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Have you moved abroad only to discover that your driver’s license has expired? Changed your last name after getting married? Or perhaps you only have a digital driver’s license in the Diia app, which does not replace a physical license outside Ukraine? In the past, resolving these issues often meant returning to Ukraine. Today, there are other options.
Thanks to cooperation between the Main Service Center of Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and State Enterprise Document (SE Document), Ukrainians can exchange their national driver’s licenses at Passport Service offices abroad. In certain cases, an online exchange with international delivery of the new license is also available.
In this guide, we explain which countries offer this service, what documents you need, how the exchange process works, and how renewing a Ukrainian driver’s license differs from obtaining a license issued by your country of residence.
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What Is a Driver’s License Exchange Through SE Document?
This is an official service for exchanging a Ukrainian driver’s license for a new Ukrainian license. It is provided by SE Document’s overseas offices in cooperation with the MIA service centers in Ukraine.
It is important to understand that this process does not give you a Polish, German, or other foreign driver’s license. Instead, you receive a new Ukrainian license in the current format.
The process involves several steps. An SE Document employee accepts your documents, verifies the necessary information, takes your photograph, and submits an electronic application. The application is then reviewed by an administrator at an MIA service center in Ukraine.
Once the application is approved, the new license is issued in accordance with the established procedure and handed over to the applicant. Your previous physical license, if you have one, is collected during the exchange.
Under favorable circumstances, you may receive your new license on the same day you apply. However, same-day issuance is not guaranteed. Additional identity or record checks, technical issues, or temporary interruptions in application processing in Ukraine may extend the waiting period.
This is particularly relevant for older licenses. If your license was issued before 2013, additional verification of records from the original issuing authority may be required.
When Might You Need to Exchange Your Driver’s License Abroad?
There are several reasons why you might need a driver’s license replacement. The most common situations include:
- Your current driver’s license has expired;
- Your personal details, such as your first or last name, have changed;
- Your license is damaged, or its text has faded or become unreadable;
- You only have a digital driver’s license without a physical plastic card;
- You want to replace an older-format license with a modern one;
- You need to update your license so that its details are correctly reflected in the MIA’s electronic records.
A standard exchange of a permanent Ukrainian driver’s license does not require you to retake the theory or practical driving tests. This was confirmed in guidance published by the Main Service Center of the MIA on January 2, 2026.
However, different conditions apply to the exchange of a first driver’s license issued for a two-year period. In particular, the number of administrative road traffic offenses committed during its validity may affect the procedure.
Which Countries and Cities Offer Ukrainian Driver’s License Exchange Services?
The Ukrainian driver’s license exchange service provided through SE Document was introduced in several European countries and Turkey. According to official announcements from the Main Service Center of the MIA, license exchange services, along with replacement services in certain cases, became available in seven countries during 2023.
The table below lists the main cities where these services were offered according to published information. It is intended as a guide to finding a suitable office and does not guarantee that every service will be available at every location when you apply.
| Country | Cities | License Exchange | Replacement of Lost Licenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | Warsaw, Wrocław, Kraków, Gdańsk | Service introduced | Service introduced |
| Czech Republic | Prague | Service introduced | Service introduced |
| Slovakia | Bratislava | Service introduced | Availability must be confirmed |
| Germany | Berlin, Cologne, Munich | Service introduced | Service introduced |
| Spain | Madrid, Valencia | Service introduced | Service introduced |
| Italy | Milan (Rozzano) | Service introduced | Service introduced |
| Turkey | Istanbul | Service introduced | Service introduced |
In Italy, driver’s license exchange and replacement services were officially introduced on November 27, 2023. In Slovakia, only license exchange was available at the time of the relevant MIA announcement, so the availability of replacement services should be confirmed separately.
As SE Document’s international office network may change, always check the current office addresses, opening hours, and availability of your required service on the official Passport Service website before traveling.
What Documents Do You Need to Exchange a Ukrainian Driver’s License Abroad?
To exchange a Ukrainian driver’s license abroad, you need documents that establish your identity and allow your driving records to be verified in the Ukrainian MIA databases.
