The State Corporation explained whether foreigners need to retrain for driver's licenses in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz — Readers have reached out regarding the issue of exchanging foreign driver's licenses for Kazakhstani ones.
According to readers, when attempting to exchange their licenses at Specialized Public Service Centers (Specialized PSCs), they are told they must complete a full training course followed by theoretical and practical exams. We sent an inquiry to the "Government for Citizens" State Corporation to clarify the exchange procedure and whether foreigners are required to retrain.
How to exchange a driver's license in Kazakhstan
The State Corporation responded that the rules for exchanging foreign driver's licenses are governed by the Rules for Administering Exams and Issuing Driver's Licenses, approved by Order No. 862 of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 2, 2014.
Specifically, if a foreign license complies with the requirements of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of November 8, 1968, it can be exchanged upon submission of:

the original foreign driver's license;
a translation of the license into the state (Kazakh) or Russian language;
an identity document;
a medical certificate;
proof of payment of the state fee.

Even with a full package of documents, an exam is still required, but only the theoretical part. Naturally, a passing grade is necessary. However, there is no requirement to retrain at a driving school. is not required.
What changed in the license exchange process in 2024
The State Corporation noted that changes took effect on October 9 of this year, requiring the authenticity of the driver's license to be confirmed by the competent authority of the foreign state following an official request from the authorized road safety body of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Once this confirmation is received, the applicant may visit a Specialized PSC to process the exchange.

"For individuals who do not receive confirmation of authenticity, including those facing long wait times for a response, the option of obtaining a Kazakhstani driver's license for the first time on general grounds is explained—this involves completing driving school and passing both theoretical and practical exams," the State Corporation noted.

However, this requires permanent residency registration in the Republic of Kazakhstan and an identity document issued by the authorized state body of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
This option is advisory in nature and is not a mandatory condition for exchanging a foreign driver's license.
When an exchange is not possible
"Government for Citizens" explained that according to Clause 87 of the Rules, foreign driver's licenses that do not comply with the requirements of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic cannot be exchanged.
The possibility of exchange is determined by whether the license meets the convention's requirements.
Clause 85 of the rules does not establish specific training or testing requirements based on the country of issue.
Validity of driver's licenses after exchange
The State Corporation stated that a foreign driver's license is considered invalid for operating vehicles in the Republic of Kazakhstan after 60 days.
For foreigners or stateless persons, this period is counted from the date a residence permit is obtained. For Kazakhstani citizens holding foreign licenses, it is counted from the date of entry into Kazakhstan.