The validity period of foreign driving licences for Russian citizens is set to be reconsidered

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has prepared a draft of amendments under which, for Russian citizens permanently residing in a foreign state, the one-year period will be counted not from the date of their first entry, but from the date of registration at their place of residence in the Russian Federation. An exception will remain for licences issued in Belarus.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs clarified that this provision applies both to Russian citizens permanently residing in the Russian Federation and to those temporarily staying on its territory while having a permanent place of residence outside the country.

The explanatory note states that the amendments are consistent with the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic, according to which a licence issued by one party must be recognised by another until the territory of that country becomes the licence holder’s place of permanent residence.

Discussion of the document will continue until 28 May. 
If adopted, the law will enter into force on the day of its official publication.