The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has proposed to change the validity period of foreign driver's licenses

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has developed amendments to the federal law "On Road Safety". According to them, foreign national and international driver's licenses of Russian citizens permanently residing legally in a foreign country will be declared invalid in Russia after one year from the date of registration at their place of residence. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation announced this on May 13 on the website.

Currently, foreign national and international driver's licenses held by Russian citizens are recognized as invalid in the Russian Federation after one year from the date of the first entry into the country after obtaining a foreign national driver's license.

This rule applies both to Russian citizens permanently residing in the territory of the Russian Federation and temporarily staying on its territory and at the same time having a place of permanent residence outside of Russia.

It is noted that the draft law was developed in order to comply with the legal rights of Russian citizens permanently residing in a foreign country. The draft amendments are undergoing a public discussion procedure.

A stranger among his own: foreign rights do not always need to be changed to Russian ones

When can Russian citizens continue to drive with driver's licenses issued abroad?

In April, the Constitutional Court of Russia lifted the obligation for Russian citizens permanently residing in other countries to obtain Russian driver's licenses one year after temporary entry into the country.

The court adopted a resolution on the review of the constitutionality of paragraph 12-25 of the Federal Law "On Road Safety". The reason for the proceedings was the complaint of a man who permanently resides in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit.