Working as a truck driver in Germany in 2026: CE licences, qualifications and visas

Germany has demand for qualified truck drivers. Demand does not remove driving-licence, professional-qualification or work-permission requirements.

An Uzbek citizen with a CE licence may qualify for employment or entry to obtain the necessary qualifications. The route depends on existing documents and the employer’s offer.

Start with the key question: How do I convert an Uzbek CE licence and qualify for professional driving? Below we explain the differences between a driving licence, professional qualification, a Fahrerkarte and a visa.

What is different about the professional-driver route?

Professional drivers have a dedicated immigration route. When comparing it with vocational training and other work routes, consider:

Language matters for work and training. A2 is not a universal mandatory certificate for this route. Employers and training providers set practical language expectations, including those needed for safety and examinations.

A university degree is not the central requirement. A CE licence and experience alone are insufficient: check driving authorisation, professional qualification and entry conditions.

Timing depends on the applicant and employer. Recruitment, contract agreement, training and the visa procedure are separate stages. An offer within 1–2 weeks or a quick visa cannot be guaranteed.

Assess pay using the actual contract. Pay depends on hours, routes, experience, pay scales and allowances. ADR can broaden job options but does not guarantee a fixed salary increase.

Is an Uzbek CE licence recognised in Germany?

Conversion follows Germany’s Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung. Uzbekistan is not listed in Annex 11, so theory and practical tests are normally required. Professional driving authorisation is a separate matter.

Step 1. Check the validity of your foreign licence

A foreign licence may generally remain valid for six months after establishing normal residence in Germany, subject to §29 FeV. This is not automatic permission to work as a truck driver. Check translation and document requirements with the licensing authority.

Step 2. Licence conversion and professional qualification

Contact the licensing authority early. For C/CE, establish the documents and preparation required, including:

• Medical assessment and the required eyesight examination
• The required first-aid training evidence
• Theory and practical tests; separately, professional qualification and its documentary proof

Plan training before moving: If qualifications are missing, §24a(2) BeschV requires an employer-backed plan allowing the necessary licence, qualifications and documents to be obtained within 15 months. You cannot work as a professional driver before meeting the requirements.

Step 3. Fahrerkarte — digital tachograph driver card

For journeys covered by the applicable digital-tachograph rules, the card is required. It does not replace a driving licence or professional qualification.

What is a Fahrerkarte? It is a personal card recording tachograph data, including driving and rest periods. It is different from the Fahrerqualifizierungsnachweis, which documents professional qualification. Some journeys are exempt from tachograph rules.

How to apply:

1. Identify the competent authority for your normal residence
2. Check the local procedure and appointment requirements
3. Prepare identification, licence documents, a photograph and any additional information; fees vary by authority
4. Check production and delivery times; submitting an application does not authorise driving without the card

Validity: Up to five years. Apply for renewal in good time.

Pay: how to compare offers

Distinguish gross pay, take-home pay and expense reimbursement. Net pay depends on tax and social contributions; the same gross salary does not produce the same take-home amount for everyone.

This checklist helps assess an offer; it is not an Entgeltatlas salary table or an earnings guarantee.

Additional payments (where provided by the contract or applicable rules):

• Spesen: travel expenses, with amounts and tax treatment depending on the trip
• Business fuel and other work expenses under company arrangements
• Possible additional employer-provided insurance
• Christmas pay and other bonuses only where entitlement exists

ADR: additional qualification for dangerous goods

Certain dangerous-goods operations require an ADR certificate. The course depends on the goods and transport type; additional pay depends on the vacancy and contract.

Before enrolling, check the basic or specialist course, examination, full cost, certificate validity and renewal process with a recognised training provider.

Choose ADR training for an actual role and agree in advance who pays for it.

Planning example: Samarkand to Hamburg

Illustrative example, not a verified customer story: an experienced CE driver from Samarkand contacts LKW Fahrer Direkt. The company first reviews experience, documents and suitability for a vacancy, then discusses the contract and qualification plan. Alman Visum helps prepare visa documents within the agreed scope. Decision times, pay, driving authorisation and accommodation must be checked separately and are not guaranteed by this example.

This plan illustrates how the stages depend on one another; it does not promise an outcome for every applicant.

Where can I find vacancies and support?

LKW Fahrer Direkt — specialist recruitment

lkw-fahrer-direkt.de offers driver recruitment for direct employment with German transport companies. Ask about:

• The employer’s legal identity and actual workplace
• Support with visas, licences and qualifications
• Offer terms, contract and service fees

HireKraft — recruitment across occupations

hirekraft.de: check current recruitment areas and logistics openings.

SZB NRW — agreed support services

szb-nrw.de: clarify which recruitment and relocation stages your contract includes and which expenses are separate.

Visas and residence for professional drivers

One relevant residence route is §19c(1) AufenthG in conjunction with §24a BeschV. Distinguish applicants already qualified to drive from those entering to obtain missing qualifications. Case assessment includes:

• A specific offer or contract setting out employment and any qualification arrangements
• The relevant driving licence and required translations
• Existing qualification evidence or an agreed plan to obtain it
• Employer and training-provider language expectations; from age 45, an additional salary or pension-provision check
• Suitable health insurance — eurostraxovka.com

Help preparing documents: Alman Visum

Check the German Embassy in Tashkent for the current appointment procedure and checklist. A fixed wait of 4–8 weeks cannot be promised.

Long-term prospects

Permanent residence: A settlement permit is not automatic after four years. The applicable route, residence period, contributions and other conditions require separate assessment. Family reunification also has its own requirements.

Citizenship: The standard naturalisation residence period is five years of lawful habitual residence, subject to the other conditions. The accelerated three-year route for special integration was abolished on 30 October 2025; employment alone does not confer citizenship.

Career development: Options may include specialist transport, dispatching and further logistics training. Progress depends on experience, language, available roles and course requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start work immediately with an Uzbek CE licence? Not automatically. The six-month foreign-licence rule does not replace professional qualification or work permission. If entering to qualify, you cannot drive professionally until the necessary conditions are met.

Can I work without a Fahrerkarte? For journeys requiring a personal digital-tachograph card, you must hold and use it correctly. Exemptions and special cases such as card loss have separate rules; never use another driver’s card.

Can women work as truck drivers? Yes. Professional requirements apply regardless of gender. Check current vacancies, conditions and pay in the employer’s actual offer.

Can I choose local routes? There are local, regional and international roles. Agree route types, overnight stays and home time in the employment terms; options depend on available vacancies.

Does the company provide accommodation? It depends on the employer. Before moving, obtain written terms covering the address, rent, deposit, duration and payroll deductions. For additional support, contact Alman Visum and agree the available assistance.

Where to start

Prepare your driving documents and CV, verify a real vacancy and establish how you will qualify. Then agree the contract, costs and visa route. To make an initial enquiry, visit lkw-fahrer-direkt.de and check the application process.

Useful links

Contact: +49 176 64335685 · szb.nrw@gmail.com · hr-management@szb-nrw.de