Frank Rondel
Exchange a Ukrainian driving licence in Germany in 2026 became substantially easier on 18 August 2026. Ukraine was added to Germany’s Anlage 11 list. Holders of eligible Ukrainian licences can now obtain a German licence without theory or practical driving examinations. The change follows a federal regulation published on 17 August 2026, as noted by the customreceipt.com.
The change closes an awkward gap in German driving law. Ukrainian licences were already recognised for people covered by temporary protection. However, voluntary conversion into a regular German licence followed different rules. Since 18 August, Germany treats specified Ukrainian categories under the simplified procedure in Section 31 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung.
For most holders of an ordinary Ukrainian category B licence, the important change is simple: driving school and driving examinations are no longer part of the exchange procedure.
For motorists planning long journeys after receiving their German licence, the site also has practical road-trip guidance and a broader travel section.
Ukrainian driving licence exchange in Germany without an exam in 2026
The legal change took effect on 18 August 2026. Germany added Ukraine to Anlage 11 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, commonly shortened to FeV.
The new entry covers Ukrainian categories A1, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE. For these categories, the official schedule lists both theory and practical examinations as “nein”.
The current rule can be checked in Germany’s official Anlage 11 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung. The amending regulation was published as BGBl. 2026 I No. 236.
“Ukraine … theoretical examination: no; practical examination: no.”
Source: Federal German driving licence regulations, Anlage 11 FeV, effective from 18 August 2026.
There are several important limits. A Ukrainian A1 licence corresponds to German category AM under the special note. Applicants converting truck or bus categories must still prove medical fitness and eyesight. If Ukrainian C or D was originally issued without category B, obtaining German B still requires theory and practical examinations.
This means Ukrainian driving licence exchange without an exam is now a genuine standard procedure. It is no longer merely a temporary recognition arrangement for refugees.
Step-by-step instructions for exchanging a Ukrainian licence in Germany
The application goes to the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde responsible for the applicant’s main residence. Depending on the city, this can be part of a Bürgeramt, Straßenverkehrsamt or district administration.
A practical sequence looks like this:
- Check that the Ukrainian licence is valid and available in the original.
- Find the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde responsible for the registered German address.
- Select the service for “Umschreibung einer ausländischen Fahrerlaubnis” or Anlage 11 countries.
- Book an appointment or start an electronic application where available.
- Prepare identification, residence documents, photograph and the original Ukrainian licence.
- Submit any additional medical documents required for C or D categories.
- Pay the local administrative fee.
- Wait for document verification and production of the German card licence.
- Follow the authority’s instructions concerning surrender of the Ukrainian document.
The absence of examinations removes the most expensive stages. No driving school registration should be necessary merely to exchange eligible Anlage 11 categories. No TÜV or DEKRA driving test is required for the covered categories.
German authorities may still verify whether the Ukrainian document is genuine and valid. An incomplete, expired or unverifiable licence can delay the case.
The decisive document is the national Ukrainian driving licence. An international driving permit is not a substitute for it during an exchange application.
Berlin’s official foreign licence exchange service requires the original foreign licence and a current biometric photograph. Berlin also states that personal attendance is required.
After a list of documents is prepared, it is worth checking each item again before the appointment. Missing paperwork usually does not create an examination requirement. It can, however, stop the authority from completing the administrative conversion. German licence offices also distinguish between ordinary car categories and professional truck or bus categories. Medical evidence can therefore become the biggest additional task for C and D holders. Applicants should use the requirements published by their own municipality rather than copying another city’s checklist.
Documents needed to exchange a Ukrainian driving licence in Germany
The exact file can differ slightly between municipalities. The core documents are comparatively predictable.
Typical requirements include:
- valid passport or recognised identity document;
- German residence document where required;
- original valid Ukrainian driving licence;
- recent biometric passport photograph;
- application form used by the local Fahrerlaubnisbehörde;
- proof of main residence if the authority cannot retrieve it electronically;
- translation if the local authority specifically requests one;
- medical and eyesight certificates for relevant truck or bus categories.
Translation deserves special attention. The temporary EU recognition rules allow eligible Ukrainians to drive without carrying a certified translation. An administrative exchange is a different procedure. A local authority can request a translation when it needs one to process the foreign document.
Berlin, for example, states that foreign licences not issued in German or English normally require translation. The competent authority can decide whether it is necessary in a particular case.
The federal Ministry of Transport’s Ukraine guidance remains relevant for people who do not want an immediate exchange. It explains that valid Ukrainian licences continue to be recognised under the temporary protection framework.
“Sie müssen bis zum Ablauf des Schutzstatus nichts unternehmen.”
Source: German Federal Ministry of Transport, guidance for holders of valid Ukrainian driving licences.
That sentence concerns recognition for driving. It should not be confused with conversion into a permanent German card licence.
Cost and price of exchanging a Ukrainian driving licence in Germany
There is no single nationwide final bill because local administrative fees and supporting documents can differ. The official conversion fee itself is usually modest compared with the old examination route.
