PROCESS OF CONVERTING A FOREIGN DRIVER'S LICENSE

1. Legal Basis 

- Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, June 27, 2024;

- Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA dated February 28, 2025, stipulating the testing, issuance of driver's licenses, and the issuance and use of international driver's licenses.

2. What is a National Driver's License

According to Clause 6, Article 3 of Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA, a national driver's license is a license issued by the competent authority of a foreign country and is valid within the territory of that country.

3. Requirements for Converting a Foreign Driver's License

According to Clause 1, Article 22 of Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA, the requirements for converting a foreign driver's license include:

- Foreigners residing, working, or studying in Vietnam who hold a valid national driver's license and one of the following documents: diplomatic identity card, official identity card, temporary residence card, or permanent residence card with a duration of at least 3 months, and who wish to drive in Vietnam, may apply for the conversion to the corresponding Vietnamese driver's license class;

- Vietnamese nationals (holding Vietnamese citizenship) who, while residing, studying, or working abroad, have been issued a valid national driver's license by the competent authority of the foreign country, and wish to drive in Vietnam, may apply for conversion to the corresponding Vietnamese driver's license class;

- The following types of driver's licenses are not eligible for conversion: temporary foreign driver's licenses; international driver's licenses; foreign driver's licenses that have expired, been altered, damaged, or are illegible for conversion due to missing information or discrepancies in identification; foreign driver's licenses issued by unauthorized authorities; and Vietnamese nationals with foreign driver's licenses who have stayed in the foreign country for less than 3 months, or whose length of stay does not meet the required training period for obtaining a driver's license in the issuing country.

4. Documents Required for Requesting the Conversion of a Foreign Driver's License

The documents required for requesting the conversion of a foreign driver's license are specifically outlined in Clause 2, Article 22 of Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA, and include:

- A request for the conversion of the driver's license (for Vietnamese citizens, according to the form specified in Appendix XII; for foreigners, according to the form specified in Appendix XIII attached to this Circular);

- A certified translation of the foreign driver's license into Vietnamese, guaranteed by a translation agency certified by a notary in Vietnam, or by the Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad where the translator is employed, with a seal affixed to the copy of the driver's license;

- A health check certificate for the driver issued by a qualified medical examination and treatment facility in accordance with the regulations of the law on medical examination and treatment (except for foreigners converting a driver's license based on the duration specified in their visa or temporary residence card);

- A copy or certified electronic copy from the original or a certified electronic copy from the original register of one of the following documents: diplomatic identity card, official identity card, temporary residence card, or permanent residence card with a duration of at least 3 months.

5. Process for Converting a Foreign Driver's License

According to Clause 3, Article 22 of Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA, the process for converting a foreign driver's license is carried out in the following steps:

Step 1: The individual prepares one set of documents as required;

Step 2: The individual submits the complete set of documents directly to the Traffic Police Department or the local police station where a document reception point is available;

*Note: The individual must take a photo at the document reception agency and present the original documents (except those already submitted) for verification. The individual must also pay the fee when submitting the documents.

Step 3: The agency responsible for converting the driver's license reviews and checks the documents;

If there is any doubt regarding the foreign national's entry or residence status in Vietnam, the licensing agency will request verification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Department, or the Immigration Division of the provincial police.

Step 4: If the driver's license documents are valid, the Traffic Police Department or the local police station where the documents are received will input the electronic data and issue a result receipt;

If the conversion request is denied, the applicant will receive a written response with the reason for the refusal;

Step 5: Within 1 working day from the date of receiving the complete and valid documents (including results from the verification of the driver's license in case of suspicion), the Traffic Police Department will transfer the data to the Traffic Police Department for centralized management and issuance of the driver's license, integrating it into the electronic data system and the electronic identification account within 3 working day;

Step 6: The Traffic Police Department will print and return the driver's license within 5 working days from the date of receiving the complete and valid documents.

*Note: The return of the driver's license will be done at the document reception agency or through postal services upon the individual's request.

6. Validity Period of Converted Foreign Driver's License

According to Clause 5, Article 22 of Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA, the validity period of the Vietnamese driver's license issued to a foreigner is based on:

(i) The validity period stated in one of the following documents: diplomatic identity card, official identity card, temporary residence card, or permanent residence card, with a duration of at least 3 months; and

(ii) The validity period of the foreign driver's license.

However, the validity period of the Vietnamese driver's license issued to a foreigner shall not exceed the validity period of the Vietnamese driver's license.

According to Clause 5, Article 57 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, the validity periods for Vietnamese driver's licenses are as follows:

- Driver's licenses for categories A1, A, B1 are valid indefinitely;

- Driver's licenses for categories B and C1 are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance;

- Driver's licenses for categories C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, and DE are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.

Thus, the process for converting a foreign driver's license in Vietnam is not overly complicated but requires participants to fully understand the steps and legal requirements. To ensure the process runs smoothly and avoid any unnecessary mistakes, it is crucial to thoroughly research and adhere to the regulations. If you encounter difficulties in preparing documents or face legal challenges, you may consider seeking assistance from legal experts in this field. A suitable option can help save time and effort while ensuring that the procedure is completed smoothly.

 

The information contained in this article is general and intended only to provide information on legal regulations. DB Legal will not be responsible for any use or application of this information for any business purpose. For in-depth advice on specific cases, please contact us.

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