Department of Transports office in Ho Chi Minh city

How to Convert Foreign Driving License to a Vietnamese License

How to Convert Foreign Driving License to a Vietnamese License

Saigon license

Things to know

Hey folks, are you dreaming of cruising through out Vietnam’s vibrant streets on your own motorbike but having a headache because your driving license is not valid in Vietnam?
With our experience in helping expats convert their driving licenses to a Vietnamese one, we will guide you through the entire process with explained details.

How expats can convert their driving license to a Vietnamese one?

Step 1: Prepare Required Documents

Fill up the application form

– This application is in both English and Vietnamese, you will not have any problem with the required information on it.
– You can download the application form for converting a foreign driving license here:

Download

Legalized your original foreign driving license

– Bring your original driving license to a notary office to have it translated then notarized. 
– Remember to prepare two copies of the notarized translation.

Prepare two photocopies of each document below

– Your Passport
– Your Temporary Resident Card (TRC)
– Your expired Vietnamese Driving License (if any)

Step 2: Prepare a Health Certificate if you have a car license from your country

If the driving license from your country includes a category for driving cars, you are required to take a Health Certificate before moving to the next step. This is a simple procedure and it should not take more than 60 minutes at that hospital.
Remember to bring a 3×4 or 4×6 photo with you


Address: Transport Hospital at 136 Cach Mang Thang Tam street, Ward 10, District 3, HCMC

Step 3: The assessment and verification process

Come to the Department of Transports to submit all of the documents you have prepared. This step may take upto 2 hours as that office is always crowded. They will not keep any original documents from you and will issue you a receipt with their red stamp eventually.


Address:  252 Ly Chinh Thang street, Ward 9, District 3, HCMC
Working hours:    Monday to Friday
7:30 to 11:00
13:30 to 16:00
Processing fee: 135.000 VND


During the assessment and verification process, authorities will do:

  • Document Review: The Department of Transportation will carefully review all the documents you submit. They will check if all required forms are filled out correctly and if the translations are accurate and notarized.
  • License Authenticity: They will verify the authenticity of your foreign driver’s license. This can involve contacting the Embassy or Consulate Office in Vietnam (if available) to confirm its validity.
  • Additional Verification (If Needed): In some cases, the authorities may request additional verification from your home country’s Embassy or Consulate in Vietnam. This could include providing further documentation or undergoing a driving test.


Note:
– Your expired Vietnamese licenses must be returned to the government office before getting the new Vietnamese Driving License issued to avoid any unnecessary problems.
– Remember to double-check your personal documents and information on the receipt before leaving the Department of Transports.

Step 4: Issuance of Vietnamese Driving License

Department of Transports office in Ho Chi Minh city

Seven (7) working days after finishing your official procedure at the Department of Transports, your new Vietnamese license will be  issued a Vietnamese driving license equivalent to your foreign license category. Bring your Passport and the receipt to collect it.
The validity of your new license will generally match your Temporary Card’s validity, but it will not exceed the remaining validity of your foreign driving license.

Important notes when converting your driving license to a Vietnamese one

  • Start the conversion process early, as it may take a couple of weeks.
  • Ensure your foreign driving license is valid and with you in Vietnam when you start the process. True copy or any form of copies will not be accepted.
  • It is recommended to contact the Department of Transport or seek assistance from a legal professional or translation service familiar with the process to ensure a smooth conversion.
  • You must hold a valid Temporary Resident Card (TRC) with at least three months of validity remaining.
  • Your foreign driving license must be current and valid.
saigon driving license service

One-Step Process, No Queuing

If you don’t have much time to do it yourself or find the process too complicated, contact us immediately for assistance with the driving license conversion procedure. We’ll guide you through every step of converting your foreign driving license to a Vietnamese one.

Saigon License is more than just a driving school – we are the ideal place for you to master Vietnam’s streets and understand all the road rules.

With 8 years of experience, our bilingual instructors at Saigon License are ready to meet your expectations and demonstrate how easy and straightforward the official procedure can be.

Convert your License with us now!

Saigon Driving License

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