License for international transportation – Ukraine

What is a license for international transportation and why is it needed

A license for international transportation is an official permit (document) that grants the right to transport passengers or cargo by road outside Ukraine (across the state border). In other words, it is a license to conduct business activities in international road transportation. Without such a license, a Ukrainian carrier does not have the right to perform commercial flights abroad. Licensing of international transportation was introduced to ensure transportation safety, control the quality of transport services and fulfill Ukraine’s international obligations in the field of transport. In addition, the presence of a license for a carrier is a requirement of both Ukrainian legislation and a condition for the carrier’s admission to the markets of other countries (to cross the border, the vehicle and the carrier must have all the necessary permits).

Thus, the license confirms that the carrier meets the requirements established by the state (has appropriate vehicles, qualified personnel, material and technical base, etc.) and can safely carry out international road transportation. Licenses are required for both international freight and international passenger transportation.

Legislative Framework

Licensing international transportation in Ukraine is regulated by a number of regulatory legal acts, among the main ones:

• The Law of Ukraine “On Licensing of Types of Economic Activities” No. 222-VIII dated 02.03.2015 – defines the list of activities subject to licensing. According to this Law, licenses are required, in particular, for “international transportation of passengers and cargo by road vehicles”, as well as for the transportation of passengers, dangerous goods and waste within Ukraine. It was this law that established the mandatory nature of a license for international road transportation of cargo and passengers.
• The Law of Ukraine “On Road Transport” No. 2344-III of 05.04.2001 – is a sectoral law that contains regulations on transportation. Article 9 of this Law states that the transportation of passengers and dangerous goods requires a license, in particular, licenses are granted for domestic and international transportation of passengers by buses, passenger cars on order, taxis, as well as for international transportation of dangerous goods by trucks. Note: although this article does not directly list international transportation of ordinary (oversized or non-dangerous) goods, they are now also subject to licensing under Law No. 222-VIII. International transportation of dangerous goods has always required a license, and after the changes in 2015, all types of international road transportation of goods are subject to licensing.
• Licensing conditions for conducting economic activities for the transportation of passengers, dangerous goods and hazardous waste by road, international transportation of passengers and goods by road, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 02.12.2015 No. 1001 – a detailed by-law that establishes the requirements for carriers to obtain a license and the procedure for obtaining it. Licensing conditions determine the list of documents, requirements for the material and technical base, vehicles and personnel of the carrier.
• Other regulatory acts: resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers and orders of the Ministry regarding the procedure for submitting documents in electronic form (for example, resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 24.05.2017 No. 363 on submitting documents electronically), as well as temporary procedures related to the peculiarities of licensing for the period of martial law (simplified procedure for obtaining a license during martial law, introduced in 2022). For the period of martial law, a simplified procedure for issuing temporary licenses (term until the end of martial law + 90 days) is in effect for certain transportations, as described separately below.

Who can obtain a license (carrier requirements)

The right to obtain a license is granted to business entities – that is, legal entities or individual entrepreneurs who plan to engage in international transportation. The main requirements for a carrier are determined by license conditions and laws:

• State registration of business: The license applicant must be officially registered as an entrepreneur (individual entrepreneur) or a legal entity in Ukraine. The license is issued for conducting economic activities, therefore an ordinary individual (not an entrepreneur) cannot obtain such a license.
• Compliance with licensing conditions: The carrier must ensure the availability of the necessary material and technical base for the safe provision of transport services. This means that it must either have its own facilities and services for vehicle maintenance, parking, pre- and post-trip medical examination of drivers, etc., or have concluded contracts with other enterprises that provide such services. For example, if the carrier does not have its own medical worker or mechanic, it may conclude a contract with a medical institution for the examination of drivers and with a motor transport enterprise for the examination/repair of vehicles.
• Availability of suitable vehicles: The carrier must have at least one vehicle that meets the requirements for international transportation of the type for which he wants to obtain a license. The vehicle must be registered to the carrier (or used on legal grounds – for example, rented or leased) and have appropriate marks in the registration certificate on the possibility of participating in international traffic. Thus, the technical passport of the truck must contain a mark “for participation in international traffic”. If the vehicle is rented, it is necessary to issue a temporary registration certificate in the name of the carrier (lessee) – this will confirm the right to use the car for transportation.
• Qualified personnel: The carrier must have a sufficient number of drivers with appropriate qualifications and other employees (mechanics, dispatchers, etc.) in accordance with the requirements of the law. Drivers who will perform international flights must have a driver’s license of the required category (for goods vehicles – category “C”/”CE”, etc., for buses – “D”, etc.), the appropriate age and driving experience. According to the requirements, a truck driver for international transportation must be at least 21 years old (18 years old – only if the truck weighs up to 7.5 tons and has special education) and have driving experience in the category for at least 1 year. For a bus driver, the requirements are even higher – usually the age of 21 and several years of driving experience (most often at least 3 years) on vehicles of the appropriate category are required. All drivers must undergo mandatory pre-trip medical examinations and meet transportation safety requirements.
• Business reputation and compliance with legislation: The carrier must not have an unlifted ban on this type of activity or decisions to revoke a license that may prevent a new one from being obtained. The submitted documents must be reliable; the detection of unreliable data is grounds for refusing a license.
• Experience requirements (for some types): The legislation establishes a special requirement for those who wish to obtain a license for international passenger transportation or international transportation of dangerous goods – experience in domestic transportation is required. According to the licensing conditions, a carrier who wants to enter the international passenger transportation market must have at least 3 years of experience in the Ukrainian domestic passenger transportation market. Simply put, first you need to carry out passenger transportation in Ukraine for three years (with a temporary license for domestic transportation), and only then can you obtain an international passenger license. A similar requirement applies to a license for the transportation of dangerous goods: experience in domestic transportation of such goods is required. However, for international cargo transportation (regular cargo), no separate many years of experience are required – a newly established carrier can immediately obtain a license for the international transportation of goods (except dangerous goods) without prior activity in Ukraine. This difference is due to the fact that passenger and dangerous goods transportation are considered more responsible, so the state requires proving capacity in the domestic market before entering the international market.

Documents required for obtaining a license

To obtain a license, the carrier (license applicant) submits a certain package of documents to the licensing authority. The list of supporting documents is established by the License Terms. The main documents that must be prepared and submitted:

• Application for a license. The application is submitted in the prescribed form (Appendix 1 to the License Conditions) on behalf of the business entity. The application specifies the types of transportation for which a license is requested (for example, international transportation of goods by trucks, or passengers by buses, etc.), as well as basic data about the license applicant.
• Information on the material and technical base. This is a document in which the carrier describes the conditions for carrying out transportation – whether it has its own production facilities, whether contracts have been concluded with other enterprises to provide technical maintenance, parking, medical examination of drivers, etc. The information is submitted in the form in accordance with Appendix 2 to the License Terms. If contracts with third-party organizations (medical institutions, service centers) are used, certified copies of the relevant contracts are attached to this information. For example, copies of the contract with a medical institution for the examination of drivers, with a car service or car company – for the repair and inspection of vehicles, with a parking lot – for the storage of vehicles, etc.
• Information about vehicles. The list of vehicles that will be used for transportation is submitted in the form of Appendix 3 to the Licensing Conditions. This document indicates the make, model, license plate, year of manufacture, carrying capacity or capacity, as well as other characteristics of the vehicle. At the same time, copies of registration documents for all specified vehicles must be attached – color scanned copies of registration certificates (technical passports) for each car. If a temporary registration card has been issued for a vehicle (when renting or leasing), a copy of it is also attached. These copies confirm the information provided in the information about the vehicle (owner, right of use, technical parameters). Note: If the licensing authority already has access to information about the vehicle in electronic registers (the Unified State Register of Vehicles of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the “Shlyakh” system), then copies of technical passports may not be required – the data will simply be checked against the database.
• Information on special equipment of vehicles (for taxis). This document is submitted only if a license is obtained for the transportation of taxi passengers. The form is in accordance with Appendix 4 to the Licensing Conditions. It indicates information on the presence of a taximeter, a “Taxi” identification lamp and other equipment provided for by the rules for taxis. This document is not required for international passenger transportation by buses or passenger cars on request (applies only to taxis).
• Information on personnel qualifications. Submitted in the form of Appendix 5 to the Licensing Conditions. Here, the carrier indicates information about drivers and other employees who provide transportation, their qualifications and compliance with the requirements of paragraphs 12-15 of the Licensing Conditions. In particular, the number of drivers, categories of their licenses, work experience, the presence of the necessary medical certificates, certificates (for example, ADR/ADR certificates for the transportation of dangerous goods), as well as data on mechanics, dispatchers, etc. (if they are full-time employees) is indicated. Important: if a certain type of license requires experience in domestic transportation (3 years for international passenger transportation, as mentioned above), this information is also indicated in the documents – usually in the information on the material and technical base or personnel, it is necessary to confirm the presence of the relevant valid domestic license during the specified period. That is, a copy of the national license or other confirmation of experience is actually attached.
• Document on payment of administrative fee. A one-time fee (state duty) is charged for issuing a license. The amount of the fee is established by law – it is one subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons (on the day the decision to issue the license is made). As of 2025, the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons is several thousand hryvnias (the amount changes periodically; it is necessary to clarify the current value on the date of payment). A receipt or other document on payment of this fee should be attached to the package of documents.
• Power of attorney (if documents are submitted by an authorized person). If the application is not submitted personally by the entrepreneur or company manager, but by an authorized representative, it is advisable to have a power of attorney for submitting documents. The power of attorney specifies the authority of the representative and the body to which the documents are submitted. This is not relevant when submitting electronically (the power of attorney can be scanned, if necessary).