The required documents generally include:
- A Ukrainian national passport or international passport;
- Your Ukrainian taxpayer identification number (RNOKPP), if one has been assigned;
- Your existing driver’s license, if you have a physical license that needs to be exchanged;
- Supporting documentation if your name or other personal details have changed;
- Any additional documents or information requested during the verification process.
If you hold a Ukrainian ID card and need to confirm your registered address, an extract from the territorial community register may be used. An electronic extract may also be accepted, depending on the requirements of the office.
During martial law in Ukraine, a medical certificate is not mandatory for a standard driver’s license exchange. However, additional requirements may apply in certain circumstances.
Before applying, we recommend checking the current document requirements of the specific SE Document office, particularly if your license was issued many years ago or its details are not available through electronic services.
Can You Exchange Your Driver’s License Online and Have It Delivered Abroad?
Yes. In addition to applying in person through SE Document, you may be able to use the Ukrainian MIA’s online services and arrange international delivery of your new driver’s license, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.
This option can be particularly convenient for Ukrainians who live far from a Passport Service office abroad or cannot visit one in person.
The general application process is as follows:
- Sign in to the Driver’s Electronic Cabinet.
- Check whether your driver’s license appears in the electronic system.
- Select the available license exchange or replacement service.
- Complete the online application and provide the required information.
- If international delivery is available, select your destination country and enter your delivery address.
- Pay the service and delivery fees.
- Track your application status and await delivery of your new license.
Eligibility for online exchange depends on the type of driver’s license, the availability of your information in electronic records, and other conditions of the service.
Drivers whose licenses were issued before 2013 should pay particular attention to these requirements. According to guidance published by the Main Service Center of the MIA on September 1, 2026, information about these older licenses may be missing from modern electronic databases. In such cases, the records may first need to be verified using archived documents.
International delivery takes additional time, so online exchange should not be regarded as a guaranteed way to obtain a physical driver’s license immediately.
How Does an Exchange Through SE Document Differ From Exchanging Your License for a Local One?
These are two separate procedures with different legal grounds, documentation requirements, and outcomes.
SE Document allows you to renew your Ukrainian national driver’s license. If you want to obtain a Polish, German, or other foreign driver’s license, you must apply to the relevant authority in that country.
| Criteria | Exchange Through SE Document | Exchange for a Local Driver’s License |
|---|---|---|
| What you receive | A new Ukrainian driver’s license | A driver’s license issued by the country of residence |
| Are driving tests required? | Standard exchange of a permanent license does not require tests | Depends on local laws and the characteristics of your existing license |
| What happens to your old license? | Your existing physical license is collected during the exchange | The rules for handling the previous license are determined by the country of residence |
| Who issues the new license? | A Ukrainian MIA service center, with the involvement of SE Document | The competent authority in your country of residence |
| Processing time | Same-day issuance may be possible but is not guaranteed | Depends on the country, document verification, and production times |
| Main outcome | Renewal of your Ukrainian driver’s license | Obtaining a local driver’s license under national regulations |
For example, if you live in Poland and specifically want a Polish driver’s license, applying through SE Document will not replace the Polish license exchange procedure.
Instead, you must contact the relevant Wydział Komunikacji (Department of Transport and Vehicle Registration), district authority (starostwo), or municipal office responsible for your place of residence and comply with Polish requirements.
What Happens to Your Old Driver’s License After the Exchange?
When you exchange your Ukrainian driver’s license through SE Document, your old physical license is collected in accordance with the established procedure.
Information about the new license is entered into the relevant Ukrainian MIA registers. The previous license becomes invalid after the exchange and can no longer be used.
If you have exchanged your Ukrainian license for one issued by another country, the rules governing what happens next are different.
For example, after returning to Ukraine for permanent residence, a person holding a foreign driver’s license may exchange it for a Ukrainian one under the applicable procedure. According to guidance published by the Main Service Center of the MIA on July 8, 2026, if a Ukrainian license was previously exchanged for a foreign one, it may be exchanged back after returning to Ukraine without retaking the theory or practical driving tests, provided the legal requirements are met.
The vehicle categories originally included in the Ukrainian license before it was exchanged abroad are also taken into account.
Therefore, before obtaining a foreign driver’s license, it is worth considering not only the benefits of the new document but also the rules for using it and the possibility of exchanging it after returning to Ukraine.
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