Application and procedures for changing the current driving licenses to the new PET driving licenses in Vietnam

Application and procedures for changing a driving license made of hard copy into a driving license made of PET material in Vietnam (Internet image)

 Application form for changing a driving license made of hard copy into a driving license made of PET material in Vietnam 

Regarding this matter, LawNet would like to answer Mr. Lam's question as follows:

According to the provisions of Articles 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT and Article 1 of Circular 38/2019/TT-BGTVT, the application and procedures for changing a driving license made of hard copy into a driving license made of PET material in Vietnam are as follows:

1. For driving licenses issued by transport authorities

The candidate shall send a set of application in person to Directorate for Roads of Vietnam or Department of Transport. The application includes:

- Written request for renewal of driving license according to form prescribed in Appendix 19 enclosed with Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT;

- Health certificates issued by competent medical facilities as prescribed, except for:

+ A1, A2, A3 class license holders;

+ Persons who need to separate driving licenses with limited and unlimited validity periods combined.

- The copy of driving licenses, people’s identity card, citizen’s identity card or unexpired passport for Vietnamese citizens or unexpired passport for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese.

The applicant shall be photographed when submitting the application for renewal and must present the original copy of aforesaid documents (except for sent original documents) for comparison.

2. For driving licenses issued by the Ministry of National Defense

The candidate shall send a set of application in person to Directorate for Roads of Vietnam and Department of Transport. The application includes:

- Written request for renewal of driving license according to form prescribed in Appendix 19 enclosed with Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT.

- A copy of military discharge decision within 06 months since it is signed by chief of regiment and over or the decision terminating the labor contract within 06 months since it is signed by competent authority of a business servicing national defense and security.

- Health certificate issued by competent medical facilities as prescribed except for renewal of A1, A2, A3 class driving license.

-The copy of unexpired military driving license, people’s identity card, citizen’s identity card or unexpired passport for Vietnamese citizens or unexpired passport for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese; in case of any suspicion, the authority which replaces the driving license shall send a written request to Department of Vehicle and Machinery affiliated to the Ministry of National Defense for verification.

The applicant shall be photographed when submitting the application for replacement and must present the original copy of aforesaid documents (except for sent original documents) for comparison.

Applications for renewal of military driving licenses are original records including documents as specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 39 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT and corner-cut military driving license is returned to the driver for preservation.

3. For driving licenses issued by public security

* Applications for renewal of motorbike driving licenses issued before August 01, 1995 by public security:

The candidate shall send a set of application in person to Directorate for Roads of Vietnam and Department of Transport. The application includes:

- Written request for renewal of driving license according to form prescribed in Appendix 19 enclosed with Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT;

- The copy of unexpired driving license, people’s identity card, citizen’s identity card or unexpired passport for Vietnamese citizens indicating number of people’s identity card or citizen’s identity card; in case of any suspicion, the authority which replaces the driving license shall send a written request to Department of Traffic Police affiliated to the Ministry of Public Security or the Department of Transport for verification;

- Original documents (if any);

The applicant shall be photographed when submitting the application for replacement and must present the original copy of aforesaid documents (except for sent original documents) for comparison.

* Applications for renewal of driving licenses issued from August 01, 1995 by public security:

The candidate shall send a set of application in person to Directorate for Roads of Vietnam and Department of Transport. The application includes:

- Written request for renewal of driving license according to form prescribed in Appendix 19 enclosed with Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT;

- Copy of decision on retirement or discharge issued by competent authority;

- Health certificate issued by competent medical facilities as prescribed except for renewal of A1, A2, A3 class driving license;

- The copy of unexpired police driving license, people’s identity card, citizen’s identity card or unexpired passport for Vietnamese citizens indicating number of people’s identity card or citizen’s identity card; in case of any suspicion, the authority which replaces the driving license shall send a written request to Department of Traffic Police affiliated to the Ministry of Public Security for verification.

The applicant shall be photographed when submitting the application for replacement and must present the original copy of aforesaid documents (except for sent original documents) for comparison.

Applications for renewal of police force driving licenses are original records including documents as specified in Points a and b, Clause 2, Article 40 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT and corner-cut police force driving license returned to the driver for preservation.

4. For foreign driving licenses

* The candidate shall send a set of application in person to Directorate for Roads of Vietnam or Department of Transport (where the residence is registered). The application includes:

- Written request for renewal of driving license (Vietnamese citizens shall use the form in Appendix 19 enclosed with Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, foreigners shall use the form in Appendix 20 enclosed with Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT);

- A written translation of the foreign driving license in Vietnamese guaranteed in quality by notary office or Embassy, Consulate in Vietnam for which the translator works, affixed with fan stamping and copy of the driving license; in case of Vietnamese, the consularly legalized driving license or foreign driving license in accordance with law on consular certification and consular legalization is required, except for cases of exemption as per the lawsoft;

- The copy of passport (passport number, full name, passport photo, validity period and page of entry visa to Vietnam), people’s identity card, citizen’s identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam or a photocopy of the Permanent Residence Card, Temporary Residence Card, stay permits or the papers proving the foreigner’s long-term residence in Vietnam; in case of any question found, the licensing agency shall issue a written request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Department affiliated to the Ministry of Public Security and the Immigration Office affiliated to the Public Security station at the provinces for verification.

The applicant shall be photographed when submitting the application for replacement and must present the original copy of aforesaid documents (except for sent original documents) for comparison.

* Applications for renewal of driving licenses returned to drivers by the licensing agency are original records including documents as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 41 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT and foreign driving license.

* Applications for renewal of driving licenses for foreigners not permanently residing in Vietnam are stored for 01 years by the licensing agency including documents as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 41 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT.

5. For foreign driving licenses issued to foreign tourists driving cars into Vietnam

The candidate shall send a set of application to the Department of Transport or by post. The application includes:

- Written request for renewal of driving license according to form prescribed in Appendix 20 enclosed with Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT;

- A written translation of the driving license in Vietnamese guaranteed in quality by notary office or Embassy, Consulate in Vietnam where the translator works, affixed with a stamp on adjoining edges of pages and copy of the driving license; in case of any question found, the licensing agency shall issue a written request to the Embassy or Consulate for verification;

- Certified true copy of the entry-exit registration list made by the Ministry of Public Security or the copy of passport that shows passport number, full name, passport photo, validity period and page of entry visa to Vietnam;

- 01 color 3 cm x 4 cm photo with blue background like those used in ID card.

The applicant must present the original copy of aforesaid documents (except for sent original documents) for comparison.

The licensing agency shall note “Driving license is renewed for the first time” in its management records.

Nguyen Trinh

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