Who needs Code 95
The most common question drivers call about: does the requirement apply to me personally. Below it is broken down by category, by type of carriage and by who you work for. With links to specific rules, not to rumours.
The short answer
Code 95 is needed by a driver who carries out commercial carriage of goods or passengers in vehicles of the freight and bus categories. The requirement is tied not to the person but to the work: the same category on the licence requires nothing for a private trip, but does require it for a paid job.
| Situation | Is Code 95 needed |
|---|---|
| International carriage of goods | Yes |
| International carriage of passengers by bus | Yes |
| International carriage of dangerous goods | Yes, together with the ADR certificate |
| Carriage only within Ukraine | Not for now |
| Category «B», passenger cars | No |
| Own car, non-commercial trips | No |
Which categories it concerns
Procedure No. 789 works with two groups of categories. Freight: C1, C, C1E, CE. Passenger: D1, D, D1E, DE. If your licence has none of them, there is nothing to confirm professional competence for.
Trailer categories rank alongside the basic ones. A driver hauling a semi-trailer falls under the requirement just like the driver of a rigid truck.
It is no longer only a requirement on the driver but also a licensing condition
Until recently Code 95 was discussed as the driverʼs concern: with the document you are let across the border, without it you are not. Now the rule affects the carrier as well.
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 712 of 18 June 2024 added a new sub-clause to the personnel requirements of the Licensing Conditions (Resolution No. 1001). For the international carriage of passengers by bus, the international carriage of dangerous goods and dangerous waste, and the international carriage of goods, confirmation of professional competence under Procedure No. 789 is required. The rule took effect on 9 September 2025.
The practical conclusion is simple. A company whose drivers go on international trips without Code 95 is not meeting the licensing conditions under which it itself operates. That is why, more and more often, it is not the border officer who demands the document but the employer — as early as the interview.
A requirement is also being prepared under which the electronic queue for crossing the border — eCherga — will take a driverʼs Code 95 into account. The start date has not yet been announced, but the direction of travel is clear: the document is gradually becoming a condition of access to a trip rather than a formality.
Who the requirement does not concern
- Category «B» drivers. Procedure No. 789 works only with the freight and bus categories.
- Non-commercial trips. Competence is confirmed for providing carriage services. Driving your own vehicle for yourself is not such a service.
- Domestic trips within Ukraine. The licensing requirement described above is worded specifically around the word «international». But if international routes are on the cards, the document is arranged in advance: the training lasts from a week to six weeks.
Clause 27 of the Procedure allows a driver with a valid certificate in categories C1 or C to obtain a certificate for C1E or CE without taking training. The same applies to the passenger categories: from D1 or D to D1E or DE. The new certificate is issued within the validity of the existing one.
Few drivers know this, and some take the full course where it is not needed. If you are adding a trailer category, call before signing up.
Which course exactly you need
The programme is determined not by the driverʼs wishes but by the category and the date it was obtained. The Procedure sets three durations, and they differ several times over.
| Programme | Hours under the Procedure | Approximate days |
|---|---|---|
| Periodic | 35 | 5 |
| Reduced initial | 140 | 18 |
| Initial | 280 | 35 |
Periodic course
Category «C» obtained before 02.03.2021, plus the scheduled renewal every five years.
Learn more →18 daysReduced initial
Categories «C1» and «C1E», plus «C» with at least 3 years of experience, obtained after 03.03.2024.
Learn more →35 daysInitial course
Category «C» obtained after 02.03.2021, no work experience.
Learn more →If you are not sure which case you fall under
This is a normal situation. The dates categories were obtained differ from licence to licence, some drivers obtained categories in several stages, and you cannot judge the programme by eye.
The quickest way is to send a photo of your licence by messenger. From the dates the categories were obtained we name the programme you need and immediately say whether you fall under clause 27, where training may not be required. It is free and commits you to nothing.
- You send a photo of your licenceViber, WhatsApp or Telegram. We need the side with the categories and the dates they were obtained.
- We determine the programmeBy category and date. At the same time we quote the price — it depends on the length of the course.
- We check clause 27If you hold a valid CPC and are adding a trailer category, the certificate may be issued without training.
- We enrol you in a groupWe tell you the start date of the nearest intake and the list of documents.
What those who have already trained say
Reviews from the training centreʼs Google listing. Surnames are shortened.
Great course, everything is explained clearly and simply, a pleasant atmosphere, the instructor is excellent.
I completed the full Code 95 course and I am pleased with the training. Special thanks to instructor Andrii — he presents the material as clearly and understandably as possible, with explanations.
The company provides effective training for obtaining the Code 95 certificate and support at every stage of preparing the document. Thank you.
Sincere thanks for the effective theory and driving skills for Code 95. Personal thanks to instructor Dmytro for the advice and patience. I recommend it to everyone.
I trained in October–November. I am hugely grateful to the staff, Andrii and Dmytro, for the substantial and useful information I received during the training and for the practical examples. Recommended!
Thank you to your whole team for the knowledge I gained. Everything is clear, substantial and understandable. Special thanks to Mr Dmytro for the explanations, patience, attention and tact.
About the document itself — what is printed on it and who issues it — read the driver qualification card page. If any of the cargo is dangerous, you will also need an ADR certificate.
How do I tell whether I need Code 95?
Look at two things: the category on your licence and the nature of the work. Procedure No. 789 concerns categories C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E, DE, and the requirement arises when you carry out commercial carriage. For private trips in your own vehicle the document is not needed.
Do I need Code 95 if I only drive within Ukraine?
Not for now. The licensing requirement is worded around the word «international» and does not cover domestic trips. But drivers often arrange the document in advance, because the training lasts from a week to six weeks, and there is usually no way to make it «in time for a specific trip».
Does the requirement concern the carrier and not only the driver?
Yes. By Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 712 of 18 June 2024, confirmation of professional competence was added to the personnel requirements of the Licensing Conditions. The rule has applied since 9 September 2025 and covers the international carriage of goods, dangerous goods and passengers by bus. A carrier whose drivers lack Code 95 is not meeting the licensing conditions.
Does a category «B» driver need Code 95?
No. The Procedure works only with the freight and bus categories — C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E, DE. It does not concern passenger-car categories.
Is a separate Code 95 needed for a trailer category?
Categories C1E, CE, D1E and DE fall under the Procedure on a par with the basic ones. But if you already hold a valid certificate for C1 or C, under clause 27 the certificate for C1E or CE is issued without taking training, within the validity of the existing one. The same rule applies to the passenger categories.
I hold a valid CPC and am adding CE. Do I have to train again?
Under clause 27 of the Procedure — no. The training centre issues the certificate for the extended category on the basis of the existing one, without a repeat course. Call before signing up for training: you may not need the course at all.
Is Code 95 needed together with the ADR certificate?
These are different documents under different rules, and they do not replace each other. For the international carriage of dangerous goods you need both: Code 95 confirms the driverʼs professional competence, ADR the admission specifically to dangerous goods.
My employer demands Code 95 even though the trips are domestic. Is that lawful?
Yes. The Licensing Conditions set a minimum, and an employer may set higher requirements for staff. Many companies do this ahead of time so as not to re-process drivers once an international route appears.
How many hours does the training last under the Procedure?
The periodic programme is 35 hours, the reduced initial 140, the initial 280. In days that is roughly 5, 18 and 35 respectively.
Will Code 95 be needed for eCherga?
A requirement is being prepared under which the electronic border-crossing queue will take a driverʼs Code 95 into account. The start date has not yet been announced. This is one more reason not to postpone the paperwork: the training lasts from a week to six weeks, and there is no making it «after the fact».
Request a call back
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