Exchanging a Ukrainian driving licence in Spain: DGT and temporary protection

Exchange of Ukrainian rights in Spain: which is in effect for October 2026

Ukraine is among the countries with which Spain has an exchange of driving licences agreement (canje), with 31.10.2010, and in the DGT table updated 26.06.2026, the rights of the "motorcycle or car" are changed without examinations and the "truck or bus" after a practical road test [2]. On the DGT page in Ukraine, categories A1, A, B and B+E are changed without examinations [1].

The status of the people with temporary protection (protección temporis) is the subject of a separate European regime: Reglamento (UE) 2022/1280. Ukrainian rights in force are recognized in the EU territory as long as the owner has temporary protection and States are not entitled to demand a juror ’s transfer or international certificate. [3]The EU Council extended the protection until 4 March 2028 by decision Decision de Ejecución (UE) 2026/1912 of 30.07.2026 [4]The general rule of Reglamento General de Investors is applicable to all others: foreign rights are valid for no longer than six months from the time you became a regular resident (residencia normal) [5].

Two regimes: temporary protection and regular residence permit

The same Ukrainian rights card in Barcelona lives by different rules in the neighbors of the stairwell, compared below on the DGT page and European standards.

Key trap for recent arrivals: the exchange of temporary protection cannot begin immediately. The DGT page explicitly states that the canje on resguardo or the protection decision must take six months from the date of issue or the confirmed date of entry into Spain. [1]DGT residence understands residence as at least 185 days in calendar year [1].

Those who fall under special rules: Ukrainian citizens, stateless persons and third-country nationals who lived in Ukraine before 24 February 2022, members of their families, as well as Ukrainian citizens who lived in Spain before that date (including undocumented persons) and who are unable to return because of the war [1]III. Status itself is dealt with in the article Temporary protection for Ukrainians.

The step-by-step exchange in Barcelona

1. Check your license. They should be active and categories should coincide with A1, A, B, B+E (or C and D if available for practice) [1][2].
2. Count the date. With protection: 6 months from resguardo, decision or entry. With regular residence permit: up to the end of 6 months driving [1][5].
3. Medical. Informe de aptitud psicofísica in Centro de Reconocimiento de Investors: Group I for A and B, Group II for C and D [1]The Centre itself transmits the result to the DGT register, the opinion is valid 90 days [6].
4. I'm on it. Tasa 2.3 for exchange without examinations or tasa 2.1 for C and D [1][7].
5. Recording. Cita previa on a sede DGT, 060 or mIDGT; in the province two points are: Barcelona and Barcelona-Sabadell [9].
6. The pitch. Online with Cl@ve or certificate (Ukraine is available at Canje digital), directly at Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico or via a representative [1][8].
7. Original surrender and provisional authorization. The office has Ukrainian rights and receives permiso protectional, which can be used for six months only in Spain. [1].
8. The map is in the mail. According to DGT, permanent rights come in about a month and a half. [1].

Checklist with marks for each step collected on the route sheet Exchange of Ukrainian rights on stepsOnline delivery requires Cl@ve: how to obtain it, described in article Cl@ve and Mi Carpeta Ciudadana.

Documents and how much exchange

Package on the DGT page on Ukraine [1]:

• Statement, Modelo 03 form;
• a passport, DNI or residence permit;
• Confirmation of residence: resguardo for defence, judgement or TIE;
• Confirm that you were not a resident of Spain when you were granted rights;
• Original Ukrainian rights in force (except in cases of theft or loss);
• Medical report of groups I or II;
• The fee receipt.

In the old DGT PDF, tariffs are 28.58 and 93.12, while the country table and the Home Office page show 28.87 and 94.05 [2][7]. Focus on the sum of payment on a sede DGT on the day of payment: if the duty has increased after purchase, the DGT allows the difference to be paid.

Special cases: lost rights, C and D, transfer to another residence permit

Rights stolen or lost

DGT accepts the application without original if you have claimed theft or loss, but the exchange takes place only after the Ukrainian authorities have confirmed the rights. [1]. Reglamento (UE) 2022/1280 additionally allows the EU countries to issue a temporary document with the code 99.01, which is valid only for the period of protection [3].

Categories C and D

For a truck and bus, the agreement requires a practical road test, a tax tax on the tasa 2.1. [2]Professional drivers should check the qualification card separately: the EU Regulation for Ukrainian Maps of CAP has its own rules [3].

Change from protection to arraigo or work

This is the most unclear scenario. European recognition of rights is tied to temporary protection. [3]The six-month rule is based on residencia normal. [5]The official explanation of DGT as to the length of driving after the change of status has not been found. How to move from temporary protection to residence permit.

Rights expired or have already been acquired in Spain

The rights that you have acquired in the country of extradition, when you were already a legal resident of Spain, do not change either. [2]The examination remains: medical commission, theory, practice, tasa 2.1 for two attempts, the procedure for all countries is described in article 1. Exchange of driving licences in Spain.

After exchange: term, extension and points

Spanish rights B are 10 years old, after 65 years of age; C and D 5 years after 65 years of age 3 years (art. 12 of the Reglamento General de Investors) [5]The extension is through the new medical board, tax tax tax tax tax tax on the Ministry of the Interior page 24.58 [7].

Rights work in points: usually starting balance 12, for new recruits, and after disqualification 8, maximum 15 [11]How many DGT points are awarded after exchange, no indication is given on the DGT page, the balance is shown in midGT. For travel abroad after exchange, permiso international, temporary permission is not valid abroad [1].

Typical Ukrainian errors in the exchange of rights

• The DGT is recorded in the DGT two to three months after resguardo: the DGT will return to the six-month rule.
• They pay for the jury's translation of rights with temporary protection: the DGT does not require it.
• They extend or change Ukrainian rights remotely, already living in Spain, and rely on canje.
• They do the medical mission "in advance" and serve it after 90 days.
• They leave on leave with Spanish temporary permission: outside Spain, it is not in operation.
• The exchange is postponed until the last year of the defence: verification in Ukraine and mail take time, and the EU Council decides on each extension.

What can we help you with?

The DGT procedure is shared, and many people are going through it. We help where rights overlap with status: count the dates on your security or residence documents, check the package and plan to exchange with another basis. assistance with documentsWe do not promise DGT decisions and time limits in Ukraine. Consultation.

Frequent issues

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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.