What is the new driving license form in Vietnam from March 1, 2025? What is the current fee for issuing a driving license in Vietnam?

What is the new driving license form in Vietnam from March 1, 2025?

On February 28, 2025, the Minister of Public Security issued Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA which provides regulations on the testing and issuance of driving licenses; the issuance and usage of international driving licenses.

Accordingly, Appendix 10 promulgated with Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA specifies the new driving license template issued by the Ministry of Public Security effective from March 1, 2025, as follows:

In particular:

(1) Specifications of the driving license

The driving license is a document (printed in Vietnamese and English) containing information such as:

- The license sheet is made of PET material or materials with equivalent technical standards, with a pink pattern and security symbols, sized 85.6 x 53.98 x 0.76 mm (according to the ICAO ID-1 standard);

- On the front of the driving license is the text "driving license" in red; the text "MOTOR VEHICLES ALLOWED TO OPERATE", “Date of Passing” in bold black; other texts in black.

- The driver’s photo taken with a blue background is printed directly on the driving license;

- There is a security overlay on both sides of the driving license;

- The front of the driving license displays the following information:

License number, Driver’s full name, Date of birth, Nationality, Date of issue, Expiry date, Issuing authority, Place of residence, Category.

- The back of the driving license displays the following information:

Types of motor vehicles allowed to operate (stated in Vietnamese and English), date of passing, has a two-dimensional (QR) code for quick reading and decoding of information on the driving license and links to the driving license information system at the Traffic Police Department.

(2) Printing Method for driving licenses

Print each category of driving license that the driver is permitted to operate (displayed in Vietnamese and English).

(3) Restriction Conditions

- For automatic transmission category B licenses (including electric cars), it states: “Issued for those only allowed to drive automatic transmission cars (including electric cars)”;

- For category A1 licenses issued to persons with disabilities driving three-wheeled motorcycles for the disabled, it states: “Issued for persons with disabilities only allowed to drive three-wheeled motorcycles for persons with disabilities”;

- For automatic transmission category B licenses issued to persons with left-hand disabilities, it states: “Issued for those with left-hand disabilities only allowed to drive automatic transmission cars (including electric cars) with control structures for headlights, turn signals suitable for left-hand disabilities”;

- For automatic transmission category B licenses issued to persons with right-hand disabilities, it states: “Issued for those with right-hand disabilities only allowed to drive automatic transmission vehicles with control structures for headlights, turn signals suitable for right-hand disabilities”;

- For automatic transmission category B licenses issued to persons with right-leg disabilities, it states: “Issued for those with right-leg disabilities only allowed to drive automatic transmission vehicles with control structures for engine throttle, brake suitable for right-leg disabilities”;

- For automatic transmission category B licenses issued to persons with general disabilities (except left-hand, right-hand, right-leg disabilities), it states:

“Issued for persons with general disabilities only allowed to drive automatic transmission vehicles”;

- For category A1 licenses issued before this circular takes effect that are exchanged, reissued to category A licenses with restricted conditions allowing only the operation of two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement of up to 175 cm³ or electric motor power up to 14 kW, it states:

“Issued for only those allowed to operate two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement up to 175 cm³ or electric motor power up to 14 kW”;

- For automatic gear category B1 licenses issued before this circular takes effect that are exchanged, reissued to category B licenses, it states:

“Issued for those only allowed to operate automatic transmission vehicles (including electric cars)”.

(4) Restriction Condition Codes on driving licenses

Codes printed on the back of the driving license signify the conditions that must be met to drive.

- A.01: Only operates three-wheeled motorcycles for persons with disabilities;

- A.02: Only allowed to operate two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement from 125 cm³ or more or electric motor power from 14 kW or more using variable transmission;

- A.03: Only allowed to operate two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement up to 175 cm³ or electric motor power up to 14 kW;

- B.01: Only operates category B automatic transmission vehicles (including electric cars);

- B.02: Only operates category B automatic transmission vehicles, issued to persons with left-hand disabilities;

- B.03: Only operates category B automatic transmission vehicles, issued to persons with right-hand disabilities;

- B.04: Only operates category B automatic transmission vehicles, issued to persons with right-leg disabilities;

- B.05: Only operates category B automatic transmission vehicles, issued to persons with general disabilities.

What is the new driving license form in Vietnam from March 1, 2025? (Image from the Internet)

What is the current fee for issuing a driving license in Vietnam?

Based on the Fee Schedule for driving tests; Fees for issuing certificates of operation on vehicle types and registration fees, issuing license plates for specialized motorcycles issued together with Circular 37/2023/TT-BTC, the driving test fees for cars are as follows:

- Issuance of new driving license (national and international): 135,000 VND/time.

- Reissuance of driving license (national and international): 135,000 VND/time.

- Exchange of driving license (national and international): 135,000 VND/time.

What is the management and use of the driving license issuance fee in Vietnam?

Based on Article 5 of Circular 37/2023/TT-BTC which regulates the management and use of the driving license issuance fee as follows:

- The fee-collecting organization must remit 100% of the collected fee amount to the state budget. The cost of providing services, collecting fees is arranged by the state budget in the expenditure estimates of the fee-collecting organization according to policies, expenditure norms as prescribed by law.

- In cases where the fee-collecting organization is allocated operating expenses from collected fees under Clause 1, Article 4 of Decree 120/2016/ND-CP, 75% of the collected fee amount can be retained to cover service provision and fee collection costs as defined in Article 5 of Decree 120/2016/ND-CP; 25% of the collected fee amount must be remitted to the state budget.

In localities where there are still difficulties regarding material conditions and where driving test centers are insufficient, but the Ministry of Transport allows driving tests at former centers or test tracks, the fee-collecting organization is allowed to retain 40% of the collected fee amount to cover service provision and fee collection costs as stipulated in Article 5 of Decree 120/2016/ND-CP; 60% of the collected fee amount must be remitted to the state budget.