Please note: All documents can be submitted electronically (scanned copies in PDF format with an electronic signature) – more information about submission methods is provided in the next section. Requirements for document processing are regulated by the legislation on electronic document flow. If documents are submitted in person or by mail, copies must be duly certified (with the signature of the manager or entrepreneur, with a seal if available).

Procedure for obtaining a license (where to apply, deadlines, fees)

Where to apply. The licensing authority in the field of road transport is the State Service of Ukraine for Transport Safety (Ukrtransbezpeka). It is this authority that is authorized to accept documents, make decisions and issue licenses for international passenger and cargo transportation. The applicant can apply directly to the central office of Ukrtransbezpeka (Kyiv) – territorial bodies (regional divisions) do not currently issue licenses, although they can provide consultations. Submission of documents is possible in person, by mail or in electronic form at the applicant’s choice:

• In person: You can submit paper documents through the Center for Administrative Services (CASA) or the reception desk of Ukrtransbezpeka. You must have a document certifying the applicant’s identity (director’s or individual entrepreneur’s passport). If an authorized person submits, he or she must present a power of attorney and his or her passport. The package of documents in paper form must be complete and properly executed.
• By mail: Documents can be sent by registered letter with a description of the attachment to the address of Ukrtransbezpeka. In this case, all copies must be duly certified, and the description of the attachment confirms the list of documents sent.
• Electronically: The most convenient way is to submit an application via the Internet. In accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 363 (2017), documents in electronic form are submitted through the Portal of Electronic Services for Business. In practice, this is implemented through the information system of Ukrtransbezpeka called “Shlyah” – a special online service for licensing carriers. The applicant enters the “Shlyah” system at the website https://shlyah.dsbt.gov.ua (electronic identification via electronic signature or BankID is required). Forms an electronic application there and uploads scanned copies of all necessary documents. The system interactively prompts which documents to add, and can even automatically pull up information about transport from registers. After submitting via “Shlyah”, the applicant does not need to go to Kyiv – all communication takes place online, and the result (license decision) is also recorded electronically.

Consideration terms. After receiving an application with a full package of documents, the licensing authority considers it for up to 10 business days. This period is established by law as the maximum for making a decision on issuing or refusing a license. In practice, the decision is often made faster, especially when submitted electronically. During these days, Ukrtransbezpeka checks the compliance of the submitted documents with the license conditions. If everything is in order, a decision is made to issue a license. In case of non-compliance with the conditions or detection of errors/inaccurate data, they may refuse, indicating in writing the reason for the refusal.

