Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulating the training, examination, issuance of driver licenses; issuance and use of international driver licenses; training, examination, and issuance of certificates for legal knowledge on road traffic in Vietnam
Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulating the training, examination, issuance of driver licenses; issuance and use of international driver licenses; training, examination, and issuance of certificates for legal knowledge on road traffic in Vietnam
On November 15, 2024, the Minister of Transport issued Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT regulating the following matters:
- Sample driver licenses, training, testing, issuing, exchanging, re-issuing, revoking driver licenses, using driver licenses, and standards for driving test grounds for motorcycles.
- Sample international driver licenses, issuance, and use of international driver licenses.
- Standards for training, testing, issuing, and re-issuing certificates on road traffic law knowledge, and standards of training facilities for special-use vehicle operators to conduct training, testing, and issuing certificates on road traffic law knowledge.
In Article 14 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT, the requirements for driving learners are specified as follows:
- Must be a Vietnamese citizen or a foreigner permitted to reside, work, or study in Vietnam.
- Learners who wish to upgrade their driver licenses must comply with the provisions of Clause 4, Article 60 of the Road Traffic Safety and Order Law; specifically, the duration of safe driving required for each type of driver license is:
+ Category B to C1, B to C, B to D1, B to BE, C1 to C, C1 to D1, C1 to D2, C1 to C1E, C to D1, C to D2, D1 to D2, D1 to D, D1 to D1E, D2 to D, D2 to D2E, D to DE: a minimum of 02 years of safe driving.
+ Category B to D2, C to CE, C to D: a minimum of 03 years of safe driving.
- Individuals with an automatic transmission B license can register for training to obtain a new mechanical transmission B license (manual transmission); individuals with a B license can register for training to obtain a new C1 license and must complete the required driving training curriculum as per regulations, with learners' documents prepared according to regulations.
If the test is passed, the testing organization will issue a document proposing the organization that issued the old driver license to trim its corner and issue a document proposing the Vietnam Road Directorate to remove the license management number.
Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulating the training, examination, issuance of driver licenses; issuance and use of international driver licenses; training, examination, and issuance of certificates for legal knowledge on road traffic in Vietnam (Image from the Internet)
What documents are included in the application for a first-time driving learner in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 15 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT, the application for a first-time driving learner in Vietnam are specified as follows:
Article 15. Documents for Driving Learners
- First-time driving learners shall prepare one set of documents to submit directly to the training facility and have their photograph directly stored in the driver license database. The documents include:
a) Application form for training, testing to issue a driver license according to the form specified in Appendix XI attached to this Circular;
b) A copy or electronically certified copy from the original or an electronic copy issued from the original registry of one of the following documents: temporary residence card, permanent residence card, diplomatic ID, or public service ID (for foreigners).
- Learners upgrading their licenses prepare one set of documents, submit directly to the training facility, and have their photograph directly stored in the driver license database. The documents include:
a) Papers prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article;
b) A certified copy of the lower secondary school diploma or equivalent certificate for cases upgrading to D1, D2, and D classes (produce a certified copy alongside the original for comparison or an electronic certified copy from the original or an electronic copy from the original registry);
c) Declaration of safe driving time following the form specified in Appendix XII attached to this Circular.
[...]
Thus, the documentation for a first-time driving learner includes the following:
- Application form for training, testing to issue a driver license.
- A copy or electronically certified copy from the original or an electronic copy issued from the original registry of one of the following documents: temporary residence card, permanent residence card, diplomatic ID, or public service ID (for foreigners).
Which driver licenses in Vietnam have a duration of 05 years?
Pursuant to Clause 5, Article 57 of Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order 2024, driver licenses are regulated as follows:
Article 57. driver licenses
[...]
- The validity period of driver licenses is stipulated as follows:
a) driver licenses of categories A1, A, B1 are indefinite;
b) driver licenses of categories B and C1 are valid for 10 years from the date of issue;
c) driver licenses of categories C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, and DE are valid for 05 years from the date of issue.
[...]
According to the above regulations, driver licenses with a 05-year duration include:
[1] Category C for drivers of trucks and special-use automobiles with a total design weight over 7,500 kg; trucks specified for C category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight up to 750 kg; vehicles specified for B and C1 category licenses.
[2] Category D1 for drivers of passenger vehicles with more than 08 seats (excluding the driver's seat) up to 16 seats (excluding the driver's seat); passenger vehicles specified for D1 category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight up to 750 kg; vehicles specified for B, C1, C category licenses.
[3] Category D2 for drivers of passenger vehicles (including buses) with more than 16 seats (excluding the driver's seat) up to 29 seats (excluding the driver's seat); passenger vehicles specified for D2 category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight up to 750 kg; vehicles specified for B, C1, C, D1 category licenses.
[4] Category D for drivers of passenger vehicles (including buses) with more than 29 seats (excluding the driver's seat); sleeper buses; passenger vehicles specified for D category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight up to 750 kg; vehicles specified for B, C1, C, D1, D2 category licenses.
[5] Category BE for drivers of vehicles specified for B category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight over 750 kg.
[6] Category C1E for drivers of vehicles specified for C1 category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight over 750 kg.
[7] Category CE for drivers of vehicles specified for C category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight over 750 kg; tractor-trailers pulling semi-trailers.
[8] Category D1E for drivers of vehicles specified for D1 category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight over 750 kg.
[9] Category D2E for drivers of vehicles specified for D2 category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight over 750 kg.
[10] Category DE for drivers of vehicles specified for D category licenses towing a trailer with a design total weight over 750 kg; passenger trains (coaches).
