Can Uzbek Citizens Use a Korean Driver's License in Uzbekistan?

After going through the entire process of getting my driver's licence in South Korea, I naturally had another question: Can I use my Korean driver's licence when I go to Uzbekistan?

Korean driver's licence representing the question of driving in Uzbekistan
A Korean driver's licence does not automatically give an Uzbek citizen the right to drive in Uzbekistan.

At first, the answer might seem obvious. South Korea and Uzbekistan have an agreement concerning the recognition of driver's licences. However, there is an important detail: your citizenship matters.

According to current Uzbek legal guidance, an Uzbek citizen who obtained a driver's licence abroad cannot simply use that foreign licence to drive in Uzbekistan. It must first be exchanged for an Uzbek national driver's licence through the established procedure. Uzbek legal guidance

A Foreign Driver and an Uzbek Citizen Are Treated Differently

This is probably the most important point. Uzbekistan recognises international driving permits and qualifying foreign national driver's licences for foreign citizens under applicable rules, including the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Uzbek legal guidance

However, Uzbek citizens are treated differently. For an Uzbek citizen driving in Uzbekistan, a driver's licence obtained abroad does not by itself provide the right to drive in the country. The foreign licence must first go through the prescribed exchange process.

There is therefore an important distinction between a foreign citizen using a qualifying foreign licence in Uzbekistan and an Uzbek citizen returning with a driver's licence obtained abroad. For Uzbeks living overseas, this difference can easily be missed.

What About the South Korea–Uzbekistan Agreement?

South Korea and Uzbekistan have had a driver's licence mutual-recognition agreement in effect since December 24, 2015. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uzbekistan explains that a Korean citizen with a valid Korean driver's licence and permission to reside in Uzbekistan can have the licence recognised after completing the required authentication and Uzbek translation and notarisation procedures, without taking written or practical driving examinations. Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uzbekistan

However, this guidance specifically concerns Korean citizens holding Korean driver's licences. An Uzbek citizen who obtained a Korean licence while living in Korea falls under Uzbekistan's rules for its own citizens holding foreign-issued licences.

What Does an Uzbek Citizen Need to Do?

According to current Uzbek legal guidance, the foreign-issued licence must first be verified through the relevant authorities. After its authenticity has been confirmed, the applicant must pass theoretical and practical driving examinations before the foreign licence can be exchanged for an Uzbek national driver's licence. Uzbek legal guidance

Another important detail is that after the exchange, the foreign driver's licence is not returned to the holder. According to the guidance, it is sent through the Uzbek authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the foreign organisation that originally issued it. This is something I would want to know before deciding whether to exchange my Korean licence.

An Important 2026 Change

The current Uzbek legal guidance states that, from January 21, 2026, the general exchange procedure no longer includes the previous mandatory medical-examination requirement in the relevant provision. The principal requirements described there are verification of the foreign licence and passing the theoretical and practical examinations.

Separate requirements may still apply to particular categories of drivers. Some older government summaries also continue to mention a medical examination, which shows why it is important to check the latest version of the official rules before applying. Cabinet Resolution No. 408

Why This Matters for Uzbeks Living in Korea

Uzbek citizens living, studying, or working in South Korea may obtain their first driver's licence here and naturally assume: “I have a valid Korean driver's licence, so I can use it when I return to Uzbekistan.”

Under the current Uzbek guidance, however, that assumption would be incorrect for an Uzbek citizen. This is especially worth knowing before returning to Uzbekistan and making plans to drive there.

What This Means for Me

Getting my driver's licence in Korea was not particularly easy. I went through traffic-safety education, the written test, the driving-course test, practice, and finally the on-road driving test. Learning that I cannot simply use my Korean licence in Uzbekistan as an Uzbek citizen was therefore somewhat surprising.

It also reminded me that having a driver's licence issued in one country does not necessarily mean having the right to drive everywhere that recognises licences from that country. Citizenship, residence status, bilateral agreements, and national laws can all affect how a foreign licence is treated.

For me, the Korean licence is still valuable because I use it while living in Korea. However, if I want to drive in Uzbekistan as an Uzbek citizen, I need to follow Uzbekistan's national rules.

Before You Drive in Uzbekistan

If you are an Uzbek citizen who obtained your driver's licence in Korea or another country, do not assume that the foreign licence alone allows you to drive in Uzbekistan. Rules and administrative procedures can change, so check the latest official information before driving or beginning an exchange application.

For me, this was an unexpected second chapter in the experience of getting a driver's licence in Korea. Passing the Korean driving test was the end of one journey, but apparently not the end of the story if I want to drive in Uzbekistan.

Official Sources

This post summarises official guidance available in September 2026 and describes my own situation. Driving-licence rules and administrative procedures can change. Confirm the current requirements with the relevant Uzbek authority before driving or applying for an exchange.

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