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The government of the Russian Federation approved a bill that tightens access to driving licenses starting from September 1, 2023, a development reported by Kommersant. The proposed changes are not cosmetic; they aim to reshape how new and existing drivers qualify for different categories and how penalties tied to license restrictions are enforced, with a clear focus on raising safety standards and aligning Russian practice with international benchmarks. The core idea is to tighten the path to obtaining certain licenses, especially for categories that cover buses and large passenger vehicles, and to create more stringent prerequisites that applicants must meet before they are allowed behind the wheel in professional or commercial capacities.

The law introduces additional restrictions on obtaining a driver’s license. At present, it is possible to obtain category D or D1 licenses for operating buses and minibuses even without prior driving experience in light or heavy vehicles. The Ministry of the Interior finds this approach insufficient and points to foreign experiences and corroborating statistics as a basis for change. They argue that granting access to these large vehicle categories should come only after a period of real driving experience, suggesting a minimum of one year behind the wheel in ordinary cars or trucks before attempting the bus or heavy vehicle licenses. This shift is framed as a measure to ensure that prospective operators have tested, tempered, and verified their skills in everyday traffic conditions before tackling the additional responsibilities that come with passenger or freight transport on a larger scale.

Restrictions will also apply to individuals who have been deprived of their right to drive due to alcohol related offenses. Currently, a driver must wait for the court-determined term to elapse before reclaiming the right to drive, with periods extending to as much as two years in particularly serious cases. The bill introduces a new nuance: if a person has been found guilty of drinking and driving while already under deprivation, the court may impose administrative detention for up to 15 days under part 3 of article 12.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. After serving detention, the individual would then be required to retake the driving exam with traffic police and must again prove fitness to hold a license. The changes further specify that within a year from the court ruling, the offender would be disqualified from taking the exam for a license, effectively extending the rehabilitation and verification period before any attempt to regain driving rights in the future. This is positioned as a deterrent and a reinforcement of public safety by ensuring that those who have violated driving restrictions face a longer, more deliberate pathway back to licensing and a renewed demonstration of responsible behavior on the road.

For foreign nationals, the bill requires exchanging their home country driving license for a Russian license no later than one year after they obtain a residence permit or a Russian passport. The rationale given in explanatory notes emphasizes harmonization with national rules and the practicalities of ensuring that medical, administrative, and safety standards stay consistent across the license system when a person becomes a resident. The rule is presented as a straightforward process to unify licensing practices and to ensure that foreign residents are integrated into the Russian road safety framework with licenses that reflect local regulations and health checks that are aligned with the country’s requirements. It also aims to reduce instances where foreign licenses are held without undergoing periodical medical or professional checks that are standard in the host nation, thereby improving overall traffic safety and accountability for all drivers on Russian roads.

Officials explain that some foreign citizens currently rely on perpetual rights granted by their home countries and thereby bypass the more rigorous medical examinations required in Russia. In this country, a medical certificate is renewed or confirmed at one national interval, typically every ten years when exchanging licenses, a standard that the bill seeks to unify with the Russian medical assessment cadence. The implication is that ensuring a valid medical examination upon license exchange is essential to prevent conditions that might impair driving ability from going undetected, which in turn protects not only the individual driver but also passengers and other road users. The bill therefore links medical oversight to license renewal and exchange, reinforcing a safety-first approach to licensing and driving in Russia.

If a foreigner holds one of the bus or freight categories and wishes to operate within Russia, the new rule requires undergoing retraining at a Russian driving school to obtain Russian rights. The current framework prohibits foreigners from working in passenger transportation, including taxi and bus services, based on foreign licenses. The law introduces an exception for citizens of Belarus and Kyrgyzstan who intend to add Armenia to the list of eligible nationalities, signaling a nuanced approach to cross-border recognition and qualifications in the region. The overall aim behind this provision is to ensure that drivers in high responsibility roles meet local educational and safety standards, thereby reducing the risk associated with cross-border licensing and ensuring consistent training quality for operators who serve the Russian market and its residents.

The bill is part of a long-running dialogue on licensing reform in Russia, with the first version already appearing in 2019 and undergoing iterations through the years. The latest iteration reflects ongoing concerns about road safety, professional qualifications, and adherence to standards that can be reliably enforced by state authorities. Supporters argue that the reforms will raise the bar for driver competence, improve the effectiveness of penalties when safety rules are breached, and reduce the likelihood of irresponsible driving in public transportation and commercial logistics. Critics, meanwhile, may point to transitional challenges for foreign workers and current license holders who need to adjust to the new prerequisites and processes, but the overarching intent remains clear: to strengthen the integrity of the licensing system and to ensure safer roads for all users across the federation.