Exchanging a licence issued in Uzbekistan involves more than a translation or ordering a new card. The process depends on the issuing country, licence categories, their history and your residence in Germany. Truck drivers must also have their professional qualifications and permission to work checked separately.
Start by asking your local Führerscheinstelle about the requirements for your particular licence. A friend's costs and timeline in another city may provide a rough guide, but are not an official answer for your application.
Start with the examination requirements for Uzbek licences
In the list checked on 17 September 2026, the country list in Annex 11 to the FeV does not include Uzbekistan. A standard exchange therefore normally requires theory and practical tests. This refers to an ordinary Uzbek licence; a licence exchanged in another country or with a particular legal history needs individual assessment.
Section 31 FeV sets out the legal basis for the exchange. Having to pass tests is not the same as having to repeat the entire standard beginner training programme. Ask the driving school to explain the practice you need in relation to your skills; do not accept a universal package without an explanation.
Understand the six-month rule correctly
Section 29 FeV links the general period of entitlement to drive on a third-country licence to establishing normal residence in Germany. This is not always a simple calculation from the entry date in your passport. Conditions and exceptions apply.
Do not assume that applying for an exchange automatically extends your existing entitlement to drive. If the deadline is approaching, ask the authority exactly which categories you may drive and until when. Plan alternative transport if the test or card production is delayed.
The law allows an extension in a particular temporary-residence situation, but does not give extra time to everyone who moves permanently. A pending application must not be treated as permission to drive.
Summarise your licence history on one page
The card issue date may differ from the date you first obtained a category. Record renewals, name changes and exchanges in other countries in chronological order. Organise both sides of your current card and the available evidence of its history.
Ask the authority which information needs evidence and in what form. Confirm accepted formats before ordering unnecessary translations or certifications. Do not alter the substance of an illegible document in image-editing software; obtain a clearer copy or an official explanation.
| Information to prepare | Why are they needed? |
|---|---|
| Issuing country and authority | To identify the applicable procedure |
| Each category and its acquisition date | To avoid treating all categories alike |
| Renewal or exchange history | To explain differences in card dates |
| Address and residence situation in Germany | To identify the responsible authority and deadlines |
| Name differences | To verify that the document belongs to you |
| Planned employment | To assess professional requirements separately |
Questions for the Führerscheinstelle
State which categories you want to exchange. Instead of asking whether Uzbek licences “work”, describe your specific request: “Ich möchte meine in Usbekistan erteilte Fahrerlaubnis umschreiben lassen. Welche Unterlagen und Prüfungen sind für meine Klassen erforderlich?” This asks which documents and tests your categories require.
Clarify who must prepare the translation, when to present the original and how to submit the application. Ask separately whether medical or eyesight checks, first-aid evidence or other documents are required for your category. These questions are not a ready-made mandatory checklist.
Find out the sequence for examination approval and contact with the driving school. Understand the local process before paying several organisations for the same item. Keep the reference number and contact details from the reply in your application folder.
Compare driving-school offers item by item
Does the written offer separate registration, learning materials, practical lessons, the school's test-presentation charge and the examination body's fees? How are extra lessons and retests charged? You cannot compare two schools properly without knowing what the total includes.
Ask about the language of theory preparation, the examination languages available for your category and the need to understand practical instructions. Uzbek-language learning support does not mean the examination is available in Uzbek.
Include the authority's response, test waiting times and document issue in your schedule, not just lessons. Distinguish estimated readiness from a confirmed date when speaking to your employer. Do not describe an unconfirmed test slot as booked.
Illustrative example: do not leave it until the last month
Imagine Rustam focuses first on housing and work after moving. When he later contacts a driving school about the exchange, he discovers that extra evidence of his licence history and practical preparation are needed. He has not allowed for the waiting time.
Rustam separates his current entitlement to drive from his future German licence. He checks his present status with the authority, arranges temporary alternative transport to work and gives his employer a realistic schedule. He does not use an application receipt as driving permission.
This example does not predict a specific processing time or refusal. It shows how waiting lists, documents and training depend on each other. If one stage is delayed, the next needs a buffer.
Questions and answers
Does an international driving permit remove the need to exchange?
Do not treat it as a replacement for the permanent exchange process. Its purpose and relationship with your national licence are separate matters. Check your residence and driving situation with the responsible authority.
Does a German licence make me ready for professional driving?
That document alone is not enough to conclude this. Professional qualification, required cards and employment and immigration permissions must also be checked. Agree a separate readiness status for each item with your employer.
Can translating the licence in advance save time?
It may help if the accepted translator and format have been confirmed. Ordering before checking the requirements may mean paying for another translation. Obtain the authority's written instructions first.
Who can help with organisational questions?
Contact Alman Visum to discuss your preparation folder. Obtain decisive information about licence recognition, examinations and entitlement to drive from the responsible authority.
