Cases of verification of driver licenses in Vietnam according to Circular 35

Cases of verification of driver licenses in Vietnam according to Circular 35​ (Image from Internet)

1. Cases of verification of driver licenses in Vietnam according to Circular 35​

According to Clause 1, Article 33 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT regulating cases for driver license verification:

- Issuance, exchange of driver licenses issued by the transportation sector

The Department of Transport must search and print information on driver licenses in cases of consideration for upgrading, exchanging, or re-issuing driver licenses from the driver license management information system; in cases where information is not available, a written request to the agency that issued the driver license for verification must be made.

If the verification result of the driver license is not available or the verification result shows that the driver license was not issued by the Department of Transport, the Department shall not proceed with the upgrading, exchange, or re-issuance of the driver license;

- Exchanging military driver licenses issued by the Ministry of Defense for those issued by the transportation sector

In cases where suspicion arises, the agency responsible for exchanging driver licenses must make a written request to the Vehicle-Machine Department of the Ministry of Defense to verify the issued driver license.

If the verification result of the driver license is not available or if the driver license was not issued by the Ministry of Defense, the Department of Transport shall not exchange the driver license;

- Exchanging driver licenses issued by the Ministry of Public Security for those issued by the transportation sector

In cases where suspicion arises, the agency responsible for exchanging driver licenses must make a written request to the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security to manage the driver licenses for verification of the issued driver license.

If the verification result of the driver license is not available or if the driver license was not issued by the Ministry of Public Security, the Department of Transport shall not exchange the driver license.

2. Procedures for driver license verification in Vietnam

According to Clause 2, Article 33 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT guiding the procedures for driver license verification:

- Within 1 working day from the date of receiving the list requesting verification of driver licenses from driving training centers or valid documents as specified in Articles 36, 37, and 38 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT, the Department of Transport shall make a written request for driver license verification according to Form No. 01, Appendix XXV issued together with Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT to the agency that issued the driver license;

- Immediately upon receiving the request for verification, the Department of Transport responsible for receiving the driver license verification must respond by phone, email, or fax; within 2 working days, a written response shall be given according to Form No. 02 from Appendix XXV issued together with Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

3. Regulations on the use and management of driver licenses in Vietnam

According to Article 32 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT regulating the use and management of driver licenses:

- driver licenses are made of PET material, issued to each individual guaranteeing a unique management number, applicable for both non-expiring and expiring licenses.

- Individuals who wish to integrate a non-expiring driver license with an expiring one must register in the application form for exchanging (re-issuing) driver licenses as specified in Appendix XXVI issued together with Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT and follow the procedures for exchanging driver licenses as stipulated in Article 36 of Circular 35/2024/TT-BGTVT.

- An individual with a driver license is only authorized to drive the type of vehicle indicated on the license.

- When exchanging or issuing upgraded driver licenses, the issuing body shall collect the old license and destroy it in accordance with legal provisions on archiving.

- Individuals holding an automatic transmission driver license category B are not permitted to drive a manual transmission vehicle.

- Foreigners or Vietnamese residing abroad who wish to drive in Vietnam must comply as follows:

+ If they possess a national driver license, they must complete the procedures to exchange it for a corresponding Vietnamese driver’s license;

+ If there is an international treaty on driver licenses to which Vietnam is a party with different provisions, the provisions of such international treaties shall apply.

- Driver licenses made from PET material and licenses issued from January 1, 2025, are licenses issued by competent authorities with validity, having matching batch numbers, issuance dates, and expiration dates printed on the license in accordance with those in the driver license management information system, or having license information integrated into an electronic identification account.

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