Code 95 for drivers working in the UAE

Gulf experience, European rules

Drivers who work in the UAE often hold licences from two countries: their home country and the Emirates. Both can matter for your route to Europe. European carriers value the experience — long shifts, heavy loads, large vehicles — but they can only hire you once your qualification meets EU law.

That means two things: a licence category that Poland accepts for the vehicle you want to drive, and Code 95, the EU qualification for professional drivers.

Which licence counts — UAE or home country?

UAE licences use their own classes for heavy trucks and buses, and your home-country licence may use yet another system. Which of your licences can be used for the course in Poland, and on what terms, depends on the issuing country and on the Polish rules for foreign licences.

Send us photos of every driving licence you hold, front and back. We review them with the partner school and tell you which one to use — before you pay anything.

Applying for the visa while you live in the UAE

A Polish national visa (type D) is usually applied for in the country where you legally reside. For many drivers in the Emirates that means applying in the UAE with a valid residence visa, not in their home country.

We arrange the invitation letter through the school's partner network. You then book your appointment with the visa service the Polish consulate uses in the UAE. Check that your Emirates ID and residence visa stay valid for the whole application period — this is the most common reason for delays among Gulf-based applicants.

Only the consulate decides on the visa. Details are in our visa guide for drivers.

Planning your exit from your current job

Leaving a job in the Gulf needs planning: notice periods, final settlement, cancellation of the residence visa and the timing of your flight. Do not cancel your residence before your Polish visa decision is clear — talk to us first.

• Check the notice period and end-of-service terms in your contract
• Keep copies of experience letters and salary certificates — European employers value them
• Coordinate your last working day with the course start date we agree on

The course in Warsaw

Your course depends on the first issue date of your category: a 35-hour short course for drivers who already held the category before the EU cut-off dates, or the long course with an exam — around 30 days — for everyone else. See the course comparison.

The partner school also handles the medical and psychological tests and supports your tachograph driver card application. We help with accommodation. Many courses are taught in Russian; we confirm the language for your course before booking.

From Gulf roads to European roads

• Same traffic side. Like the UAE, continental Europe drives on the right — one less thing to relearn.
• Different climate. Snow, ice and long winter nights replace desert heat. Winter tyres and snow chains are part of the job in many regions.
• Tight rest rules. EU law limits daily driving to 9 hours (10 hours twice a week) and requires a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours. Weekly driving is capped at 56 hours.
• Digital tachograph. Every minute of driving and rest is recorded on your driver card and checked at inspections.
• Narrow roads and old town centres. Especially relevant for delivery and bus work.

After the qualification

With Code 95 and your driver card we connect you with EU carriers we have checked — international long-haul, regional distribution or passenger transport. You get concrete offers and one contact person who answers in English or Russian.