What procedures for registering and exchanging driving licenses apply to persons under temporary protection and Ukrainian citizens who have purchased a car in Belgium?

Car registration

Persons enjoying temporary protection do not have to register their vehicles in Belgium (only applies to vehicles that were previously registered in Ukraine).

The exception is limited in time, namely for the duration of temporary protection.

If you have purchased a car in Belgium, you are obliged to register it immediately after the purchase.

Ukrainians who have not used the right of temporary protection or have been deprived of it due to non-compliance or violation of its conditions have to register their vehicle after 6 months of their stay in the country.

The issue of registration and deregistration of vehicles in Belgium (issuance of state registration documents and license plates) falls within the competence of the Vehicle Registration Office – Direction pour l'Immatriculation des Véhicules (DIV), which is part of the Ministry of Mobility and Transport of Belgium (Service Publique Fédéral Mobilité et Transport).

Driving license

For temporarily displaced persons, Ukrainian driving licenses are recognized for the period of temporary protection. This means that after 185 days of registration in Belgium, Ukrainian refugees do not have to exchange their driving license and can drive with their Ukrainian driving license.

Exception:

o  your driving license expires after December 31, 2021, or is lost or stolen, you are obliged to exchange it;

A citizen of Ukraine who is not under temporary protection is obliged to exchange a driving license documents within 185 days.

List of documents:

o  a copy of your residence permit or copies of your utility bills, lease or employment contract, or payment receipts confirming your registration in the country;

o  original foreign driving license, which has to be readable, in good condition and not expired;

o  a translation of the foreign driving license made by a certified translator if your license is issued in a language other than English or one of the official Belgian languages.

You need to contact your local city council.

You can apply either in person or through a representative.

The process of exchanging a foreign driving license can take from four to six weeks and costs from EUR 25 to EUR 30, depending on the local municipality. No exams are required.

For more information on the license exchange, please follow the link.

Important! The representative has to have a dated and signed power of attorney available through the E-guichet system.