How to Convert an International Driver's License to a Vietnamese Driver's License?
Pursuant to Clause 10 Article 33 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, it is stipulated that: Foreigners or Vietnamese residing abroad who wish to drive in Vietnam shall comply with the following:
a) If there is a national driving license, procedures for changing to the corresponding Vietnamese driving license must be carried out;
b) In cases where international agreements on driving licenses to which Vietnam is a party provide otherwise, the provisions of such international agreements shall apply.
Pursuant to Article 41 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, the procedures are stipulated as follows:
- The driver shall prepare 01 set of application documents, to be submitted directly at the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam or the Department of Transport (where they are registered for residence, stay, temporary residence, or long-term settlement). The application documents include:
a) An application form for changing the driving license (for Vietnamese, according to the form specified in Appendix 19 issued with this Circular; for foreigners, according to the form specified in Appendix 20 issued with this Circular);
b) A translated copy of the foreign driving license into Vietnamese, verified for translation quality by a Notary Public or the Embassy/Consulate in Vietnam where the translator works, stamped jointly with the copy of the driving license; in cases where any suspicion arises, the driving license issuing authority may request in writing the Embassy/Consulate of the country issuing the driving license in Vietnam to verify;
c) A copy of the passport (including passport number, name and photo of the holder, validity period, and visa entry page into Vietnam), identity card or citizen identity card, diplomatic or official identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam or a copy of the residence card, permanent residence card, temporary residence card, long-term residence verification documents in Vietnam for foreigners; in cases where any suspicion arises, the driving license issuing authority may request in writing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security, the Immigration Management Department under the provincial or municipal Police Department under the Central Government to verify.
When coming to perform the procedures for changing the driving license, the driver must have their photo taken directly at the driving license issuing authority and must present the originals of the above documents (except for original documents that have been submitted) for comparison.
The driving license change application file managed by the driver shall be considered the original file, including the documents specified in Clause 1 of this Article and the foreign driving license.
The driving license change application file for foreigners not permanently residing in Vietnam shall be stored by the driving license issuing authority for 01 year, including the documents specified in Clause 1 of this Article.
Sincerely!