Issuance of a license. If the result of a positive decision is the license is entered into the Unified License Register. Currently, the license is issued in electronic form – that is, in fact, the document is an entry in the electronic register, and the confirmation for the carrier is an extract from this register. Ukrtransbezpeka issues an order (order) on issuing a license and publishes information about it on its official website. The applicant can receive an extract from the license register as confirmation. The extract is provided in Ukrainian, if necessary, it can be obtained in English (for example, for presentation to regulatory authorities abroad, currently the extracts contain a QR code for checking the license online).

License fee. As noted, a one-time administrative fee has been established for issuing a license in the amount of the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons. Payment should be made before a decision is made (preferably before submitting documents, attaching a receipt). If the license is refused, the fee paid can be refunded or credited upon re-submission (this issue is resolved in accordance with the procedure for using administrative fees).

Special procedure for martial law: Since July 2022, a simplified mechanism for obtaining temporary licenses for international transportation has been in effect, which is related to the needs of wartime. Those carriers that perform critical transportation for the needs of the state during martial law may be issued a temporary license for the period of martial law. It is valid until the end of martial law and for 90 days after it. To obtain it, a much smaller package of documents is required: in fact, only an application and information about the available vehicles with copies of technical passports. However, such a license is not permanent and will expire after the end of martial law, so to continue operating, the carrier will have to apply for a regular (permanent) license according to the standard procedure. The text below will discuss the standard (permanent) license.

Licensing Authority

In Ukraine, international transportation is licensed by the State Service of Ukraine for Transport Safety (SSTU, or “Ukrtransbezpeka”). This central executive body is subordinate to the Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure (formerly the Ministry of Infrastructure). Ukrtransbezpeka is authorized to consider applications, verify documents and make decisions on issuing licenses.

Territorial divisions of Ukrtransbezpeka do not issue licenses independently – the entire procedure is centralized. Therefore, you must contact the central office directly. It is physically located in Kyiv. However, as noted, in most cases there is no need to go in person – you can use electronic submission. After receiving a license, information about it is included in the license register, which is also managed by Ukrtransbezpeka. If desired, the carrier can receive an official extract from the register (electronic document) confirming the presence of a license – such an extract will have legal force and confirms the license during inspections.

Ukrtransbezpeka also monitors compliance with license conditions. It has the right to conduct inspections of carriers and, in the case of gross or systematic violations of license conditions, to hold them accountable, up to and including license revocation (more on this below).

Features of licensing international freight transportation

International freight transportation covers commercial transportation of goods and cargo by road outside Ukraine. A license for this type of activity gives the right to carry out international road transportation of cargo (both ordinary and, under special conditions, dangerous). The main features and requirements for freight carriers are as follows:

