Will Korean driving licenses be recognized in Vietnam from 2024? What are the procedures for issuing International driving permits in Vietnam?
Will Korean driving licenses be recognized in Vietnam?
According to Decision 163/QD-TTg 2024 approving the plan for implementing the mutual recognition International driving permit agreement between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea, the organization for implementing the agreement is as follows:
- Recognize driving licenses from the Korean side, handle violations, and establish channels for information coordination in implementing the agreement.
- Recognize Korean driving licenses and handle violations according to the provisions of the agreement and the national laws of each party.
- Establish information coordination channels with competent state agencies in Korea.
- Designate and notify the focal point agencies and contact information between Vietnam and Korea regarding all matters of the agreement; ensure technical conditions for connecting, exchanging, and sharing information between the two parties.
- Propose the agencies responsible for implementing the tasks:
+ Ministry of Transport takes the lead, coordinates with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the agreement according to their functions, tasks, and authority;
+ Compile information and provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the contact focal point and relevant information regarding the implementation of the agreement to formally notify the Korean side.
+ Ministry of Public Security organizes the implementation of the agreement according to its functions, tasks, and authority;
Provide the Ministry of Transport with the relevant contact focal point regarding the inspection, verification, and handling of violations for the implementation of the agreement. The relevant ministries, sectors, and localities are responsible for coordinating and providing the Ministry of Public Security with the relevant contact focal points regarding the inspection, verification, and handling of violations according to their functions, tasks, and authority.
+ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on the information provided by the Ministry of Transport, notifies the Korean side: the focal point agencies implementing the agreement on the Vietnamese side; the model of the International driving permit, the national driving license; and relevant legal documents.
- Implementation period: Annually, until the agreement is terminated.
Therefore, from February 6, 2024, Korean driving licenses will be recognized in Vietnam.
Will Korean driving licenses be recognized in Vietnam from 2024? What are the procedures for issuing International driving permits in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)
Who is eligible for an International driving permit in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 6 of Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT, the subjects eligible for an International driving permit as follows:
Entities eligible for the International Driving Permit
Any Vietnamese, foreigners having card of residence in Vietnam who has an unexpired PET national driving permit issued by Vietnam.
Thus, 02 subjects that meet the legal conditions to be granted an International driving permit include: Vietnamese and having card of residence in Vietnam who has an unexpired PET national driving permit issued by Vietnam.
What are the procedures for issuing International driving permits in Vietnam?
According to Article 8 of Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT amended by Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 1 of Circular 01/2021/TT-BGTVT, with some terms replaced by Point b, Clause 1 of Article 10 of Circular 05/2023/TT-BGTVT, the procedure for issuing an International driving permit is as follows:
- Individuals submit an application for an international driving permit according to the prescribed form in Appendix IV issued with Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT, either directly or through the online public service system to the Vietnam Road Administration or the Department of Transport.
- The process for issuing an IDP is as follows:
+ When individuals submit their application directly to the Vietnam Road Administration or the Department of Transport, they must present the original copy of their national driving license issued by Vietnam, passport, and permanent resident card (for foreigners) for verification of accuracy and legality of the IDP issuance, and must fulfill the obligation to pay the fees upon receipt of the application according to regulations;
+ When submitting the application through the online public service system, individuals must complete the declaration according to the instructions and take responsibility for the accuracy and legality of the declared content, and must fulfill the obligation to pay the fees through the fee payment function of the online public service system and pay for other service fees as needed.
In case the application does not comply with the regulations, the receiving agency is responsible for directly notifying or notifying in writing or through the online public service system the additional or amended content required for the individual within a period of 02 working days from the date of receiving the application;
+ Within 05 working days from the date of receiving a correctly submitted IDP application as prescribed, the Vietnam Road Administration or the Department of Transport shall issue the IDP to the individual; in case the IDP is not issued, a response with clear reasons must be provided.
In case the IDP is lost or damaged, the individual makes an application for re-issuance according to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 8 of Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT.
- The application for IDP shall be rejected in the following cases:
+ The National driving permit is erased or damaged that essential information is no longer readable, or the permit’s appearance is unconformable;
+ The National driving permit was not issued by a competent agency according to regulations.
- Any individual cheating in the application for the IDP, erasing or falsifying information on the issued IDP, apart from having the IDP revoked, shall take legal responsibilities and shall not be granted the IDP for 03 years from the day on which the violation is discovered.
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