Berlin publishes a fee of €37.50 for exchanging a foreign driving licence without an examination.
| Expense | Typical situation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Licence conversion fee in Berlin | Exchange without examination | €37.50 |
| Biometric photograph | Usually required | Local provider price |
| Translation | Only when requested | Provider-dependent |
| Medical examination | Relevant C/D categories | Provider-dependent |
| Eyesight documentation | Relevant categories | Provider-dependent |
| Driving school | Normal Anlage 11 exchange | Not normally required |
| Theory examination | Covered Ukrainian categories | €0 |
| Practical examination | Covered Ukrainian categories | €0 |
The cost of exchanging a Ukrainian driving licence in Germany is therefore dramatically lower than a conversion requiring both examinations. The €37.50 figure is a Berlin administrative fee, not a guaranteed national price. Applicants in Hamburg, Munich, Cologne or smaller districts should check the local Gebühren section before applying.
There can also be costs that do not come from the licence office. A translated document, passport photograph or medical certificate is billed separately. Truck and bus drivers should therefore calculate a larger budget than category B applicants.
The saving comes mainly from what disappears. There is no mandatory examination fee for the listed Ukrainian categories. There is also no need to pay for driving lessons solely to prepare for an exchange test. The final amount for an ordinary category B applicant can therefore remain close to the authority fee plus document costs.
Processing time and deadlines for Ukrainian licence exchange
Germany does not impose one national processing period. The authority must verify the application, check the foreign licence where necessary and arrange production of the German card.
Berlin’s published processing status illustrates the workload. On 4 August 2026, the authority reported processing Anlage 11 conversion applications submitted on 31 July 2026. That indicator describes intake progress, not a guaranteed collection date.
A realistic process contains several separate stages:
- obtaining an appointment;
- formal submission;
- possible verification of Ukrainian licence data;
- request for missing documents;
- production of the German driving licence;
- notification or collection.
Five to seven calendar days should not be assumed. Several weeks can be more realistic in busy cities, especially when verification is required. A complete application usually removes the easiest source of delay.
The processing time for a Ukrainian driving licence exchange can also increase immediately after a major rule change. The new Ukrainian Anlage 11 provision entered into force only on 18 August 2026. Local systems, appointment descriptions and staff instructions can take time to reflect a federal change.
For people already legally driving under temporary protection, there is usually no need to stop driving simply because the conversion application is being processed. The existing Ukrainian licence must remain valid under the applicable recognition rules.
Can the Ukrainian driving licence exchange be done online in Germany?
German federal law allows a driving licence application to be submitted in written or electronic form. That does not mean every municipality provides a fully digital exchange service.
Local implementation controls the answer. Some authorities offer online forms, digital appointment systems or electronic document submission. Others still demand a personal visit. Berlin expressly requires personal attendance for this service.
An online Ukrainian driving licence exchange in Germany should therefore be understood as a locally available application channel, not a nationwide digital replacement for every step.
Online preparation remains useful even where attendance is mandatory. Applicants can usually identify the responsible authority, book a slot and download requirements before travelling to the office. Municipal portals should be searched using “Umschreibung ausländischer Fahrerlaubnis Anlage 11 Ukraine”.
Applicants travelling to appointments in another city should also check practical requirements beforehand. Basic preparation matters when documents cannot be replaced quickly. The site’s guide to transporting items safely in checked baggage follows the same principle: official restrictions should be checked before departure, not at the counter.
An online form does not change the legal requirements. The authority still needs enough evidence to identify the applicant and verify the Ukrainian licence.
Which Ukrainian licence categories can be exchanged without exams?
The categories introduced into Anlage 11 are broader than category B alone.
| Ukrainian category | German treatment under the 2026 rule | Theory test | Practical test |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Corresponds to German AM under the special note | No | No |
| A | Motorcycle category | No | No |
| B | Passenger cars | No | No |
| BE | Car with qualifying trailer | No | No |
| C1, C1E | Medium goods vehicles | No | No |
| C, CE | Heavy goods vehicles | No | No |
| D1, D1E | Smaller passenger vehicles | No | No |
| D, DE | Buses | No | No |
After the simplified list, 2 exceptions deserve attention. Truck and bus applicants must satisfy German medical and eyesight requirements before those categories are issued. A Ukrainian C or D obtained without B creates another special case. German category B then requires both examinations.
Those exceptions do not reverse the wider reform. For an ordinary Ukrainian B licence, the legal route is now a direct administrative conversion.
FAQ about exchanging a Ukrainian driving licence in Germany in 2026
Can a Ukrainian driving licence be exchanged without an exam in Germany?
Yes. Since 18 August 2026, Ukraine has been listed in Anlage 11 FeV. Eligible listed categories require neither theory nor practical examinations.
How much does the exchange cost?
Berlin charges €37.50 for an exchange without examinations. Other municipalities can apply their own administrative fee schedules and additional document costs.
Do I need a German driving school?
Normally not for a straightforward examination-free Anlage 11 exchange. A driving school is relevant if an examination is required in an exceptional category situation.
Can I exchange the licence online?
Possibly in part. Federal law permits electronic applications, but local authorities decide which digital services they provide. Berlin currently requires personal attendance.
Do I need a translation of the Ukrainian licence?
Not necessarily for simply driving under temporary protection. During formal conversion, however, the local Fahrerlaubnisbehörde may request a translation.
How long does the German licence take?
There is no fixed nationwide period. Appointment availability, licence verification and card production determine the duration. Several weeks can be possible in busy municipalities.
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