• Types of cargo licenses: There are two categories – international transportation of dangerous goods (and waste) and international transportation of other goods. If you plan to transport dangerous goods (ADR cargo), the license also covers this type, but requires additional conditions (special driver training, equipment, etc.). If the goods do not belong to the dangerous class, a regular license for international cargo transportation (without ADR permits) is sufficient. The type of transportation is indicated separately in the license application.
• No previous experience required: Unlike passenger licenses, a license for international cargo transportation (except for dangerous goods) does not require experience in domestic transportation. A new carrier can immediately obtain an international license and start operating on foreign routes. This is a convenient moment for business, because you can start international cargo transportation right away (of course, provided that all other requirements are met). If we are talking about dangerous goods, then experience is required: at least 1 year of activity in the transportation of such goods in Ukraine and the presence of a domestic license for dangerous goods during this time.
• Vehicles: For freight transportation, trucks (wagons, trucks, cars with trailers/semi-trailers) are used. They must comply with technical standards and environmental regulations adopted in international traffic. As noted, the truck’s technical passport must contain a mark of admission to international transportation. Usually, this means that the vehicle has passed the necessary inspections, meets environmental standards (for example, Euro-2 standard and above – for entry into EU countries) and is equipped in accordance with the requirements (has the necessary devices, country of registration, tachograph, etc.). The list of vehicles, as we mentioned, is submitted in the documents (Appendix 3) during licensing, and in the future the carrier may supplement the license with new vehicles (the license renewal procedure is described below). For dangerous goods, each vehicle must also have a certificate of approval of the vehicle for the transportation of dangerous goods (issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center after inspecting the vehicle for compliance with ADR requirements) – this is not submitted during licensing, but is mandatory for actual work with ADR.
• Drivers: Truck drivers involved in international routes must have a category “C” driver’s license (for heavy trucks – “CE”, i.e. with a trailer) or the corresponding subcategories (“C1”, “C1E” for smaller trucks). Minimum age – 21 years (18 years is allowed only for lighter trucks up to 7.5 tons with specialized driver education). Driving experience: licensing conditions require that the driver have at least 1 year of experience in domestic freight transportation before entering international routes. For the transportation of dangerous goods, the driver must additionally undergo special training and obtain an ADR certificate – without it, it is prohibited to drive a vehicle with dangerous goods. Also, the carrier must have an authorized person (consultant) on the staff or under a contract for the safety of the transportation of dangerous goods, as required by international regulations. For ordinary cargo, such additional certificates are not required, but all drivers must comply with the work and rest regime (availability of a tachograph) and other international requirements.
• Material and technical base: The freight carrier must have the ability to perform technical maintenance of its vehicles and monitor the condition of drivers. If the company has its own repair shop, mechanics and a medical worker – their qualifications are confirmed by documents (diplomas, certificates). If not – there must be contracts with third-party organizations (service station, medical facility). These points are checked during licensing by submitting copies of contracts and information (Appendix 2).
• Additionally: In the field of international freight transport, there is a system of permits for single trips (so-called country permits or ECMT permits), but this is another aspect. It is important to understand that a license is a basic condition for work, and for each trip abroad, a truck may need another one-time permit from the country it is going to (for example, a Polish permit for entry into Poland). The presence of a license is a mandatory prerequisite for obtaining such permits, but in itself does not replace them.

Features of licensing international passenger transportation

International passenger transportation covers the transportation of people by bus or passenger car for a fee abroad. Types of activities licensed in this area include: international passenger transportation by bus, international passenger transportation by passenger car on request (for example, tourist transfers, irregular group transportation), as well as international passenger transportation by taxi. All of these types require a license, but have their own specific requirements:

• Required experience in domestic transportation: As already noted, in order to enter the international passenger transportation market, a carrier must have at least 3 years of experience in the field of domestic passenger transportation. This means that first the company or entrepreneur must obtain a license for domestic passenger transportation (for example, to operate bus routes in Ukraine or work as a taxi) and work for at least three years. Only after that can one count on obtaining an international license. When submitting documents, it is necessary to confirm this experience – usually with a copy of the domestic license and information in the information on the material and technical base. Without such experience, Ukrtransbezpeka will refuse to issue an international passenger license, even if all other conditions are met.
• Vehicles: For passenger transportation, the following are used:
  
  • Buses are vehicles with more than 9 seats for transporting passengers. They must be technically sound and have undergone the necessary inspections. If regular international bus routes are planned (for example, regular scheduled buses between cities in Ukraine and the EU), then in addition to the license, you must also obtain a route permit (the international route is approved by the competent authorities of the countries). But if these are irregular transportation (tourist, one-time charters), a separate route permit may not be required – however, a license is still required.
  • Passenger cars on request are the transportation of passengers in passenger cars (up to 9 seats) on an individual order (similar to the internal service “passenger car on request”). In fact, these are private transportations of the transfer type, not regular.
  • Taxis are passenger cars with up to 5 passenger seats that provide taxi services (sometimes there are orders when the taxi crosses the border, for example, a transfer to the airport of another country). Taxis have special equipment requirements: a taximeter, a “checkerboard”, a “Taxi” lamp, etc. are mandatory. These details are recorded in the information (Appendix 4) when submitting documents.

  All vehicles must be legally used by the carrier (owned or leased with temporary tickets) and listed in the license documents. Buses must meet international safety requirements (including seat belts if required by the destination country, etc.). In practice, international buses often have to meet environmental standards of at least Euro 3 or Euro 4 to enter the EU, but this is already regulated by the requirements of the destination countries and the quota system for permits.

