driver's license issued by a foreign state and accompanied by a duly certified translation of the text of the driver's license into one of the state languages of the Republic of Belarus.

The validity period of driver's licenses issued in the Republic of Belarus is ten years, unless otherwise provided by legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus. Driving licenses issued prior to February 1, 2011 remain valid for the period for which they were issued.

Required documents for the exchange of a foreign driver's license:

Foreign driver's license and its photocopy (if necessary - translation into one of the state languages of the Republic of Belarus, certified in accordance with the established procedure);
Medical certificate of the established form on the suitability for driving power-driven vehicles of the corresponding categories;
Passport or other identity document with a mark of registration at the place of residence (or a certificate of registration at the place of stay - in cases where registration at the place of stay is mandatory);
Receipts for payment of established fees:

for a driver's license and a coupon 300 Br.
for computer services and filing an application 18 Br.

Note: A foreign driver's license is exchanged only after passing the theoretical exam.

Recognition of a foreign driver's license in Belarus

As mentioned earlier, those who have moved for permanent residence to Belarus, 90 days after receiving a passport of a citizen of the Republic of Belarus or a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus, can no longer use their driver's license of a foreign state when moving around Belarus.

They will need to obtain a driver's license of the Republic of Belarus. And this must be done within three months.

Foreigners who temporarily stay or temporarily reside in our country can drive cars on the territory of Belarus with a driver's license issued by a foreign state.

It can also be a valid driver's license issued by a foreign state and drawn up in one of the state languages of the Republic of Belarus or accompanied by a similar certified translation of the text of the driver's license.

The procedure for recognizing a driver's license of a foreign state valid on the territory of our country is determined by Article 5 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Road Traffic”.

Documents required for a foreigner when driving a vehicle in Belarus

The driver must have certain documents with him.

Required documents in accordance with point 14 of the traffic rules:

a national driving license that meets the requirements of the Convention on Road Traffic, signed in Vienna on November 8, 1968, and in case of non-compliance with the requirements of the above Convention, a national driving license with a certified translation into one of the state languages of the Republic of Belarus;

a document confirming the conclusion of an agreement on compulsory insurance of civil liability of the owner of a vehicle (a border insurance agreement or a Green Card insurance agreement valid on the territory of the Republic of Belarus);

permission of the communications authority for the use of radio and satellite communications, if they are available on the vehicle in cases stipulated by law;

vehicle registration certificate that meets the requirements of the Convention;

the vehicle has registration plates issued by the competent authority of the state in which it is registered.

Photo: pikinform.ru, avatars.mds.yandex.net, 24news.in.ua