Recognition and Category Equivalence
The equivalence rights of categories and subcategories extend to the holder of a licence issued by a foreign state only where the legislation of the issuing country provides for it. Under the Georgian law, the holder of an „A“, „B“, „C“ or „D“ category may also drive vehicles of the „A1“, „A2“, „B1“, „C1“ or „D1“ subcategories established within those categories, and the trailer combinations follow a parallel ladder.
Beyond this basic equivalence, other equivalences may be established by an order of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Two practical examples: the „B“ category covers a tracked agricultural tractor within defined mass limits, and a „C“ category licence allows, under conditions, the carriage of passengers in the body of a truck — with the number of passengers not exceeding 8; part of these equivalences operate only on the territory of Georgia.
The Agency and the Rules of Issuance, Exchange and Restoration
The conduct of examinations, the granting and the annulment of the driving right, the restoration of a suspended or revoked right, and the issuance, replacement and restoration of the driving licence are carried out, within its competence, by the Service Agency. A licence counts as issued from its production and the entry of the records in the issuance registry — before issuance, the person is treated as having no driving right.
The procedure and conditions for the exchange and recognition of a foreign document confirming the right to drive are defined by the law and by an order of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Where the registry records and the entries in the licence diverge, the registry prevails — which is why the verification of the registry data becomes the foundation of any exchange application.
The Validity Period of the Licence
The validity of a licence issued in Georgia is tied to categories: for the „AM“, „A“, „B“, „BE“, „T“, „S“ categories and the „A1“, „A2“, „B1“ subcategories it is 15 years; for „C“, „CE“, „D“, „DE“ and „C1“, „C1E“, „D1“, „D1E“ — 5 years. Where a health certificate recommends a restricted-term licence, the term is set by the period needed for re-examination, but not more than 5 or, correspondingly, 3 years.
It must be stressed: the validity of a foreign licence is resolved precisely by these rules and by the recognition procedure — no other term follows from these provisions. Renewal and reduction procedures are likewise set by a ministerial order, and the overall validity of a licence must correspond to the maximum term of the categories entered in it.
The Points System and the Foreign Licence
A licence issued in Georgia receives 100 points under the points system on 1 January of every calendar year. A licence issued by a foreign state, in turn, receives 100 points once, on the territory of Georgia — from the day its legal force arises there.
Upon the exhaustion of the points, the holder of a foreign licence is prohibited from driving a mechanical vehicle in Georgia, and the restoration of the driving right takes place under the procedure set by an order of the Minister of Internal Affairs. For the holder of a Georgian licence, exhaustion leads to a 1-year suspension; a warning is sent when the points fall to 50 and then to 20. Violations recorded on video or photo do not reduce the points.
Health Restrictions and Our Role
Where the health certificate carries a corresponding recommendation, a person may be denied or restricted in the right to drive a vehicle of an equivalent category. Such refusals, too, can be challenged through the remedies established by the legislation.
We verify the registry data, map the equivalences of the categories of your licence, prepare the exchange or recognition application and represent you in challenging a refusal — with the administrative remedies that the legislation provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the questions we most often hear about exchanging and recognising a foreign licence.
Is a foreign licence recognised in Georgia?
Through category equivalence — provided the legislation of the issuing country provides for it; the rules of recognition and exchange are set by the law and by a ministerial order.
For how long is a Georgian licence issued?
For the „B“ family of categories — 15 years, for the „C“ and „D“ families — 5 years; with a health-based restriction — a shorter term.
How many points does a foreign licence receive?
100 points once, from the day its legal force arises in Georgia; upon exhaustion, driving is prohibited until restoration.
Do camera fines reduce the points?
No — the reduction of points does not apply to violations recorded on video or photo.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The lawyers of Legal.ge help you bring a foreign licence into the Georgian system: checking the registry and the equivalences, preparing the exchange application, controlling the points status and challenging a refusal. Contact us — we will build a precise plan on the data of your licence on Legal.ge.