• Drivers: To transport passengers by bus, drivers must have a category “D” (or “D1” for small buses) in their license. Age and experience requirements: according to Ukrainian rules, a bus driver for transporting passengers must have at least 3 years of driving experience on category D vehicles or a certain time on a lower category vehicle (for example, 3 years on “C” before obtaining a “D”). The minimum age is 21 years. That is, in practice, a bus driver is an experienced chauffeur. For a taxi or a passenger car on request, the driver must have a category “B” and preferably at least 3 years of experience (although formally less may be enough for a license, but an experienced driver must transport passengers abroad). All drivers must also undergo annual medical examinations, have medical certificates of fitness to drive, and be instructed in transportation safety. If the trip is long, drivers must adhere to the work/rest regime (tachographs on buses with international connections are mandatory).
• Special requirements: In the field of passenger transportation, licensing conditions also require that the carrier ensure compliance with the Rules for the Provision of Passenger Road Transport Services and other regulations. For example, on an international route, the necessary documents for the flight must be drawn up (route sheet, list of passengers in case of irregular transportation, passenger insurance, etc.). Although these requirements already go beyond the scope of obtaining a license itself, the carrier undertakes to comply with them when licensing. For taxis: in addition to having special equipment, the taxi driver must have a driver’s license of the appropriate category, a taxi license card (domestic), etc. – but taxis are rarely used on international routes, mostly these are cases of transfers.
• Regular and irregular transportation: If the carrier plans to operate regular international bus routes (for example, scheduled flights between cities in different countries), in addition to a license, it is necessary to obtain permission from the Ministry of Infrastructure and relevant authorities of other states to open the route. This is a more complicated procedure, which involves intergovernmental agreements. However, the license is primary – without it, the route will not be considered at all. In the case of irregular transportation (tourist trips, one-time transportation of groups), a separate permit for the route is not required, a license is enough.

Comparison of requirements for international cargo and passenger transportation: for clarity, below is a short table of key differences:

License validity period, renewal and cancellation

License validity period. A license for international transportation in Ukraine is issued indefinitely (for an unlimited period). This means that the license form itself does not have an expiration date – the carrier can use it constantly until it decides to cease operations or until the license is canceled by the competent authorities. Therefore, an extension of the validity period is not required – there is no need, say, to renew the license every 5 years (such a rule existed in the past, but has now been canceled). The carrier acquires the right to perform the licensed type of activity from the moment the license entry is entered in the register and thereafter without time limits.

Data updates and changes. The permanence of the license does not mean that after receiving it, you can forget about formalities. The licensee is obliged to notify the licensing authority of all changes in the data submitted for obtaining the license. This is directly stipulated by law. For example, if a carrier has changed its location (legal address), changed its manager, added new vehicles to the fleet, hired additional drivers, or, conversely, stopped operating a vehicle – all these changes must be reflected. Notification of changes is submitted to Ukrtransbezpeka within 30 days from the date the change occurred. In practice, this is implemented through the same electronic cabinet “Shlyakh”: the carrier adds/deletes vehicles in his profile, updates information about the base or personnel, attaches new documents (for example, copies of technical passports of added vehicles). In 2023, Ukrtransbezpeka introduced the ability to submit a notification of license renewal online, and the carrier can independently track the status of making changes in his cabinet. Untimely notification of changes may have consequences – this is a violation of the license terms, which may lead to sanctions upon verification.

License cancellation. The license may be terminated (cancelled) early in cases provided for by law. The grounds for cancellation include, in particular, the following:

• At the carrier’s own request. If the entrepreneur decides to cease operations (or change the type of activity), he can submit an application to the licensing authority for license cancellation. Then the license will be canceled by decision of Ukrtransbezpeka (so to speak, voluntary refusal).
• As a sanction for violations. Ukrtransbezpeka may forcibly revoke a license if the carrier systematically violates the license conditions or legislation. For example, if it is found that false data was provided when obtaining a license (forged documents) is provided – this is a gross violation and grounds for immediate cancellation. Other reasons: carrying out transportation that is not covered by the license (for example, a license only for freight, and the carrier carried passengers – exceeding the types of activities), failure to comply with the instructions of regulatory authorities to eliminate violations, creating a threat to transportation safety, etc. As a rule, before cancellation, the license is first suspended and time is given for correction, but if the violations are not eliminated – the license may be revoked altogether. The decision to cancel is made by the commission of the licensing authority and comes into force from the date of approval or another specified date.
• Other reasons: There are other situations when a license may be terminated. For example, if the legislation has changed and a certain type of activity is excluded from the list of licensed ones – then the license may be canceled “automatically” (if the state has decided not to license this or that activity anymore). Or if a business entity is liquidated (legally ceases to exist) – its license is also considered invalid.

