Russians residing in Kazakhstan are now barred from utilizing their driving permits
As of April 1, 2024, drivers from Kazakhstan and other foreign countries, including those who have obtained Russian residence permits or Russian citizenship, are required to use an international driving permit to drive in Russia. This new rule is part of Russia's stricter control on foreigners driving within its territory, aiming to standardize and regulate foreign driving authorisation.
According to the "Road Safety Law", foreign residents or new Russian citizens must use an international driving permit instead of relying on their foreign licenses or local conversions. This change affects a significant number of individuals, as around 500,000 drivers took advantage of the grace period between April 1, 2021, and April 1, 2024, to continue driving with their foreign licenses.
For those with categories C and D, training at a driving school and passing both theory and practical exams are required to obtain an international driving permit. The new rules for exchanging foreign driver's licenses are also part of the "Road Safety Law".
The only exception to this rule is for Belarusian citizens and Russians with Belarusian licenses. Driving with Kazakhstani or foreign licenses after April 1 without obtaining a Russian license will be considered driving without a license, punishable by a fine of up to 15,000 rubles (over 90,000 tenge).
It's important to note that this rule applies to individuals driving in Russia, not Kazakhstan. The new rules for exchanging foreign driver's licenses do not apply to individuals driving in Kazakhstan. The grace period for exchanging foreign driver's licenses for Russian ones without taking exams ended on April 1, 2024.
For those with categories M, A, and B on their foreign licenses, a theoretical exam must be passed to exchange their licenses for Russian ones. The new rules for exchanging foreign driver's licenses apply to Kazakhstani driver's licenses as well.
The change in driving licensing requirements was reported by "Kommersant". Foreigners with a residence permit or Russian citizenship in Kazakhstan are required to obtain Russian driver's licenses to drive a car in Russia. However, no additional special conditions for Kazakhstani drivers apart from those applying to all foreign drivers were found in the search results.
In summary, as of April 1, 2024, holders of Russian residence permits or citizenship (including Kazakhstanis) must drive using an international driving license in Russia. Foreign licenses alone are not sufficient for those with residence or citizenship status as per the updated rule. This aims to standardize and regulate foreign driving authorisation within Russia.
- The new ruling in Russia's "Road Safety Law" extends to foreign residents and new Russian citizens, including those from Kazakhstan, requiring them to use an international driving permit instead of their domestic licenses when driving in Russia.
- Effective from April 1, 2024, those with categories C and D on their foreign licenses will need to train at a driving school, pass both theory and practical exams to obtain an international driving permit for driving in Russia.
- While the Grace period for exchanging foreign driver's licenses for Russian ones ended on April 1, 2024, Belarusian citizens and Russians with Belarusian licenses are the only exceptions to the rule, allowed to drive with their original licenses in Russia.
