Some notes for foreigners taking a driving test in Vietnam

1. Can foreigners take a driving test in Vietnam?

Foreigners residing or working, studying in Vietnam for three months or more (confirmed by the competent authority) can attend training and take the driving license test (GPLX).

According to the provisions of Article 8 of Circular 46 and paragraph 1 of Article 60 of the Road Traffic Law regulating the subjects allowed to take the driving test to obtain GPLX in Vietnam:

• As a Vietnamese citizen, foreigners are allowed to reside or work, study in Vietnam.
• Aged 18 and above (counted on the date of taking the driving test), health, cultural level as prescribed.

However, they must read, understand Vietnamese because the theoretical tests for issuing GPLX for all categories nationwide are in Vietnamese. At the same time, they need to meet additional conditions such as: being within the age range specified for each category of GPLX (categories A1, B1, B2: 18 years and older; upgrade to C, D: 21 years and older; upgrade to E: 25 years and older) and be healthy.

2. What procedures do foreigners need to prepare to take a driving test in Vietnam?

You need to prepare 01 application set submitted directly to the training facility, including:

1. A copy of the passport, visa with a stay time of over 3 months.
2. A request form for study, examination to issue a driving license (according to the form - provided at the office)
3. A health certificate issued by the authorized medical facility as prescribed. (Examination at the office when registering)
4. 5 photos 3x4 with a blue background.

If you already have a driver's license issued by a foreign country and want to exchange it for use in Vietnam, what should you do?

The procedures for changing driver's licenses for foreigners in Vietnam are stipulated in Circular No. 12/2017/TT-BGTVT dated April 15, 2017 of the Ministry of Transport, regulations on training, examination, and issuance of road motor vehicle driving licenses. According to the circular, article 10, article 33: "Foreigners or Vietnamese residing abroad who need to drive in Vietnam if they have a national driver's license must go through the procedure to convert to the corresponding driver's license of Vietnam.

3. The conditions and procedures are as follows:

• Foreigners who have resided, worked, studied in Vietnam for more than 03 months;
• Foreign driver's license still meets all necessary factors: Validity period, category of vehicle allowed to drive, no signs of erasure or tearing, no differences in identification;
• Not changing temporary foreign driver's license, international driver's license.

4. Procedures for changing driver's licenses for foreigners:

1. An application form to change the driver's license according to the prescribed form (the form used for foreigners);
2. A translation of the foreign driver's license into Vietnamese as certified by the quality translation agency or the Embassy, Consulate in Vietnam where the translator works and seals with a copy of the driver's license;
3. A copy of the passport (including passport number, name and photo of the person issued, period of use, and entry stamp into Vietnam);
4. A copy of one of the following documents: residence card, temporary residence card, temporary residence card, permanent residence card, verification of long-term residence in Vietnam.