Driver license conversion

Types of Driver Licenses Eligible for Exchange in Vietnam

Vietnam currently allows the conversion of national driver licenses issued by competent foreign authorities—provided they are still valid—into an equivalent Vietnamese driver license. Specifically:

National driver licenses issued by foreign authorities

This includes licenses held by:

• Foreigners residing, working, or studying in Vietnam with a valid national driver license issued abroad

• Vietnamese citizens living overseas who possess a legally issued foreign driver license

Types of driver licenses that can be exchanged

Vietnam permits the conversion of automobile, motorcycle, passenger vehicle, cargo vehicle, and other categories of foreign driver licenses that correspond to the updated 15 license classes under Vietnam’s 2025 regulations:

A, A1, B, B1, C, C1, D, D1, D2, BE, C1E, CE, DE, D1E, D2E

In addition, Vietnam accepts foreign driver licenses issued by countries that have signed an international treaty with Vietnam on the mutual recognition of driver licenses.
If the treaty provides specific rules, those rules will prevail.

Common countries whose driver licenses can be exchanged in Vietnam

• United States

• Taiwan

• Japan

• South Korea

• European countries

• ASEAN countries

• And many others

Driver licenses that are NOT eligible for exchange

• Temporary foreign driver licenses

• International Driving Permits (IDP)

• Expired driver licenses, or licenses that are altered, damaged, erased, or missing information

• Driver licenses not issued by a competent authority

Procedures for Converting a Foreign Driver License in Vietnam – Latest Update

According to the current guidance of the Traffic Police Department, the process for converting a foreign-issued driver license into a Vietnamese driver license consists of the following required documents and procedural steps:

Required Documents

Application form for driver license conversion:

• Foreign nationals must use the application form in Appendix XIII issued together with Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA.

• Vietnamese citizens residing abroad must use the application form in Appendix XII.

Certified Vietnamese translation of the foreign driver license, notarized either at a Vietnamese notary office or a Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad, with a seal overlapping the translation and the copy of the original license.

Valid health certificate for drivers issued by an eligible medical institution (except for foreign nationals converting their driver license based on the validity of their entry visa or temporary residence card).

A certified copy or authenticated electronic copy (from the original or from the national database) of one of the following documents, with a minimum validity of 03 months:

• Diplomatic ID card

• Official ID card

• Temporary residence card

• Permanent residence card

Procedures and Processing Steps

Submit the application:
Applicants prepare one complete dossier and submit it directly to the Traffic Police Division or the Commune Police Office where applications are received.
At this step, applicants will take a live photo and present original documents for verification.

Residence verification:
If there is any doubt regarding the applicant’s entry or residence status, the receiving authority will request verification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Department, or the Provincial Immigration Office.

Application processing:

• Within 01 working day from receiving a complete and valid dossier (including verification results, if applicable), the Traffic Police Division transfers the data to the Traffic Police Department for centralized management and driver license issuance.

• The Traffic Police Department integrates the driver license into the electronic data system and the national digital ID account within 03 working days.

• The Traffic Police Division prints and delivers the physical driver license within 05 working days from the date the complete dossier is received.

Receiving the driver license:
The applicant may collect the driver license directly at the receiving office or request delivery via postal service.

Online Submission via the National Public Service Portal

• Access: https://dichvucong.gov.vn

• Log in and search for the procedure “Exchange of foreign-issued driver license”

• Upload required documents and photo

• Wait for confirmation

• Receive the result by postal delivery or collect it in person

Validity Period of a Foreign Driver License Converted in Vietnam

Under current Vietnamese regulations, the validity of a Vietnamese driver license issued through conversion from a foreign driver license is determined based on the following factors:

• It must correspond to the validity period stated on the applicant’s entry visa or temporary residence card in Vietnam.

• It must not exceed the remaining validity of the foreign-issued driver license.

• It must not exceed the maximum validity allowed for each driver license category under Vietnamese law.

