The Driver Qualification Card (KKV) – referred to as code 95 in European legislation – is a mandatory requirement without which no professional truck driver in the EU can legally drive. Code 95 is usually entered on the back of the driving license, but in some countries, it is also issued as a separate physical card (the so-called Driver Qualification Card). The form depends on the country of issue – the validity within the EU is the same in both cases.
Most foreign drivers — whether from India, Uzbekistan, Georgia or other countries — do not speak Slovak at a level that would allow them to follow professional training in that language. Thousands of potential MKD drivers are therefore blocked — not because they lack experience or a C+E licence, but because no accessible system exists in Slovakia allowing them to obtain the qualification in a language they understand.
This article explains what Slovak legislation says, what problems this creates for transport companies in Slovakia, and how a real solution exists — including online training that can begin the moment a driver receives their Schengen visa.
What is the Driver Qualification Card and Why Does a Driver Need It
The Driver Qualification Card (DQC) is a document confirming that a professional driver has completed mandatory vocational training under EU Directive 2003/59/EC. It is mandatory for all drivers commercially transporting passengers or goods in vehicles of category C, CE, D or DE — including truck drivers (MKD) with C+E authorisation.
Code 95 printed on the back of the driving licence is direct proof of a valid Driver Qualification Card. Without it, a driver cannot legally work as a professional driver in the EU — regardless of experience or years behind the wheel. For transport companies in Slovakia, this means one thing: employing a driver without a valid DQC is not just an administrative risk but a direct violation of legislation with real penalties.
Slovak Legislation and the Language Problem
Act No. 280/2006 Coll. on mandatory basic qualification and regular training of certain drivers, in § 4(8), stipulates that a basic qualification course for a person who is not a Slovak citizen must be conducted in a language they understand, through simultaneous interpretation. The law formally permits training in a foreign language — but requires simultaneous interpretation, the costs of which are borne by the training centre (unless otherwise agreed). In practice, however, most accredited centres in Slovakia do not routinely provide simultaneous interpretation, effectively preventing foreign drivers without Slovak language skills from meaningfully completing the course.
Unlike Slovakia, Poland has accredited training centres where DQC courses are conducted in Russian, English or Ukrainian as standard — making Poland a practical alternative for foreign drivers who do not speak Slovak.
Specific Problems for Transport Companies in Slovakia
Transport companies in Slovakia that actively recruit foreign drivers encounter this problem systematically. A driver from Uzbekistan, Georgia or Azerbaijan may have a valid C+E licence, ten years of long-haul experience and excellent references — but without a valid EU Driver Qualification Card, they cannot start work.
| Driver Situation | DQC Course in Slovakia | Real Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign driver without Slovak language skills | ⚠️ Law permits interpretation but centres rarely provide it | Cannot meaningfully complete the DQC course |
| Driver with basic Slovak (A2) | ⚠️ Formally possible but with difficulties | Low comprehension of technical content |
| Driver with valid DQC from another EU country | ✅ Recognised without conditions | None — card is portable across the EU |
| Driver with DQC from a non-EU country | ❌ Not automatically recognised | Must complete the course again within the EU |
Do you have drivers but no KKV solution for them?
Contact us — we have a solution for you. We will help your drivers obtain a Driver Qualification Card in English, without the need for Slovak.
Contact Ergasia →Solution: DQC Course in English Within the EU
The EU harmonised the content and scope of driver training but left language policy to individual member states. This means there are EU countries where Driver Qualification Card courses are available in English, Russian or Ukrainian. A driver who completes a course in such a country obtains a valid DQC valid throughout the European Union including Slovakia.
Online Training: Starting from the Moment the Driver Has a Schengen Visa
One of the biggest challenges when employing foreign drivers is time. From visa application to the driver's physical arrival in Slovakia, several weeks or months pass. Our approach is different. As soon as the driver receives their Schengen visa, we can begin online preparation in English (or Russian). The driver arrives in the EU prepared and completes the DQC course far more efficiently.
Recognition of DQC from Another EU Country in Slovakia
A Driver Qualification Card issued in any EU country is automatically recognised throughout the Union without any further conversion or nostrification. This mutual recognition principle is directly enshrined in Directive 2003/59/EC. Practically: if your driver completes a course in a country offering English or Russian instruction and obtains a valid DQC there, they can immediately start work at a transport company in Slovakia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign driver complete a DQC course in Slovakia in English?
Act No. 280/2006 Coll. formally permits training in a foreign language through simultaneous interpretation — the training centre is required to provide it. In practice, however, most accredited centres in Slovakia do not routinely offer simultaneous interpretation, effectively preventing foreign drivers without Slovak language skills from meaningfully completing the course. The practical solution is completing the course in another EU country where English or Russian courses are standard.
Is a DQC obtained in another EU country valid in Slovakia?
Yes, absolutely. A Driver Qualification Card issued in any EU country is automatically recognised throughout the European Union including Slovakia. This mutual recognition principle is directly enshrined in EU Directive 2003/59/EC.
Can we start preparing the driver before they arrive in Slovakia?
Yes — and this is our added value. From the moment the driver receives their Schengen visa, we can launch online preparation in English or Russian. The driver arrives in the EU prepared and completes the DQC course significantly more efficiently.
What Should Be Your Next Step
The problem with the availability of Driver Qualification Card courses in English in Slovakia is real — but not without a solution. A solution exists within the EU and we will help you with the entire process: from driver selection, through online preparation before their arrival, to completing the DQC course in English and starting at your company.
Looking for drivers with a valid DQC?
We can handle the entire process — candidate selection, online preparation and DQC course in the EU. First consultation is free and non-binding.
Contact Ergasia →Contact us today — the first consultation is free and non-binding. Write to us at zemla@ergasia.group.