Can a Ukrainian drive in France with a Ukrainian driver's license?

Verified 20 February 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The answer varies depending on your situation:

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You are visiting France or tourist (stay of less than 3 months)

You can travel in France with the original your Ukrainian driving license, accompanied by your translation or a international driving license.

The translation of your driving license must be done by a certified translator.

Your Ukrainian license must be valid. However, if its validity ended after 31 December 2021, you can circulate with this license in France.

You must respect the rules of conduct in France.

Warning  

If you settle in France, you must pass the french driving license to be able to continue driving in France. Indeed, the Ukrainian driving license is valid for 1 year from the date of acquisition of the normal residence in France.

You study in France and have a residence permit with a student mention

You can travel in France with the original your Ukrainian driving license, accompanied by your translation or a international driving license.

The translation of your driving license must be done by a certified translator.

Your Ukrainian license must be valid. However, if its validity ended after 31 December 2021, you can circulate with this license in France.

You must respect the rules of conduct in France.

Warning  

If you settle in France at the end of your studies, you must pass the french driving license to be able to continue driving in France. Indeed, the Ukrainian driving license is valid for 1 year from the date of acquisition of the normal residence in France.

You are a regular newcomer with a visa or residence permit of 1 year or more

You can travel in France with the original your Ukrainian driving license, accompanied by your translation or a international driving license.

The translation of your driving license must be done by a certified translator.

Your Ukrainian license must be valid. However, if its validity ended after 31 December 2021, you can circulate with this license in France.

You must respect the rules of conduct in France.

Warning  

If you settle in France, you must pass the french driving license to be able to continue driving in France. Indeed, the Ukrainian driving license is valid for 1 year from the date of acquisition of the normal residence in France.

You have a temporary residence permit, which says "beneficiary of temporary protection"

You can travel in France with the original of your driving license.

Your permit must be valid. However, if its validity ended after 31 December 2021, you can drive with this license in France.

You must to have with you one passport or your temporary residence permit.

You must respect the rules of conduct in France.

Warning  

If you settle in France, you must pass the french driving license to be able to continue driving in France. Indeed, the Ukrainian driving license is valid for 1 year from the date of acquisition of the normal residence in France. The date of acquisition of normal residence in France of a Ukrainian with “temporary protection” status is the delivery date of the 1re temporary residence permit.

FYI  

If you have a professional qualification as a driver of a heavy vehicle obtained in a European Union countries, it is recognized in France.

However, if you obtained it in UkraineNo, she's not not recognized in France. You must follow a compulsory minimum initial training of 140 hours (FimoFimo : Mandatory minimum initial training) in France in order to be able to work in road transport.