Exchange of Ukrainian driver's license (driving license) for Spanish

Update in 2025: a simplified method of replacing a driver's license has appeared and you no longer need to "fish the net at the DGT" for so long. Almost everything is done online. I wrote in more detail in a new article right here.

Due to the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, the driver's license is valid for the entire time the person is under temporary protection. Here is the article on the website transport.ec.europa.eu

But if someone still plans to change their driver's license to a Spanish one, then in this article I will try to describe all the steps and my own experience as clearly as possible.

Ukrainians who legally reside in Spain can exchange their Ukrainian driver's license for a Spanish one without studying at a driving school.

• without exams you can exchange licenses with categories A1, A, B and B+E;
• exam must be completed for categories C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E.

Attention! When exchanging a driver's license, the Ukrainian license is withdrawn and a Spanish one is issued!

Step 1. Make an appointment (take a seat) at DGT – Dirección General de Trafico

I think this stage is the most difficult at the moment, as there are almost no available dates for recording. But you need to not give up and try to “catch the net”.

There are two ways to register with the DGT – Dirección General de Trafico to replace your license:

1. By calling the number 060 from Spanish numbers. They only speak Spanish, so you need to have an interpreter if your Spanish is “poco-a-poco”.
2. Via the Internet at the link https://sedeclave.dgt.gob.es/WEB_NCIT_CONSULTA/solicitarCita.faces
   We select the city and then the type – “Canjes de permisos de conducir”. Then select the country Ukraine and check the captcha box.

I managed to sign up after I saw in a chat in another province that someone wrote “there are nets available to replace rights”. I went to the site, checked and saw that nets appeared almost everywhere. I was able to take my record as much as 3 months in advance. I think they put them up like this every 2-3 months.

It is not necessary to take the seat at the place of residence. You can pick up a net in any city in Spain. You can also try contacting local hestor for help and “speeding up”.

Step 2. Check the availability of a Ukrainian driver's license in Opendata

Let's go to the link https://opendata.hsc.gov.ua/, select “Driver’s License”, enter your driver’s license details, date of birth and click “Check”. The Spanish will check this as well, so you need to make sure that your license is in this database. If it is not there (mine, which I received back in 2011, was not there, for example), then you need to contact the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine that issued your license. I called there and they explained to me that the status of my VP needs to be changed from “undetermined migration” to “issued”, since they were issued to me back in 2011. To do this, I created a document with the text:

Statement

I request that the status of the temporary resident be changed from “undetermined migration” to “issued”.
It is necessary for the VP to appear in the Opendata database.

I attached a scanned copy of my Ukrainian passport and Ukrainian driver's license to the document. I signed it all with an electronic signature and sent it to the post office of the same department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine that had previously issued me my license. After 2 days, the rights were already in the database.

I think you need to call and check with your MIA department whether you need to take these same steps.

Step 3. Medical certificate to replace your driver's license with a Spanish one

To get a medical certificate, you need to find an institution/medical office (often such institutions are near the DGT) that issues them. In my city of Elche, I found “Centro Médico Psicotécnico Trafik”. I took the net there, explained that I was replacing my license. They immediately understood everything and set an appointment time.

• for categories A1, A, B and B+E – a certificate of aptitude report of group I is required.
• for categories C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E – a certificate of aptitude report of group II is required.

They warned you that you need to come with a NIE\TIE document. At the first stage, they asked about your general health, the presence of any diseases, vision problems, measured your blood pressure, checked your hearing, etc. At the second stage, they took you to a room where there was a very old computer and in front of it some kind of device with several buttons. Here you will be asked to “play” a game for 1-2 minutes to check (as I understand it) the feeling of movement, braking or something like that. The rules are simple: a circle moves from left to right, then it goes “under the roof”, continuing to move. And you need to press the button based on your feelings when the circle reaches the end of the “roof”. It should not go beyond its boundaries. I found a video on YouTube where it all is shown. I think everything will be clear after watching it – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o1IAYbGXZw.

After going through these stages, they asked me to pay (the payment was only on account) and issued this certificate/certificate.

Attention, the medical certificate is valid for only three months!
Prices in different places are approximately from 25€ to 50€.

Step 4. Application – application form for driver's license exchange

We print the application form for the exchange of a driver's license. The application can be downloaded at the link https://sede.dgt.gob.es/export/sites/dgt/.galleries/modelos-solicitud/03/Mod.03-ES.pdf You can fill it out yourself, or later at the DGT when replacing your license. They will help you do it all on the spot.

Step 5. Photo 32x26mm

We take a 32x26mm photo in advance. You can do it in a photo studio or in special booths, which are often found in different places. I read somewhere that someone came to the DGT without a photo, and they told him that they did not have the opportunity to take it on the spot. Therefore, it is better to be prepared)

Step 6. Payment of state duty

I will say right away that You can pay for all this right at the DGT. when submitting documents. Payment by card only.

You can also bring a “State duty payment receipt”, which can be paid before this. I don’t know exactly how and where, since I didn’t do it. At the price:

• Tasa 2.3 for categories A1, A, B and B+E – 28,87€
• Tasa 2.1 for categories C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E – 94,05€

Step 7. Submit all documents to DGT

We arrive at the appointed time with all the documents:

1. Printed application – application form for driver's license exchange;
2. The original of your driver's license;
3. Original passport;
4. Original document of residence in Spain (including temporary protection status) – TIE card and white NIE sheet;
5. Medical certificate;
6. Photo card 32x26mm;
7. Receipt for payment of state duty (if paid in advance) or pay upon submission (payment by card only).

After the documents are approved, the Ukrainian license will remain with the DGT, and we will receive a temporary permit in paper form.

The finished plastic Spanish-style ID card will arrive by mail within 45 days after submitting the documents.

The validity period of a driver's license in Spain is 10 years. After that, you need to get a medical certificate again and replace the license.