Foreign Driving Licence

Ministry of Internal Affairs response regarding foreign driving licences and their validity periods for driving vehicles in the territory of the Russian Federation by Russian citizens.

.... Russian citizens are permitted to drive vehicles in Russia on the basis of foreign national and international driving licences, subject to the conditions and restrictions established by Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196, only if they do not hold Russian national driving licences, and only for one year from the date on which the holder first enters the Russian Federation after obtaining a foreign national driving licence.

The first entry into the Russian Federation is considered to be an entry made after 01 April 2024.

Example: 
A Russian citizen permanently residing in Germany came to Russia on holiday on 11 August 2024; after 10 August 2025, they are not entitled to drive a car on the basis of a driving licence obtained in  Germany.