Regulations on issuance of driver licenses in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

Regulations on issuance of driver licenses in Vietnam from January 1, 2025​ (Image from the internet)

On November 15, 2024, the Minister of Transport of VIetnam issued Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT regarding training, examination, issuance of driver licenses; issuance and use of international driver licenses; training, examination, and issuance of certificates for traffic law knowledge on road transport.

Regulations on issuance of driver licenses in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

Article 34 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulates the issuance of driver licenses from January 1, 2025, as follows:

(1) Persons who pass the examination are issued a driver license for the appropriate category in which they have passed; in the case of license upgrades or as provided in (2).

This requires presenting the original driver license when collecting the new driver license.

- Based on the decision recognizing the passing of the exam, the Department of Transport issues the driver license to those who pass. The examination passing date recorded on the back of the driver license is the date of signing the decision recognizing the passing of the exam.

- Driver licenses must be issued within no more than 10 days from the end of the examination and after the candidate fulfilling the fee payment obligation for the driver license issuance.

(2) Persons with driver licenses that have expired:

- Holders of driver licenses of categories B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, DE that have expired:

If expired for less than 1 year from the expiration date, a theoretical test must be taken as stipulated in point a, clause 1, Article 17 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT to obtain the driver license.

If expired for 1 year or more from the expiration date, a theoretical and a practical driving test both on a course and on roads must be taken as stipulated in clauses 1, 2, and 3, Article 17 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

The examination dossier is executed according to clause 3, Article 29 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT;

- Holders of driver licenses of categories B, C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, DE that are lost but expired, listed in the Department of Transport records, and are not being seized or processed by competent authorities must take the following examinations:

If expired for less than 1 year, a theoretical test must be taken to obtain the driver license as stipulated in point a, clause 1, Article 17 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

If expired for 1 year or more from the expiration date, a theoretical and practical driving test both on a course and on roads must be taken to obtain the driver license as stipulated in clauses 1, 2, and 3, Article 17 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

The examination dossier is executed according to clause 3, Article 29 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT;

- The examination passing date recorded on the back of the driver license is calculated from the passing date of the old driver license.

- Examinees who wish to review must register with driving training institutions for guidance and must pay the review fee according to regulations, without having to retake the training program.

- In cases where the result does not qualify for a driver license, individuals with expired or lost licenses beyond the expiration must register with the Department of Transport for a retest.

(3) No driver license examination for individuals violating road traffic order and safety who have not completed the requirements of competent state agencies regarding the resolution and handling of administrative violations in the field of road traffic order and safety.

More details can be found in Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT effective from January 1, 2025.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE