← All articles · July 27, 2026

Exchanging a Ukrainian driving licence in Slovakia: the procedure

You may drive on a Ukrainian licence in Slovakia only for a limited time — once you have residence, it has to be exchanged for a Slovak one. The good news: for category B, in most cases there is no exam to retake. Here is how it works.

Who has to exchange their licence

The obligation arises for anyone who has been granted residence in Slovakia — temporary or permanent residence, or dočasné útočisko — and keeps driving. The deadlines depend on your status and the type of licence, so if you are unsure it is cheaper to check your case than to be fined at a roadside stop.

Which documents you need

• a valid Ukrainian driving licence;
• a sworn translation of the licence into Slovak;
• your passport and proof of residence;
• a medical certificate from a Slovak doctor (potvrdenie o zdravotnej spôsobilosti);
• the application and the administrative fee.

How the exchange goes

1. Medical check. Any general practitioner or a specialised centre — half an hour.
2. Translation of the licence. Only a sworn translator (úradný prekladateľ) will do; an ordinary translation is refused.
3. Filing at the dopravný inšpektorát. At your place of residence, ideally with an appointment.
4. Waiting. The Slovak licence is usually ready within 30 days. Your Ukrainian licence is taken when the new one is issued.

Points to watch

• Licences issued after certain dates are verified against Ukrainian registers; if the data cannot be found, additional confirmations are required.
• Categories C and D and professional licences are a separate story with extra requirements.
• An international driving permit does not replace the exchange.

If you would rather not go from office to office, we will handle the exchange end to end: the medical certificate, the translation, the appointment and going with you. And if you also need to have your diploma recognised, we can help with that too.