How to Get a Category A1 Driving Licence in Belarus?

In Belarus, if you already hold a car license (Category B or C), getting an A1 license requires only a single practical exam on a closed training ground, with no theory tests required and no driving school course legally required. This piece covers what A1 authorizes at 16, the exact 2026 costs, and the various routes to A1 depending on what you already hold.

What Category A1 covers

A1 (a subcategory) authorizes light motorcycles with engine displacement not exceeding 125cc and maximum power not exceeding 11 kW.

Minimum age

You need to be 16 to hold an A1, matching the EU baseline.

Where A1 sits in Belarus’s motorcycle system

Belarus runs AM (16, mopeds and scooters up to 50cc/4kW, capped at 50 km/h), A1 (16, up to 125cc/11kW), and full Category A (18, unrestricted, covering motorcycles, motorcycles with sidecars, and three-wheeled machines). Full Category A automatically includes both AM and A1 riding rights.

If you’re starting from scratch

You don’t legally need to attend a driving school to get an A1. You can self-study the theory and go straight to GAI (the state traffic police) to sit both the theory and practical exams, with the practical portion confined entirely to a closed training ground rather than public roads. That said, many candidates still choose a driving school, since preparing for the hazard-perception style theory questions and getting comfortable on the practice ground beforehand can save money on retakes.

If you already hold Category B or C

This is genuinely the fastest and cheapest route. If you already hold a car (B) or truck (C) license, you only need to pass the A1 practical exam on the training ground, no theory retest, and no mandatory driving school course, since your existing license already demonstrates road-rule knowledge.

Training alongside your car license

Some driving schools let you train for A1 concurrently while completing your Category B (car) course. The day after passing your B exam, you can sit the A1 practical exam too, provided you’ve completed the relevant motorcycle lessons alongside your car training. Confirm whether your chosen driving school offers this combined structure if it interests you.

What it costs in 2026

Belarus’s base value (базовая величина), against which many state fees are calculated, is 45 BYN from the start of 2026. The state duty for license issuance is based on two values, or 90 BYN. Driving school courses for A1, where you choose to take one, commonly run 350–700 BYN depending on the city and the school’s motorcycle fleet. A medical certificate costs roughly 20–35 BYN and is valid for two riding seasons.

The practical exam

The practical exam takes place on a closed training ground. It covers six standard elements: a straight line with gear shifting, a rutted board, a figure-eight within boundary markers, a slalom, timed maneuvering, and braking. Every two to three years, licensing requirements for motorcyclists tend to tighten in Belarus, partly in response to rising motorcycle accident rates; further elements, such as emergency braking and city riding, have been discussed for future inclusion.

Documents you’ll need

• Your passport (or residence permit, or refugee certificate)
• A medical certificate with the appropriate category endorsement
• A training or retraining certificate from your driving school, if you attended one (not required if you already hold Category B or C)
• Two 3x4cm photographs
• Receipts confirming state duty payment, typically made through ERIP, Belarus’s unified electronic payment system

Automatic transmission

As with other EU-aligned systems, testing on an automatic-transmission motorcycle typically restricts the resulting license to automatic-transmission motorcycles only.

Upgrading from A1 to full Category A

If you’ve held A1 for at least one year and turned 18, you can get full Category A by passing only the practical exam on the training ground, no theory retest, no mandatory driving school course. Separately, B or C license holders who want a full Category A directly, rather than starting with A1, generally need to complete a shorter retraining course at a driving school (commonly around 18 hours of practical training) before sitting the practical exam.

Validity

A Belarusian Category A license is valid throughout the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Foreign residents and license exchange

When exchanging a foreign license for a Belarusian one, Category A is confirmed only after your theoretical knowledge has been verified. Confirm current specific requirements with GAI.

Tips that actually help

• If you already hold Category B or C, ask GAI about going straight to the A1 practical exam without a driving school course.
• Consider whether self-study or a driving school suits you better for the theory exam, weighing course cost against the risk of retake fees.
• Budget for the full 2026 fee stack: state duty, medical certificate, and course fees if you choose a school.
• If you’re eyeing full Category A eventually, remember A1 held for a year past 18 gets you there through a practical exam alone.

Where this fits going forward

A1 in Belarus is genuinely accessible, especially if you already hold another license category. If your plans extend toward professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, or see who’s hiring among employers on FastDriver.eu, alongside our broader job guides. Our driving license in Belarus and license eligibility pages provide a broader picture.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change and may vary by driving school and region in Belarus. Always confirm current requirements with the official Belarusian sources before making decisions: the State Traffic Police (GAI) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.