Driving in Russia with a Turkish driving licence

This page is for Turkish citizens who want to drive in Russia with a Turkish driving licence. A Turkish driving licence is valid in Russia, but subject to certain conditions: the licence must be the new type, age and category rules must be followed, and professional driving must not be performed. If you obtain a residence permit, you must switch to a Russian driving licence within 1 year. Below you will find the rules, licence conversion procedures and the main penalties.

• Persons who are not Russian citizens may drive in Russia with a Russian driving licence or, if they do not have one, with their country's national driving licence or an international driving permit.
• Türkiye acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on 22 January 2013. Russia is also a party to this Convention (ratification: 7 June 1974). Both countries are also parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
• According to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, vehicles may be driven in 93 countries party to the Convention on Road Traffic with a new-type Turkish driving licence issued since 1 January 2016.
• An international driving permit is valid in Russia only when shown together with the national driving licence.
• You must comply with the restrictions stated on your driving licence, such as wearing glasses.
• The age limits in Russian law also apply to foreign driving licences. Even if you have a licence, you may not drive a vehicle in a particular category if you do not meet the age requirement in Russia.
• Driving licences issued in a country that does not comply with international conventions or is not party to those conventions together with Russia are considered valid only on the basis of reciprocity and with an approved Russian translation.

• According to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, old-type (paper) driving licences ceased to be valid as of November 2025.
• If you are caught in Russia with an old-type document, you may be considered not to have a valid driving licence. Under Russian law, the penalty for driving without a licence is 5,000–15,000 roubles (see below).
• You can renew your old-type document abroad at the representative offices designated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All four representative offices in Russia accept applications for a "New Driving Licence": the Embassy in Moscow and the consulates general in Kazan, Krasnodar and St. Petersburg.
• Applications are submitted by appointment and in person. Appointment: konsolosluk.gov.tr
• The fee, the valuable-paper charge and the foundation contribution determined for that year must be paid for renewal.

• If you obtain a residence permit (ВНЖ) or Russian citizenship, your foreign driving licence becomes invalid in Russia 1 year after that date. You must obtain a Russian driving licence within this period.
• You may not perform professional driving: work or commercial activity based directly on driving a vehicle may not be carried out with a foreign driving licence. Taxi driving, courier work and employment as a driver are included.
  • The only exception to this prohibition applies to citizens of Kyrgyzstan and citizens of countries where Russian is an official language. There is no exception for Turkish citizens.
• This prohibition on professional driving and the age rule do not apply to vehicles participating in international traffic, such as international transport.

• Categories B, A and M and subcategories A1 and B1: A Russian driving licence is obtained by passing only the theory exam; driving school is not required. A medical report (медицинское заключение) is required.
• Categories C, D, CE and DE and subcategories C1, D1, C1E and D1E: Training and an exam at a driving school in Russia are required, followed by theoretical and practical exams.
• A Russian driving licence is not issued to replace a foreign licence that has been lost or stolen.
• Conversion procedures are carried out at the examination and licensing units of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (ГИБДД МВД).
• Fee (Article 333.33 of the Tax Code, text dated 4 August 2026):
  • plastic driving licence: 4,000 roubles
  • new-generation plastic driving licence: 6,000 roubles
  • Russian international driving permit: 3,200 roubles

• Compulsory motor third-party liability insurance (ОСАГО): Vehicle owners must obtain compulsory motor third-party liability insurance. Vehicles with foreign registration plates are exempt from this obligation if the owner's liability is covered by an international insurance system.
• Documents you must carry: driving licence, vehicle registration certificate and insurance policy. If you do not have these with you, you may receive a warning or a 500-rouble fine.
• Main penalties (Code of Administrative Offences, text dated 4 August 2026):
  • driving without a licence: 5,000–15,000 roubles
  • driving under the influence of alcohol: 45,000 roubles and disqualification from driving for 1.5–2 years. Limit: 0.16 milligrams of alcohol per litre of breath.
  • driving without compulsory insurance: 800 roubles

• Road Traffic Safety Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (ГИБДД МВД) — Russian driving licences, examinations and vehicle registration. The ministry's website may not be accessible from abroad; you can also use Gosuslugi for applications and appointments.
• Turkish representative offices — renewal of old-type Turkish driving licences (by appointment, in person):
  • Embassy in Moscow: 12, 7th Rostovskiy Pereulok, 115127 Moscow · Consular switchboard: +7 495 994 93 59 (telephone information 14:30–18:00) · Citizen services 09:00–13:00
  • Consulate General in Kazan: 23/27 Maksim Gorki Street, 420015 Kazan · +7 843 299 53 10 / +7 843 299 53 11
  • Consulate General in Krasnodar: 369 Severnaya Street, 350002 Krasnodar · +7 861 214 12 51
  • Consulate General in St. Petersburg: 24, 7th Sovetskaya Street, 191036 St. Petersburg · +7 812 577 18 12 · In person 09:00–13:00, by telephone 14:00–18:00
  • Appointment: konsolosluk.gov.tr · Consular Call Centre (24/7): +90 312 292 29 29

• Continuing to drive with an old-type (paper) Turkish driving licence. These documents have been invalid since November 2025.
• Showing an international driving permit on its own. It must be shown together with the national driving licence.
• Working as a taxi driver, courier or driver with a Turkish driving licence. There is no exception for Turkish citizens.
• Failing to switch to a Russian driving licence within 1 year after obtaining a residence permit.
• Thinking, "I had one drink, so there will be no problem." The limit is 0.16 mg/l; the penalty is 45,000 roubles and disqualification from driving.
• Trying to obtain a Russian driving licence in Russia on the basis of a Turkish licence after losing it. A Russian driving licence is not issued to replace a lost foreign licence.

• Is an international driving permit required? The law permits driving with a national or international driving licence. A new-type Turkish driving licence is recognised in Russia under the conventions to which both countries are parties. An international driving permit is valid only together with the national driving licence.
• Can I rent a car with a tourist visa? Under the law, you may drive with a new-type Turkish driving licence. Ask the rental company separately about its age and experience requirements.
• I have a work permit; can I continue driving with my Turkish licence? Yes, for personal use. However, if your work is directly based on driving, you need a Russian driving licence.
• Do I need to attend driving school again for a Russian driving licence? No for category B; a theory exam and medical report are sufficient. Training and an exam in Russia are required for categories C and D.
• Can I enter Russia with my Turkish-registered vehicle? The vehicle owner must obtain compulsory motor third-party liability insurance. If your vehicle is not insured through an international insurance system, you must obtain insurance in Russia.
• Can I renew my old-type licence in Russia? Yes. You can make an appointment and apply in person at the Embassy in Moscow or the consulates general in Kazan, Krasnodar or St. Petersburg.

• Federal Law 196-FZ, Article 25: validity and conversion of foreign driving licences
• UN Treaty Collection: list of parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
• Republic of Türkiye NVI: frequently asked questions about driving licences
• Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs: consular appointment system
• Russian Tax Code, Article 333.33: driving licence fees
• Code of Administrative Offences, Article 12.8: driving under the influence of alcohol