Foreign driving license exchange

Lost Moldovan driving licenses cannot be recovered through embassies abroad. Recovery must be processed within Moldova, usually via a proxy holding a notarized power of attorney, accompanied by a medical certificate and passport photos.

To exchange a Russian driving license for a Moldovan one, visit the General Directorate of Public Services at Salcâmilor 28, Chisinau, room 301 on the 3rd floor. Options include: 1) requesting verification from Russia (6 months wait), or 2) local expertise for 1900 MDL (3-4 working days). A medical commission is mandatory, requiring a medical policy. For unemployed individuals, obtaining a medical policy can be costly (e.g., 12636 MDL, previously 2527 MDL until March 31). A strategy to reduce costs involves temporary employment (e.g., for one month with a 3000 MDL salary), which activates the policy at a cost of approximately 1200 MDL (tax-inclusive). Medical examinations can be performed at a private clinic, but a narcologist visit to Petru Rareș is mandatory and paid, not requiring a policy. A psychiatrist assessment is only required in specific circumstances.

Russian driver's licenses are valid indefinitely in Moldova. To exchange for a local license: visit the registration office (ASP), pass a medical exam (approx. 1000 MDL), and undergo a license verification procedure (approx. 1900 MDL). Exams for conversion are available in Russian in Chisinau and Balti.

Since 2022, exchanging a Russian driver's license for a Moldovan one requires passing local driving exams; a direct exchange without exams is generally not possible. The procedure involves a document authenticity check (paid) and a medical certificate. International driving permits (a 3-year plastic card) can be obtained at the local registration agency (ASP) as a supplement to the national license.

According to Moldovan Government Decision No. 181/2022, holding two or more national driving licenses simultaneously is prohibited. While a citizen may possess licenses from different countries, they cannot be used interchangeably within Moldova. If a Moldovan license exists in the database (even if expired), authorities consider it the primary document. Driving with foreign licenses while holding an expired Moldovan one may lead to legal penalties. Converting a foreign license to a Moldovan one requires passing the theory and practical exams, but does not require mandatory driving school enrollment.

For dual citizens or residents of Moldova, the use of foreign driving licenses (e.g., Russian) is restricted if they possess or previously possessed a Moldovan driving license. According to Moldovan Law No 131 of 07-06-2007 on road traffic safety (Article 19) and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (Article 41, Point 6a), if an individual's "ordinary place of residence" is in Moldova and they are registered in the State Register of Drivers, they must use a valid Moldovan driving license. Presenting an expired Moldovan license or attempting to use a foreign license when a Moldovan one is mandatory for residents is considered a violation. The Vienna Convention recognizes foreign licenses for non-residents (tourists, transit drivers) but not for permanent residents attempting to avoid renewing their national document. Driving with an expired Moldovan license while possessing a valid foreign one for a Moldovan resident constitutes driving without a valid license in Moldova. Driving licenses are currently changed at ASP (Agenția Servicii Publice), not the MREO.