Specific validity periods according to Vietnamese driver license categories

Therefore, a converted Vietnamese driver license for a foreign national will have a maximum validity based on the table above, but must also not exceed:

1. The remaining validity of the foreign driver license, and

2. The remaining validity of the foreigner’s lawful residence period in Vietnam (visa or temporary residence card).

Illustrative Examples

Example 1:
A foreign national’s driver license remains valid until 31/12/2025, while their temporary residence card in Vietnam is valid until 30/06/2025.
→ The converted Vietnamese driver license will be valid until 30/06/2025, following the shorter validity (the TRC).

Example 2:
If a foreign driver license has a very long validity period that exceeds Vietnamese limits, the converted license will still comply with Vietnam’s maximum validity—for example, category B or C1 will be capped at 10 years, regardless of the foreign license’s duration.

For Foreign Tourists

Vietnam issues converted driver licenses for foreign tourists operating foreign-registered vehicles.
The validity period will:

• Match the authorized duration of stay (from entry to exit date), and

• Not exceed the maximum validity allowed for the relevant Vietnamese driver license category.

In Summary

The validity of a Vietnamese driver license converted from a foreign driver license depends on:

• The remaining validity of the foreign driver license,

• The foreigner’s legal residence period in Vietnam (visa/TRC), and

• Vietnam’s statutory validity period for each driver license category.

Foreign nationals cannot arbitrarily choose a longer validity period.
All converted licenses must strictly follow Vietnam’s driver license regulations and immigration rules.

Cost of Converting a Foreign Driver License in Vietnam

The cost of converting a foreign driver license in Vietnam depends on several factors, including whether you submit the application yourself or through a service provider, the type of driver license being converted, and the province or city where the application is processed. Below are the common fees you should be aware of:

According to current regulations, the official fee for converting a driver license (applicable to foreign nationals) is:

135,000 VND per application.

In addition, the following additional expenses may arise:

• Fees for certified translation of documents and the original driver license into Vietnamese.

• Postal delivery fees if you request to receive the result via express mail.

• Medical examination fees for the required driver health certificate (if applicable).

• Service fees for handling the application if you choose to hire a professional visa/driver license service provider.

Processing Time for Converting a Foreign Driver License in Vietnam

The processing time for converting a foreign driver license into a Vietnamese driver license is:

No more than 05 working days from the date the application is received in full,
not including postal delivery time if the applicant chooses to receive the new license by mail.

Notes:

• If the application raises concerns regarding the applicant’s entry or residence status, the licensing authority may request verification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Department, or the Provincial Immigration Office.
  This may extend the overall processing time.

• Applicants must prepare all documents accurately and completely as required. Any missing or incorrect documentation may lead to the application being returned or cause delays.

When using professional driver license conversion services from reputable providers such as 68SOLUTIONS, the process is streamlined thanks to:

• Assistance in completing the application correctly from the beginning

• Close monitoring of the processing progress to shorten waiting time

As a result, the processing time typically ranges from 4 to 7 working days, and applicants may receive the final driver license at home via express delivery.

Full-Service & Trusted Driver License Conversion for Foreigners in Vietnam

Converting a foreign driver license in Vietnam is not overly complicated, yet it requires applicants to clearly understand all regulations regarding eligibility, required documents, procedures, and validity rules.
Depending on nationality and the type of driver license, the process may vary slightly, so careful research is the first essential step to help you save time and avoid unnecessary mistakes.

If you are a foreigner currently living or working in Vietnam, or if you are supporting a family member or partner in converting their driver license, 68SOLUTIONS is ready to assist you. We provide a full-service driver license conversion package for foreigners, supporting you from A to Z: consulting on the appropriate driver license category, completing the application, handling certified translations, submitting documents, and receiving the final result.

You will not need to spend time traveling or dealing with language barriers.
Simply send us your information — and we will take care of everything else.