Can foreign driving licenses be used in Vietnam? Do you need to go through any procedures if you want to use them?

1. Using foreign driving licenses in Vietnam

Based on Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT, there are currently two types of driving licenses: international driving licenses and national driving licenses. Specifically:

- An international driving license is issued to citizens of countries that are parties to the Vienna Convention. Therefore, foreigners with this license can use it to participate in traffic in Vietnam.- A national driving license is only valid within the issuing country's territory. As a result, foreign nationals cannot directly use their national driving license in Vietnam.Therefore, foreigners who wish to drive in Vietnam must go through the process of converting to the corresponding Vietnamese driving license.

However, not all foreign nationals are allowed to convert their driving licenses for use in Vietnam. According to Article 33 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT, the eligible individuals for driving license conversion include:

- Foreigners residing, working, studying in Vietnam, having diplomatic, official identity cards, temporary residence cards, residency cards, permanent residence cards with a duration of 03 months or more, and a valid national driving license.

- Foreign tourists driving registered foreign vehicles to Vietnam, with a valid national driving license

2. Procedures for converting driving licenses for use in Vietnam

- Prepare documents to be submitted to the Vietnam Road Administration or the Department of Transport (where you are registered for residence, temporary residence, or long-term settlement), including:

+ Request for driving license conversion according to prescribed form

+ Translation of foreign driving license into Vietnamese certified for translation quality by a Notary Public or the Embassy, Consulate General in Vietnam where the translator works, and stamped together with a copy of the driving license;

+ Copy of passport (with passport number, name and photo of the holder, validity period, and entry stamp into Vietnam), national ID card or citizen identification card, diplomatic or official identification card issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a copy of residency card, residence card, temporary residence card, permanent residence verification document in Vietnam for foreigners; if there are suspicions detected, the issuing agency for driving license conversion shall request verification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Management Department under the Ministry of Public Security, Immigration Management Department of the province, centrally-run city;

+ When completing the driving license conversion procedures, the driver must take a photo directly at the driving licensing agency

- For foreign tourists, prepare documents to be submitted to the Department of Transport, including:

+ Request for driving license conversion according to prescribed form

+ Translation of foreign driving license into Vietnamese certified for translation quality by a Notary Public or the Embassy, Consulate General in Vietnam where the translator works, and stamped together with a copy of the driving license; if there are suspicions detected, the issuing agency for driving license conversion shall request verification from the Embassy, Consulate General of the country that issued the driving license in Vietnam;

+ Copy with authentication of the list of entry and exit issued by the Department of Public Security or a copy of the passport including the passport number, the holder's name and photo, validity period, and entry stamp into Vietnam;