Replacement of driving license after obtaining residence permit in Kazakhstan for a Russian citizen

A Russian company entered the Kazakhstan market. First, we went through the protocol of employment and legalization of foreign specialists:

1. We received an IIN
2. We submitted a notification of entry
3. We issued a temporary residence permit for a Russian citizen.

The company was planning a long-term stay and clarified with us the possibility of obtaining a residence permit. After obtaining a residence permit in Kazakhstan, the issue of obtaining a driver’s license arose. Below we present the text of one of our clients, who described his personal experience of replacing a driver’s license after obtaining a residence permit in Kazakhstan.

IMPORTANT MOMENT: our company does not provide services to replace driver’s licenses. We are engaged in the registration of residence permits, temporary residence permits, and other immigration procedures. The article is presented on the website because we receive many calls from foreign citizens.

You must exchange your driver’s license for a local driver’s license within 60 days of obtaining a residence permit in Kazakhstan. If you miss the deadline of 60 days, your Russian Federation license is no longer valid, but there is no violation in this, you just do not have the right to drive a car until you get the license of the Republic of Kazakhstan. I missed the deadline. In addition, from August 2023 you must pass the theoretical exam.

To change your license you need:

1. Russian Federation driver’s license (will be taken away and will not be returned)
2. Copy and original of residence permit
3. Medical certificate in the form of 073y
4. Photo for the certificate 3×4 (I made in the medical center)
5. Fee 4312 tenge (for 2023)
6. Passing the theoretical exam.

The certificate can be made in special private clinics, if you google “certificate 073u Almaty” (or any other city). I made the first link, which took 10 minutes, and cost 5000 tenge + 500 for a photo 3×4. If they ask if you passed the analysis in the psych. dispensary and drug dispensary – say yes. You took them to get a residence permit. The most important and difficult thing in the whole procedure is to pass the theoretical exam.

Recomendations

I categorically do not recommend you to pass without preparation, even if you have 100 years of experience and you are a driving guru. Firstly, the rules are slightly different from the Russian Federation, secondly, the rules are changing and may be different from what you passed 100 years ago. I don’t have exact information, but I think after one failed attempt you can retake it once, and then only after 1 month. You can prepare by app or website.

I used this app, there is a strange payment system, you have to send money to Kaspi and ask for a code in a WhatsApp message (but everything worked fine, nobody tricked me). https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alimapps.quizapppdd

It took me 2 months to prepare, I prepared hard for a week, before that I took the exam 1-2 times a day. There are 40 questions in the test, you can make 8 mistakes. I took 34-38 before I went to take the exam. You need a SPECIAL Population Service Center, they are called that, only they serve drivers. I live in Almaty; I went to the SPECIAL Population Service Center number 6 at 118 Aksuat Street. I came to the opening at 9.00.

I got a coupon at the information desk, went to the window for registration, paid the fee, got another coupon for the exam, and went to take it right away. Before entering the office asked to leave all personal belongings including a jacket, you can take with you only documents. You are examined with a manual metal detector and allowed inside.

Useful tips for exams

The exam consists of 2 parts: the color blindness test and the exam itself. The color blindness test is 3 questions where you have to see a number or symbol on a colorful picture, I don’t know what happens if you fail it. After that you are given 40 minutes for the theoretical test. There is a camera in the computer, if you even scratch your eye, the exam screen closes with a message that you looked at the wrong place and kind of look at the screen.

The pictures are all different from what you’ll see on apps or preparation sites. They are animated, you can’t memorize them. You can switch back and forth on questions. In short, under severe stress, I passed, making 6 mistakes.

After that, you get a paper about the surrender and go to get a new ticket. Then go to the window, where they take away all your documents, 073y certificate, and your Russian Federation license. The Russian Federation license will not be returned to you if anything. The Republic of Kazakhstan driver’s license will be issued for the term of validity of the residence permit, and for prolongation, it is necessary to pass the theoretical exam again. After that you go to the window of receiving, within 90 minutes should be issued, I waited about 20 minutes. Total for the whole procedure took me an hour and a half of time. My advice: in no case neglect to prepare for the exam and go to the opening of the center, then everything will go smoothly!