Regulations on renewal of driving license in Vietnam

Some cases of renewal of driving license in Vietnam

The following are some cases of renewal of driving license according to the provisions of Clauses 2, 3 and 4, Article 37 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT:

- Any person whose driving license remains valid shall renew before expiry date; any person whose driving license remains valid but is damaged may apply for renewal.

- Any driver reaching 55 (male) and 50 (female) years of age and holding E class license shall be considered for renewal of license from D class and under if he/she has demands and is healthy enough.

- If year of birth, full name, or middle name specified in the driving license shows deviation from the people’s identity card or citizen’s identity card, the license management agency shall carry out procedures on renewal of driving license in accordance with information specified in the people’s identity card/citizen’s identity card.

Regulations on renewal of driving license in Vietnam (Internet image)

Subjects eligible renewal of driving license in Vietnam

Pursuant to the provisions of Clause 5, Article 37 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, the subjects eligible for renewal of driving license:

- Vietnamese people, foreigners who have trained, tested and obtained driving licenses in Vietnam;

- Drivers whose driving licenses issued by transport authorities are damaged;

- Vietnamese people, foreigners residing long term in Vietnam who have obtained driving licenses in Vietnam may apply for renewal if they have demands;

- Drivers with military driving licenses still unexpired when being discharge (demobilized, retired, changed job, labor contract expired...) may apply for renewal if they have demands;

- Retired police officials and soldiers having driving licenses issued after July 31, 1995 by police authorities and remaining valid may apply for renewal if they have demands after retirement or job changing;

- Drivers working in public security whose driving licenses issued before August 01, 1995 are damaged may apply for renewal if they have demands and their names are in the database;

- Foreigners residing, working and studying in Vietnam for at least 03 months, having Diplomatic or Official Identity Card, Permanent Residence Card, Temporary Residence Card, stay permits and unexpired native driving licenses may apply for renewal with corresponding driving licenses of Vietnam if they wish to drive in Vietnam;

- Foreign tourists driving overseas-registered cars into Vietnam and having unexpired native driving licenses may apply for renewal with corresponding driving licenses of Vietnam if they wish to drive in Vietnam;

- Vietnamese people (Vietnamese nationality) having unexpired driving licenses issued by other countries while residing, working and studying there may apply for renewal with corresponding driving licenses of Vietnam if they wish to drive in Vietnam.

Cases ineligible for renewal of driving licenses in Vietnam

Pursuant to the provisions of Clause 6, Article 37 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, the following cases are ineligible for renewal of driving licenses:

- Temporary foreign driving licenses, international driving licenses, foreign driving licenses, driving licenses issued by the army or police that have been expired and are suspected of being falsified or so damaged that cannot be identified; suspicious foreign driving licenses that cannot be verified;

- Driving licenses issued by transport authorities but not included in the driving license information system, list of candidates granted driving licenses (management book);

- Period from military discharge decision to the implementation of procedures on renewal of driving licenses issued by the Ministry of National Defense in excess of 06 months;

- Persons who are not as healthy as prescribed.

Mai Thanh Loi

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