All drivers transporting goods and passengers internationally shall undergo training and obtain a Code 95 certificate confirming their professional competence by August 2025, according to a press release from Ukraine's Ministry for Communities and Territories Development.

"The updated procedure for carrier licensing, revised in June 2024, requires drivers involved in international freight and passenger transportation to complete specialized training. This training leads to obtaining the so-called Code 95, which confirms the driver's professional competence," the statement said.

To date, 13,000 Ukrainian drivers have successfully obtained certification, with their credentials recorded in the national driver registry.

The Driver Qualification Card serves as official proof of the driver's qualifications to operate vehicles carrying over 3.5 tonnes for categories C, D, and E. This card is issued upon successful completion of specialized courses and is valid for five years, the ministry clarified, noting that the qualification card aligns Ukraine's licensing standards with those of the European Union and ensures that Ukrainian drivers possess the necessary skills and knowledge.

The training can be completed at one of 21 certified training centers in Ukraine, which collectively offer 24 training classrooms located in regions such as Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Rivne, Zakarpattia, Chernihiv, and Chernivtsi.

Experienced drivers can complete the course in one week, while those who received their driver's licenses after 2021 will require four to eight weeks of training. Most of the coursework is conducted online.

These updated driver qualification requirements aim to align Ukraine's transportation sector with European standards, improving both the quality and safety of transport services, thus promoting Ukraine's integration into the European transportation network, the ministry added.