Consequences of cancellation: In the event of cancellation of the license (especially compulsory), the carrier loses the right to carry out international transportation. He will not be able to re-apply for a new license before the deadline specified by law (previously there was a 1-year “quarantine” after cancellation for violations). Therefore, it is very important to comply with the license conditions constantly.

Possibility of electronic submission of documents

Today, obtaining a license for international transportation has become much easier thanks to the introduction of electronic services. Electronic submission of documents is fully permitted and regulated by law. Moreover, Ukrtransbezpeka has created a special information system “Shlyakh” for online licensing of carriers.

Key points of the electronic procedure:

• The applicant registers in the “Shlyakh” system using a qualified electronic signature (QES) or another means of electronic identification (for example, SmartID or BankID). This ensures the legal validity of the submitted documents.
• Through “Shlyakh” an electronic application is filled out – in fact an interactive form where you select the types of activity (international transportation of goods/passengers, etc.). Scanned copies of all necessary documents (in PDF format) are attached to the application. The system has a friendly interface: it prompts you which documents need to be added for the selected types of transportation. For example, if you have indicated “international transportation of passengers by bus”, the system will ask you to add information about the base, information about the vehicle, information about personnel, etc., and will not offer a form about special taxi equipment (because this is not required for buses).
• Some of the data can be pulled up automatically. “Shlyakh” is integrated with the Unified Register of Vehicles of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so information about your cars can be downloaded by itself by number, just specify it (if not, you enter it manually and add copies of technical passports). This reduces the risk of errors and speeds up the process.
• Signing and sending: After filling out all sections, the application and attached documents must be signed with your electronic signature (for example, the director’s or individual entrepreneur’s digital signature) and sent in your electronic account. The application is received by Ukrtransbezpeka instantly.
• Review status: The applicant can track the review status through his personal account. Also, if there is a need to clarify or correct the documents, the inspector can contact him (via the account or e-mail). After the decision to issue a license is made, the corresponding entry will appear in the register, and the carrier can download an electronic extract of the license directly from the account.
• Electronic license format: As mentioned, the license currently exists in electronic form. An extract (PDF file with a digital signature of the authority) can also be obtained without visiting the office – it will be generated in the system.
• Data security: The electronic filing system is built in accordance with the Law on Electronic Documents and Electronic Document Management, therefore all e-documents submitted through “Shlyakh” have the same legal force as paper ones.

Alternative options: In addition to the “Shlyakh” system, there is also a Unified State Portal of Administrative Services (on the website my.gov.ua), through which you can also submit an online application for a license. In fact, this portal redirects to the profile system. If it is not possible to submit online, there is an option to submit documents in person or by mail, as described above, but electronic submission is currently the most efficient and fastest.

Advantages of electronic submission: This saves the carrier time and effort – there is no need to go to Kyiv, stand in queues. The issuance period is also reduced, because electronic applications are processed promptly. Due to automatic checks, the number of refusals due to banal errors in documents is reduced (the system validates the data). In addition, the carrier constantly has access to up-to-date information about his license online and can easily update it (add new vehicles or change other information) through the same account.

In conclusion, it is worth emphasizing: a license for international transportation is a mandatory “attribute” of the legal activity of a carrier outside Ukraine. Obtaining it, provided that all requirements are met, is an achievable task, especially with the use of modern electronic services. The carrier needs to carefully prepare the documents, fulfill the established conditions – and then Ukrtransbezpeka will issue a license that will open the way to international routes. With this license, the Ukrainian transport business can carry out transportation to Europe and other countries, expanding its capabilities and service markets, while operating within the legal framework and ensuring the necessary level of safety and quality of transportation.